It’s my birthday week, and I have been getting into the spirit by listening to some music that has always been comforting to me. This is my first birthday away from home, so the feelings have been a little bittersweet. I think some of the most important parts about growing up are also the hardest, and it’s ok to be a little down on your birthday.
Being away from home for my birthday for the first time, I have been seeking some nostalgia for comfort. I’ve been listening to some of my mom’s favorite songs from growing up. I have been doing a lot of reflecting on my relationship with myself, aging, and family, and how music has always impacted that. There are songs that will forever be associated in my head with my childhood and my mom, some of which I have inherited from her parents. The song “Do you realize” by the Flaming Lips will always make me tear up a little bit. My mom used to sing it to me when I was a baby, and I can feel that when I listen to it. My mom called me at midnight and sang Happy Birthday to me, and I was overwhelmed with every emotion possible. Sometimes, it’s ok to acknowledge that you are, in fact, a little baby in an adult body, and things can be overwhelming sometimes.
There is one song I listen to every year on my birthday, “Birthday” by the Sugarcubes. I love Bjork; how could you not? This song is fitting for more than its title; it’s a tad bit melancholic and whimsical. The vocal delivery is soft yet intense, and the instrumentation is nostalgic and timeless, coming of age. ’ I also refuse to stop listening to “Heroes” by David Bowie because every birthday is an important day to reflect on your very own Perks of Being a Wallflower infinite moment.
I’ve also included more nostalgia factor songs on this playlist. I’ve included Toby Fox’s “Hopes and Dreams” from Undertale because that soundtrack is probably one of the most iconic representations of Gen Z childhood through games. I’ve allowed myself a few minutes to feel like the main character today, and I do that by listening to this song. Another included song is “Such Great Heights” by the Postal Service because this song could be one of my final bosses of childhood nostalgia. It’s a good reminder that good things can happen and will.
This birthday, while away from home, I have found my people at this school who make me feel like I still have a place here. I actually share a birthday with one of my best friends and bandmates. There is something special about being able to put another Birthday in my calendar besides mine. I miss my family and friends, and I am still not used to everything, but I am finding more new people every day and learning how to be ok with change. I have found people who mean so much to me, and that’s what I’ve been able to reflect on this week. I’ll be listening to my bittersweet songs and writing “Happy Birthdays” on a cake as I enjoy all the emotions of growing up.
