With summer winding down, it’s time to get motivated for the school year — and there are few better motivators than good music. We’ve rounded up seven songs that capture the epic highs and lows of student life.
Fighting by BSS feat. Lee Youngji
BooSeokSoon, or BSS, are the undisputed hype men of K-pop. Made up of the three rowdiest members of the boy group Seventeen — Boo Seungkwan, Lee “DK” Seokmin, and Kwon “Hoshi” Soonyoung — BSS is here to cheer you on through the trials and tribulations of youth. Though their entire discography would be a great soundtrack for your walk to class, I’ve picked Fighting, which takes its title and chorus from a Korean expression of encouragement. Bolstered by BSS’s vibrant vocals and a guest verse from rapper Lee Youngji, this song’s sure to pump you up whether you’re running the weekly mile or pulling an all-nighter on a capstone project.
What’s Up Danger by Blackway & Black Caviar
Miles Morales is an ace student and the one and only Spider-Man of Earth-1610. He also happens to have pretty great taste in music — and as we eagerly await the conclusion to the Spider-Verse trilogy, what better way to tide us over than curbing from his playlist? Channel the confidence of Miles taking his first leap of faith with the song that saw him through it. You’ll be able to tackle any challenge that comes your way.
My Pace by Stray Kids
If BSS are your K-pop pep squad, Stray Kids are the friends hanging out with you behind the bleachers as you ponder the tough questions: Who am I? What do I want? Do I have to be what everyone wants me to be? Much of their early discography confronts the angst and uncertainty of young adulthood, and My Pace tackles insecurity and the tendency to compare ourselves to others. Its bold, defiant hook assures us that we don’t have to worry about what everyone else is doing — we can take life at our own speed.
brutal by Olivia Rodrigo
Speaking of teen angst — sometimes you just need to vent. With the guitar-driven grit of an early-2000s pop-punk classic, brutal is the scream of frustration you let out when it feels like nothing in your life is going right. Growing up isn’t easy, and Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album, Sour, is a testament to how much more overwhelming adolescence is when you’re experiencing it in the public eye. It’s comforting to know that whether we’re struggling with fake friends, peer pressure, or even parallel parking, we’re in good company.
Ain’t It Fun by Paramore
If there’s one person we can count on to offer us a reality check about the challenges of growing up with a wink, a smile, and some killer vocals, it’s Hayley Williams. Paramore has always been a master at helping bitter feelings go down easy with a bright melody, and with its playful xylophone-driven beat, Ain’t It Fun is the perfect kind of tough love. Bluntly honest yet deceptively carefree, it shows us that even if we’re fumbling our way through life, we can still have tons of fun doing it.
After School by Weeekly
Can’t stop thinking about your crush? This song’s excellent for daydreaming about meeting them at the skate park or even by your lockers. Innocent and bubbly, After School evokes that feeling of finding someone you effortlessly click with, someone you can spend time fooling around with forever — romantic or otherwise. It’s also just a nice, chill bop to have on in the background while you study, whether you’re alone in the library or comparing notes over boba.
We Are the Kids by Walk the Moon
Bursting with hope and optimism, We Are the Kids is a nostalgic ode to youth. Walk the Moon captures that urgency and impatience to seize the day, to take the future into our own hands. It’s the perfect triumphant note to end on: we won’t be young forever, but we can sure enjoy it while it lasts.
What’s on your back-to-school playlist? Let us know on Instagram, Bluesky, or Facebook — and be sure to follow our Spotify for more bookish listens!
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