Music can connect people from all across the country.  Fanclubs are made and people are brought together.  With or even without lyrics, it’s an outlet where the artist can express their emotions.  It has the power to keep someone energized, or to truly listen and dig deep.  Music changes over time but still has the power to connect people.

1. “Anaconda” by Nicki Minaj

          “I like ‘Anaconda’ because although it’s a rather raunchy song, it has a really unique style that gets you wanting to get up and dance and to sing to it.  Its chorus is really simple and I think the innuendoes in the song are really clever.  Plus, Nicki is queen.”

-Sophomore Amira Bajracharya

2. “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith

“‘Stay With Me’ is really mellow and I think it’s a great slow song that was released in the midst of all these jumpy dancey pop songs being released.  The lyrics are really sweet and the chorus is great to fake sing to.”

-Sophomore Amira Bajracharya

3. “Bang Bang” by Ariana Grande, Jessie J, and Nicki Minaj

“It’s an exciting and uplifting song that makes me feel happy every time I hear it.  It’s my pump up music.  I like how there are multiple artists that have complementary styles.  The combination of these 3 divas help all people enjoy at least some part of this masterpiece of the modern age.”

-Junior Jack Fiorella

4. “Habits (Stay High)” by Tove Lo

“‘Habits is also a unique song that was released this year.  I haven’t heard many songs like it and I like how it kinda deviates away from the classic pop style.  I like the changes in sound in the song and it makes it sound like there are two songs mashed into one.”

-Sophomore Amira Bajracharya

5. “Don’t” by Ed Sheeran

“I love the song ‘Don’t’ by Ed Sheeran because it shows his emotional side.  He gets romantically and physically involved with a girl, gets cheated on,  but pulls through by putting out ‘Don’t’.  Not only do we learn more about Ed but it has a sick beat.  You can’t NOT jam out to it.  Any song by Ed will have a sick beat.”

-Sophomore Shayna Lane

6. “Cool Kids” by Echosmith

“I like how their voices change, high to low or vice versa.  I also enjoy their repetition because it is very catchy.  I also like how the song is short and sweet.  It has a good beat and rhythm.”

-Sophomore Uma Desai

7. “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit

“It’s a great song, really catchy and the lead singer has a great voice.  The beat is really smooth and it just makes you want to dance.  Bit it’s also poppy in a way.  overall, I think this song is really groovy.”

-Senior Ester Ruiz-Capillas

8. “Amnesia” by 5 Seconds of Summer

“I love the band and I just love the song.  It’s very catchy and will literally be stuck in my head the rest of the day. Even though it’s a pretty peppy song, it still has its emotional side.  The guitar in the beginning gives it a calming feel.  The lyrics are meaningful and while they’re singing you can almost feel, and hear, the pain they’re feeling.”

-Sophomore Uma Desai

9. “All of Me” by John Legend

“I like the melody that it has and I like the rhyming lyrics.  I think that it was written from the heart, thus it was very deep.  The version with only the piano as the instrument gives it a different feel than the one with all the different instruments.  It makes me want to learn it on the piano, even though I don’t play that instrument.”

-Sophomore Uma Desai

10. “Problem” by Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea

“I like that it is catchy and gets me on my feet and dancing.  Sometimes when I’m at a stop light and it comes on I’ll bust a move or 2.  It’s a really fun song to sing to even though I may not be able to hit all the high notes.  I like that Ariana Grande sings it because she’s cool and has a truly unique voice.  Iggy Azalea really adds a bit of edge to the song.”

-Junior Maddie Barger