When the temperature drops and the hours of sunlight slowly slip away, it can be be tough to keep your spirits up. Especially once the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over, many people struggle with feeling downcast and unmotivated to return to normal life. However, music is a great way to cope with these feelings and help to embrace this quieter season rather than bemoan it. While some of these songs bring up themes that can be helpful when the winter is getting you down, and some simply have an upbeat or comforting sound, hopefully they’ll all bring a spark of light to the winter darkness, or at the very least help you embrace it.
“Hoppípolla” – Sigur Ròs
The Icelandic band Sigur Rós, known for their dreamy, nature-themed tunes, has many songs that bring to mind snow and frost, but “Hoppípolla” holds a particularly relevant message for this time of year. The title translates to “jumping in puddles,” and the lyrics describe a joyful and carefree moment in a rainstorm. The layered, otherworldly sound piles in deep drifts of melody as it climbs from a simple piano intro to a symphonic, shoegazey swell. While the vocals are high and haunting, the ballad is undeniably hopeful. It celebrates living in the moment and embracing the simple joys of life, something that can certainly be difficult when the world is so dark and cold. But if a band from one of the darkest and coldest countries on earth can do it, maybe the rest of us can give it a try.
“Here’s Where the Story Ends” – The Sundays
The light, jangly, Smiths-like guitar of this nineties alt-rock tune contrasts with the disillusioned lyrics sung in Harriet Wheeler’s floating voice. Its sound is soothing and uplifting without having too much pep. Wheeler sings about her exhaustion with the “people I know, places I go” and laments her “terrible year,” sentiments that can certainly prevail in the winter months. The Sundays deliver a song that tempers its angst with bright yet gentle instrumental. “Here’s Where The Story Ends” can validate that desire to curl up and hibernate for three months, without getting too down about it.
“Here Comes the Sun” – Nina Simone
While The Beatles originated this hopeful tune, Nina Simone provides a version with a little more depth and expression that feels spot-on for this time of year. Simone’s soulful, one of a kind voice puts a cozy spin on the classic as she ad-libs over a relaxed, jazzy beat and tinkling piano accented by warm, romantic harp and harpsichord. Her version of “Here Comes the Sun” manages to acknowledge both the difficulty of her “long cold lonely winter” and exult in the fact that “it’s alright” as she ad-libs over angelic backing vocals. This cover can certainly soothe your seasonal blues and have you appreciating whatever sun you may get.
“This Year” – The Mountain Goats
The wry, defeatist humor and folksy intensity of The Mountain Goats lends itself well to those days when the winter seems to stretch on hopelessly long. John Darnielle paints an autobiographical picture of simple teenage pain and recklessness, punctuated by the repeated declaration to “make it through this year if it kills me.” There’s something bolstering about the utter straightforwardness of the lyrics and the tone in which they are delivered. Darnielle is almost angry, hell-bent upon surviving against all odds and making it to the light at the end of the tunnel. The clean, invigorating piano and guitar licks frame the rest of the song perfectly. It’s difficult to listen to “This Year” without absorbing some of that restless resolve.
“Sunlight” – Hozier
Hozier’s warm, honeyed voice is like a balm in this stunning love song. Comparing his lover to sunlight, he dances effortlessly through poetic, colorful turns of phrase (“Betray the moon as acolyte/On first and fierce affirming sight”) and sings with stirring emotion. The song itself feels like a ray of sun cutting through the darkness with its infectious claps and drumbeats, ethereal organ, and hints of fuzzy electric guitar. “Sunlight” will transport you away from the January weather into a dazzling realm of enchantment and harmony.
“Tonight, Tonight” – The Smashing Pumpkins
In all honesty, just about anything off of The Smashing Pumpkins’ theatrical 1995 album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is suitable for a gloomy winters’ day, but “Tonight, Tonight” is a particularly good choice. Grand, sweeping violins from an expansive string section provided by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra blend with grungy drums and intricate guitar lines. Billy Corgan’s unique voice unfolds from a whisper to a wail and back again as he implores you to “Believe/That life can change, that you’re not stuck in vain,” a hopeful reminder that things can always get better and nothing is forever, not even the winter.
“Northern Sky” – Nick Drake
This romantic, wistful ballad by folk rock singer-songwriter Nick Drake is perfect for curling up with a cup of tea and gazing out a window. Drake’s mellow voice lingers atop layers of light piano and acoustic guitar, accented by the tinkling of a celeste and the occasional rich wave of organ notes. “Northern Sky” is peaceful and sweet, an ode to a lover who has brought joy and changed everything for the singer. It’s a song infused with magic, and if you hold onto it, it’s likely to brighten your Northern skies as well.
“Seasons Change” – Corinne Bailey Rae
Bailey Rae’s soft yet groovy R&B provides a boost of energy for a drowsy day. Her dusky voice pulls you in right off the bat to a stripped down song that’s led by a strong beat with sprinkles of funky keyboard and guitar. As she effortlessly croons words of wisdom, advising you that “peace must be nurtured” and “everything’s got to change,” layers of golden voices back her up. “Seasons Change” is simultaneously reflective and vitalizing. Thematically, the song serves as a reminder that the passage of time is inevitable, and there’s nothing to be done but embrace every day, even the coldest.
With any luck, this list will add something new to your wintertime playlists and help you to see a little beauty in every facet of the season, from staying warm and cozy indoors to venturing out into the freezing weather.Source
