This year was difficult for many students, with COVID-19 still running rampant in the world, a vaccine mandate and the anxiety of schools reopening. Since the lockdown, students have had a hard time adjusting to being back in school. Here’s a list of songs students listened to that helped them get through 2021. 

“You Are Not Alone” by Michael Jackson is a pop and R&B ballad that was released in 1995. This song about love and isolation was part of Jackson’s thirteenth and final #1 U.S single in his lifetime. 

“Level of Concern” is an alternative indie song that was released in 2020 by Twenty One Pilots. It was composed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic when many were either in denial or panicking about the outbreak. 

“Good Intentions” by Rini is an R&B-soul song released in 2018 from his album “After the Sun.” Many have described Rini as ‘criminally underrated’ with this song only having a little over one million views. 

The short love ballad “Disco” by Surf Curse is an alternative indie song that is the third track from their album “Heaven Surrounds You” released in 2019.  

“Decode” by Paramore was part of the romantic fantasy film Twilight released in 2008. It was promoted to American modern rock radio and served as the soundtrack’s lead single. 

“Perfume” was composed and performed by Lovejoy, an English indie rock band, and was released in 2021 along with six other songs in their album “Pebble Brain.” The song’s rock beat mixes with electric and bass guitars at a moderate tempo as Wilbur Soot, the lead singer, talks about a story of an ex-girlfriend, and how he’s jealous she’s moving on.  

The rock-pop song “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls was used as part of the soundtrack from the 1998 movie “City of Angels” starring Nicolas Cage. The lead singer, John Rzeznik, says that he was thinking about the situation that Cage was in and how he would give up his own immortality just to be able to feel something human.  

“Freak Out” by CG5, released in 2021, tells about his own personal difficulties and worries. It also talks about the many anxieties songwriters can go through with impressing fans and the hatred they can receive.