August is a hectic month. Ever since I can remember, August has meant back to school shopping, pre–season volleyball, and, of course, the start of a new and exciting school year. Yet, this chaotic yearly routine seems to be drawing to a close for me. It dawned on me that this will be my last first day of school for probably ever (unless I go to law school or grad school, but let’s face it, it’s just not the same).
As sentimental seniors are wont to do, I’ve been reflecting on my time at Penn and the songs that have defined my Penn experience. For me, there’s something so visceral and nostalgic about hearing a song that’s closely related to a specific time or memory. Here are six that remind me of each of my fall semesters.
Freshman year
I first heard “Riptide” as a second semester senior in high school. I remember being spooked by Vance Joy’s eery music video, and not quite understanding why the song was so popular. Once I came to Penn, and I was thrown into the bedlam of failed exams, botched practices, and friends that didn’t quite replace my friends from home, the ghostly lyrics took on a new meaning for me.
"Black Widow" was the first song I danced to in college. I vividly remember screaming “Gonna love you like a black widow baby,” with my teammates, and being in awe of Iggy’s general badassery. It was an NSO classic.
Sophomore year
Hit the Quan was not just a song, but a sensation. It was also the first song I learned all of the dance moves to; my team choreographed it, and we all “hit the quan” together in the locker room before games. “Hit the Quan” has a special place in my heart— as I awkwardly “got down low and swung my arms” surrounded by the rest of my team, I remember feeling as if I had finally found my people, and was a part of something special.
I’m a closet Adele fan. For me, “Hello,” perfectly captured that feeling of isolation, of distance, and of course regret-tinged questions of “what if?”. I had an incredible freshman year at Penn, but I wasn’t quite sure if I was ready to let go of home quiet yet. Being back with all of my high school friends over the summer made me understand Adele’s raw delivery of the line, “Hello from the outside.”
Junior year
Ever since hearing the futuristic, robotic synth of “This Is the Industry” in 2007, Calvin Harris has been a musician that captured my interest. Flash forward nine years later to the smash hit of “This Is What You Came For.” What’s better than Calvin Harris? Calvin Harris and Rihanna.
“Closer” was an instant classic. I don’t think I went to a pre-game or a party that fall without hearing this song. It was everywhere. Beyond being popular, though, “Closer” was a song that made me realize that youth only lasts so long (dramatic, I know). It was a brutal wake-up that I was more than halfway through college.
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