Can you remember the first time you genuinely took interest in music?
What was it? An album, an artist, a particular song?
For me it was Paula Abdul’s 1988 album, “Forever Your Girl”. Which at that point in time was my very first cassette tape. It featured such hits as: “Forever Your Girl”, “Cold Hearted”, and “Opposites Attract”.
The songs, choreography, music videos, and her style – Paula was just the coolest. This was very very pre-American Idol days.
This was also the era of “mixed tapes”. A time in which you would put together a collection of songs for your friends or crush to show how you felt about them and just how cool your taste in music was.
The struggle was real, friends.
Spending hours listening to the latest hits on the radio, holding up a recorder, and just hoping that the song perfectly transferred to the cassette it was recording to. This was a very low-tech scenario that took high-levels of patience and dedication. Good times.
Music is a powerful thing and this year – let’s lean into that.
If I could make each and everyone of you a cassette, trust me, I would. Songs to get you through the hard times, support you when you need a pick me up, and power anthems that help you get hyped.
So as everyone is running around with resolution this and resolution that, I think we should all take a minute to collect the songs that will help us in 2026.
I’m not a resolution girlie, but I am “have the support systems you need to accomplish goals” kind of person. AND music is going to be one of those systems this year.
I’ll share first.
Happy Songs:
“Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac
“Dreams” by The Cranberries
“Your Light” by The Big Moon
“XO” by Beyoncé
Anthems:
“Free Your Mind” by En Vogue (This song and music video are everything.)
“Trouble” by P!nk
“Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
“Black Sheep” by Metric
This is just a start. I’m going to keep adding, changing, and adjusting as needed throughout the year.
You can have songs for mellow time, sad times, angry times, inspiration – the themes are endless and based purely on you.
And if you know someone that could really benefit from this, but doesn’t have the bandwidth for it – make a mixed tape “aka playlist” for them.
I still have the ones made for me back in the day. Priceless.
Feel free to reply and share one of your songs for 2026. I’d love to know.
Much love.
Melanie – Playlist Junkie
