Youth Incorporated Magazine

2020 has been an emotional rollercoaster. But, if there’s one thing that we know can help us get through these trying times, it’s music. Indeed, music can go a long way when it comes to coping and trying to deal with everything this year has thrown at us. And while you may all have your personal soundtracks for this year, we figured it would be helpful to share ours. Here are our picks for the songs that best sum up 2020!

The Mountain Goats – This Year

While The Mountain Goats aren’t exactly a household name, it’s not an exaggeration to say that they’re one of the most prolific music groups in the industry. Since the band started back in 1991, they’ve managed to produce a body of work composed of over 19 albums. Among all their songs, 2005’s “This Year” could have easily been written for 2020. The Mountain Goat’s have always been known for their strong song writing, amplified by their simplistic setup composed mostly of acoustic guitars and basic drums. The song’s chorus “I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me” seems to resonate among many of us, considering how tough everything has been.

Tubthumping – Chumbawamba

While it may seem odd to add a song that recently just turned 20 to this list, Chumbawumba’s unlikely chart-topper pretty much embodies this year. Whether it’s through the distortion pedal heavy riffs that pretty much encapsulate 2020 or its lyrics that ramble on and on about being knocked down and getting up again, “Tubthumping” could very well be the song that defines 2020. Indeed, it isn’t hard to imagine people listening to this song every morning just to help get them through the day.

Phoebe Bridgers – I Know The End

Phoebe Bridgers could not have released her latest album at a more appropriate time. And while we can pick any song from this incredibly poignant album, “I Know The End” just hits pretty close to him. The song is a great example of how one can talk about such a heavy subject without being melodramatic about it. As the name suggests, the song revolves around endings — or the end of the world if you want to be more specific. However, what makes it different is how it approaches it. The song has an air of peace around it, as it talks about how accepting the inevitable can help us move forward. This, along with the song’s haunting synth instrumentals make for an incredibly cathartic experience.

Bob Marley – Three Little Birds

To end things on a happier note, we’ve included one of the artists that we’ve recommended in a previous article. Bob Marley is a reggae music icon whose songs have influenced millions of people from all parts of the globe. One of his most popular songs, “Three Little Birds”, can act as a beacon of hope when it comes to bouncing back from this truly difficult year. It’s a reminder that while things may seem hard now, everything will eventually fall into place — that everything will be alright.