Music can help people process hard things like grief, overwhelm or loneliness. The Darling playlist series was created to help you during this time of quarantine. We hope to use music to bring you a little hope today.
There was no way my sister and I were not going to love music. It was bred into us from a long line of music lovers who played various instruments, sang beautifully and appreciated the art of song more than most.
We grew up on everything from classic hymns to Merle Haggard; Cedarmont Kids to Shania Twain and Broadway soundtracks to Brad Paisley. Most home videos from our toddler years are of us singing some rendition of three songs: Jesus Loves Me, the ABC’s or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. We sang in the car, in school programs, in church productions and at home. I never quite loved the stage the way my sister did. I didn’t have the ear for music the way she still does, but I loved music more than I loved most things.
While I didn’t necessarily love singing in the choir or taking a duet with my sister, there was one place I always felt I sounded good: the shower. Coincidentally (or perhaps not), the shower has always been one of my favorite places. Whether I was feeling sick, sad, sore, tired or any other emotion under the sun, my life motto remained the same: When in doubt, take a shower. Not only did the hot water make me feel better, but I also loved listening to music and belting out anything from sad songs to showtunes in the shower. In fact, my family has audio of me singing songs from Les Miserables in the shower when I was in high school! If you are a little like me and love singing in the shower, check out this list of songs to belt loud.
You can also find this playlist on Darling’s Spotify here.
Unwritten — Natasha Bedingfield
Sucker — Jonas Brothers
If I Ain’t Got You— Alicia Keys
Adelina — Johnnyswim
Walking On Sunshine — Katrina & The Waves
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For — U2
I Wanna Dance With Somebody — Whitney Houston
Somebody’s Daughter — Tenille Townes
I’m Still Standing — Taron Egerton
Shower — Becky G
Second Wind — Maren Morris
The Middle — Zedd ft. Maren Morris
Wide Open Spaces — Dixie Chicks
She Is— Ben Rector
This Feeling — The Chainsmokers ft. Kelsea Ballerini
High Horse — Kacey Musgraves
Keep Your Head Up — Andy Grammer
September Song — JP Cooper
Should’ve Been Us — Tori Kelly
Happy — Pharrell Williams
What songs make you feel like singing in the shower? Write them in the comments below.
Illustration via Heather Day, Darling Issue No. 24
