As the cold starts creeping in and winter is starting up for yet another season, many people might find themselves in need of songs to match the chilly climate around them. Cozy winter music is easy to find at surface level but when digging deeper, many common songs from this type of year are found to be overplayed or tacky. You can comfortably enjoy this year’s colder months with the set of song selected below. They are a selection that balances the feel of harsh swirling winds with the aura of a warm fireplace inside a comfy home.
“It’s Time to Go”
“Evermore (feat. Bon Iver)”
“Coney Island (feat. The National)” – Taylor Swift
These three songs are all on Taylor Swift’s album “Evermore.” While the whole album has the perfect sound for a cool winter, these three songs in particular leave the listener with a sense of hollowness that is heavily associated with this colder season. These songs are similar in the way that they appeal to the dreariness of wintertime, but are each very distinct in their own way. They all tell different narratives, but pull the listener in and leave a lingering sense of the loss of some warm feeling.
These themes are also accompanied by distinct lyrics to match the season, specifically from the song “evermore” where Swift says, “gray November I’ve been down since July” and “Barefoot in the wildest winter/ Catching my breath.”
Coney Island (feat. The National)
“Autumn Leaves” – Joe Pass
Autumn Leaves is an instrumental song where only the guitar is being played. The guitar is played in a special style where Joe Pass strums the bass, chords and melody at the same time. The delicate melodies evoke nostalgic feelings and scenes of the first winter snow drifting down to calmly cover the fallen autumn leaves. I picked this song because it reminds me of quiet nights meant to be spent studying but in reality are spent watching the snow fall while songs like this play in the background.
“This Is What It Feels Like” – Gracie Abrams
“This Is What It Feels Like” is Abrams’ second EP and I picked it because the songs are meaningful to both myself and many fans. The overall aesthetic of each song is like a foggy cold morning when the wind blows through your hair and the chill of the season is in full effect. The whispery vocals add a delicate nature to each song, especially when complimented by the fragile instrumentals of the piano and acoustic guitars that weave around the vocals.
“So Much Wine” -Phoebe Bridgers
“So Much Wine” is a collection of songs that includes a Christmas single and five different covers of other Christmas songs from a variety of artists. The song “So Much Wine” itself is a song about a relationship that ended on Christmas Day due to a drinking problem. The collection of songs in general is a break from the traditional style of Christmas songs that are very cheerful and celebratory. These songs are a gentle reminder that holidays are meant to be cheerful for everyone but life does not stop for celebrations, as peoples’ problems still persist during the holidays.
“A Very Laufey Holiday”- Laufey
This album is a collection of covers of existing classic Christmas songs. These songs blend the warmth and cheerfulness already present in the original versions of the songs with Laufey’s trademarked Jazz style that she is best known for, which brings originality and a sense of peace. Songs off of this album like “Love to Keep Me Warm,” along with others, lack the overplayed themes of songs typically played this time of year while keeping the nostalgia and coziness that we love.
“Fruitcake” – Sabrina Carpenter
The other songs and EPs that I have picked previously in this list were more of antidotes to traditional Christmas songs, but if you prefer those traditional vibes, then “Fruitcake” will definitely be more your style. I love Fruitcake because of its upbeat nature that sounds like typical, cheerful holiday music that is still able to be satirical. For example, the song “Is it New Years Yet” is almost making fun of the relatable elements of the holiday season like the awkwardness in meeting with extended family.
Finding songs to match the weather and climate of life should not be too hard this year. There are many songs out there that feel like winter in many different ways. I hope this list was a nice, helpful start, but I encourage you to find more songs that match your specific taste and not only to settle with the same old songs from the radio.
