Call Me Maybe

Written by Jane Hu

“Call Me Maybe” is the kind of song that gets stuck in my head for hours after listening to it. I first heard this track in 2013, and I still haven’t found a catchier song. Even people who don’t listen to a lot of music are familiar with the song “Call Me Maybe.” This song brings people together, whether I’m at a party or warming up for a sports game.

The lyrics are simple, but that is what makes it so great. They capture the fun and spontaneity of giving someone your number and hoping that they’ll call. The chorus is impossible to not sing along to, and the whole song emits a feeling of excitement and confidence. What makes this song so special to me is the nostalgia I feel when I listen to it. It reminds me of the good old times when life could just be fun and silly, standing out from other more recent pop music.

While listening to the song, the upbeat melody brings a sense of happiness that is easy to follow and sing along. The recognizable and repetitive lyrics makes it very memorable for everyone.

While many songs get their weekly fame, placing top five on the Billboard Hot 100, “Call Me Maybe” will forever be number one in my heart. Pop music doesn’t always have to be serious to be great. Sometimes, a song just has to uplift you, give you motivation, and make you happy. “Call Me Maybe” does a perfect job doing that; it’s a great example of being a constant big hit in the music industry. It’s proof that a “good” pop song can unite people, not because of its complexity, but because of how it makes people feel.

A Hard Day’s Night

Written by Maeve Walsh

It’s 1964. The Beatles just announced their first world tour and have released a movie based on their newest album. They are the most famous rock group in the world. In a house in Princeton, New Jersey, their records are well-preserved, with the exception of a few scratches on the vinyls and the paper sleeves slightly deteriorating due to old age. One album in particular is at the top of the stack: “A Hard Day’s Night,” with just 14 songs spanning 34 minutes.

To me, it’s crazy that at the time of the album’s creation, the Beatles were only in their early twenties. But their young age gave them room to develop a sense of humor that makes me feel like I too can take a break and let loose. Their ability to move between lighthearted and meaningful, like in “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You” and “Things We Said Today,” strikes the perfect balance.

Not only is the songwriting complex yet playful, but it evokes feelings of nostalgia that are so comforting. As a young girl, I would listen to this album with my parents in our living room, the turntable spinning the black, shiny vinyl round and round. That was a simpler time, where life was easy, and the world seemed to be at peace. Now, I listen to the songs and let my mind wander to when I would dance on the coffee table, screaming along with Paul McCartney during “Can’t Buy Me Love.” It’s a nice escape from the rest of the world when I don’t feel like dealing with reality.

The album’s final track, “I’ll Be Back,” with John Lennon’s smooth guitar and melodic harmonies, always feels like a hug goodbye. Leaving my imaginary world with the final words “but I’ll be back again” reminds me that this album will always be there for me when I need to be whisked away. As the sounds of the acoustic guitar and drums slowly fade away through the speakers, and the needle picks up off the album, I leave with dopamine filling my brain and even more reasons to love “A Hard Day’s Night.”