Throughout the month of June, we asked our patrons and staff "What song will you forever associate with the 
The songs we chose seemed to cluster around common themes: a sense of uncertainty, but also civic purpose in the early stages of quarantine, followed by us all going somewhat batty in our isolation and finding ways to cope. There were songs of resilience and faith as America faced a legacy of racial injustice. There were songs that reminded us of family and friends and how how dearly we missed them. There were escapist pop songs harkening back to the sounds of the 1980s that we danced to in our rooms. There were songs of activism and anger as we approached an election that threatened to break us. And there were songs of hope as we entered a new year and the worst seemed behind us.
We met online on Tuesday, June 29, at noon to share and discuss these songs in our monthly music discussion group, Music Talk. The full Music Talk: Our Pandemic Year playlist is now up on Spotify and you can follow Alachua County Library District's account for more playlists to come. Check out our catalog for the CDs that many of these songs can be found on.
These are the songs that got us through the last year.
"Better Days" by OneRepublic
Jordyn said "It was a song I could listen to that would remind me we would get through the pandemic (and everything else going on), even if it didn’t feel like it at the time. I definitely felt a little hope whenever I listened to it."
"Level of Concern" by Twenty One Pilots
Sammi, Coleen, and Odette all chose this song. Sammi said "It was released during quarantine and they even did the music video as a quarantined video. In addition to the lyrics being relatable to the current situation they also did a “never-ending” music video on YouTube that was constantly changing through fan contributions that was finally ended back in December." Coleen said "I love this song and I think the lyrics reflect some of what we went through this past year… but also I appreciated the fact that it was an upbeat tempo and easy to sing along with."
"Heroes" by David Bowie and "Heroes" as covered by The Wallflowers
Richard said of the David Bowie song "Although most of the lyrics don’t necessarily fit with the situation that we have all been in, the line 'We can be heroes, just for one day' has pertinent meaning to me. Along with that, it is one of my jams! :>)!!!" Michelle liked the Wallflowers's cover as a "purely nostalgic choice. Streaming the music video on YouTube meant I could watch Godzilla destroy buildings as they sang."
"If You Want Me to Stay" by Ari Lennox & Anthony Ramos
Fiona said "The song that I will always associate with the year of the pandemic is “If You Want Me to Stay.” Crown Royal donated $1 to bars and restaurants across the US every time someone played this song on YouTube sung by Ari Lennox and Anthony Ramos. The original song is by Sly and the Family Stone from the album Fresh."
"O-o-h Child" by The Five Stairsteps
J. said this evergreen song of hope helped him to remember that things would get easier in time.
"Imagine" by Gal Gadot & Friends
A patron said "celebrities sang it to inspire us and Twitter made fun of them for months about it." Cameron finds it so cringe-worthy he cannot watch it all the way through, but still thinks Sarah Silverman's part is funny.
"Don’t Stand So Close to Me" by The Police
Janna won't forget social distancing.
"But, I Was Cool" by Oscar Brown, Jr.
For John, this song evokes "lying to yourself about how you're doing, pretending it's all okay ...it's very 2020."
"Germs" by "Weird Al" Yankovic
Lynda "found great humor in the Weird Al song ”Germs.” The lyrics are about a person trying to avoid germs, and there is a funny video of it on YouTube. It is a parody of a Nine Inch Nails song."
"Everything is Going Great" by Tiny Stills
Meaghan said "This ear worm was a repeat favorite for my whole family this year and I have great memories of us driving in the car listening to this reminder to think positive even when things are miserable."
Sam thinks this "beautifully sums up and normalizes the issue of anxiety, something a lot more people are familiar with now. It also brings the message of hope and how important it is to have good people in your life."
Frédéric Chopin's "24 Preludes, Op. 28 No. 15 in D flat major" as performed by Alexandre Tharaud
Jessie said "After reading a book about Chopin during the first weeks of quarantine, I learned to play this on piano, when I and so many people were inspired to take our time stuck at home and do something creative. I thought its dark middle segment reflected the uncertainty of the pandemic, while the prettier ending made me hopeful for a brighter future."
"A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke
Assh said "It was released in 1964 and in 2020 it was still painfully relevant. Hearing Cooke sing about the same issues that we’re dealing with almost 60 years after the song’s release completely encompasses all of the pain I believe many people experienced last summer, and I felt like it was important for us to remember that this is a cycle that needs to be broken."
"Turntables" by Janelle Monáe
Carolyn said "Turntables is both a rallying call for societal change and a reflection of the events of 2020. Monáe crafted an upbeat and catchy track to celebrate 'liberation, elevation, education'."
"TOGETHER" by for KING and COUNTRY featuring Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly
A patron said "The pandemic affected everyone and everyone was in it together, even if at a distance, with the use of technology. This song was inspiring, hopeful, motivating, unifying, and helpful in getting by the last year."
"We Gon’ Be Alright" by Tye Tribbett
Roma liked this song "because it has an upbeat tempo & positive (simple) message."
"Higher Love" – Kygo & Whitney Houston
Laurel listened to this song more than any other over the past year.
"Rain on Me" by Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande
Alexis said "This song, no matter my mood, always let me know that I can get through anything. Even a pandemic year like Covid! If I put on this song I couldn’t help but dance!"
"Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd
Chris chose "Blinding Lights" as the song that will always remind him of 2020.
Carolyn chose Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia album "for pure escapist fun." "Break out your at-home dance floor because this album is full of hit singles from “Break My Heart,” “Physical,” and “Don’t Start Now.” During a tough year, sometimes it was nice to just relax to some prime pop music." Another patron loved "Physical" and said "it was my most played song of the year on Spotify (along with the rest of the album.")
"Her Wirt" by Corvus Corax
Sean said "This song will forever remind me of February/March 2020. I discovered it just before COVID was a thing, and I fell in love with it as a party song for my partner and I (we were going to host a big shindig in March, and I was planning to propose during it, so this song has a lot of hopes and dreams attached to it). Needless to say, the plans I had built around it fell away, but I still get warm memory senses when I hear it." Sean also chose "Getting Along" by Royal Republic.
Marlin said "the song is a clever, theatrical ode to growing old that was released just before the Coronavirus hit. But as we all learned about pandemic “Let’s go out with a bang!” became, in my mind at least, somewhat portentous and even ominous. And it is catchy as heck, with simple lyrics my feeble old mind can remember."
Demaris listened most to “Home” by Chris Daughtry. "It was so hard to not visit my family and friends back home in Indiana. I was so very homesick. This song spoke to my heart."
"Faithfully" by Journey
Lisa chose"Faithfully" by Journey, "mostly because Steve Perry has the most amazing voice – his vibrato and range are extraordinary – and also because 80s arena rock ballads are so full of soaring energy. It kept me in a happy nostalgic place, one where no one wore masks to protect themselves from disease and one where my dad wasn’t fighting for his life (due to another horrible infectious disease) while simultaneously recovering from an above-knee amputation. Through all that, and almost 50 years, my parents have been together, and even though neither of them is a music man, they have modeled faithfulness. It’s been a touchstone for me."
"Glad You Exist" by Dan & Shay
A patron said "This song reminds me of the people we share a close connection to. During the pandemic, many families were separated and could not visit each other. So this song emphasizes the importance and gratefulness of our close bond to family members."
"It’s For You" by Cilla Black
Jeff just discovered Cilla Black and loved the song "It's For You." We hope you're enjoying your reitrement, Jeff!
"Sunshine On My Shoulders" by John Denver
Cameron said "I found a picture book based on this song among my mom's things. I imagine that she intended to give it to my nephew. Later, when I was going through her old 45 rpm records, I found that she owned the single, as well. I hadn't heard it before, but it meant a great deal to me to discover this song that had resonated with her."
"If I Could Only Fly" by Blaze Foley
Fillup drove all the way from Gainesville to Jacksonville with this song on repeat.
"Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore" by John Prine
Joanne said "John Prine’s music was always meaningful to me because of his tongue-in-cheek commentary of society, love and relationships. Losing his corporeal being to Covid was a testament to the seriousness of the disease and to his value to my generation. There are so many songs of his to choose from but the one that comes to mind is "Flag Decal..." in which he reminds listeners that patriotism and flag-waving is not the same as righteous living."
"This Year" by The Mountain Goats
Crissy, Sean, and Cameron all chose this song. Crissy said "the chorus is “I am gonna make it, through this year, if it kills me.” Need I say more? It was definitely on loop most of 2020."
"Hunger For a Way Out" by Sweeping Promises
Joe found that he had more time to discover new music during the past year and Sweeping Promises was one of his favorites.
"Womanarchist" by Bad Cop, Bad Cop
An anonymous patron chose this song as the one that would always remind them of 2020.
"r(E)volution" by Sa-Roc
Sofia said this song "will always remind me of our pandemic year because I’d discovered her by chance while working on a poetry anthology for grad school, and then absolutely fell in love with her artistry. 2020 was a year full of both unexpected and necessary changes, and I was drawn her music because I could see our current world reflected within her words. Like Sa-Roc says at the close of the song, 'Ain’t nobody ever gonna really change nothing but us.'"
"Here Comes the Sun" by Jon Bon Jovi
Cindy said "I mean, I’m already a fan of Beatles music AND I like Jon Bon Jovi, but this just gave me the chills.
Hope for a brighter day? Of course. A reminder that no matter how bad things get, there will again eventually be light. YES! In fact, my personal mantra has always been, “it isn’t so bad, that it couldn’t be worse,” a prompt to be grateful every day for the good there is. It spoke to me, and I play it often when I need a little “lift.”
"Love’s in Need of Love Today" by Stevie Wonder
A patron said "No matter how tough the circumstances, approaching solutions from a heart of love makes it easier to cope and thrive."
"Way Less Sad" by AJR
Crissy chose this as a song for 2021 ."It’s got some kicky horns and an upbeat and cheerful rhythm that makes me just dance in the car and sing along! The chorus of “Don’t you love it, don’t you love, no I ain’t happy yet, but I’m way less sad” I think is a perfect summation of us starting to come out of the pandemic alive and with a little hope! No more #hotgirlsummer, we’re doing #vaxxedgirlsummer this year."
"Time to Move On" by Tom Petty
While driving around listening to Wildflowers & all the rest, Kerry was struck by this song and how it reflects her current mindset. "Though this song doesn't remind me of 2020, it is how I feel now in 2021. As we’re getting back to our lives, “It’s time to get going."