Well, here we all are. The end of another great school year. Many of us are now ending our high school careers, going to college, and starting our adult lives in the fall. But no matter what our endings look like, high school can often be described as a bumpy ride: what better way to end it than to describe it with a song choice?
Around Arcadia High School (AHS), students chose songs that they think perfectly depict what the school year looked like and why they think their choice perfectly composes what kind of year they had.
“To represent the entire school year, the song ‘Here Before‘ by Vashti Bunyan represents the most because every year. It’s a cycle where you go through similar experiences, but slightly different. And you always have this feeling of nostalgia,” said senior Anastasia Jorniak.
A unique choice, Jorniak’s decision of Bunyan’s song can be seen as a perfect way to describe the entire year. Bunyan’s song is described as a musical piece that captures the essence of nostalgia for people to reminisce on their past as kids and overlook their childhoods. Lyrics like “He was wilder than moonlight… He could do it all… Like he’d been here before” portrays someone in their childhood seeing everything as deeply mysterious or even otherworldly. It also displays the message that kids could do it all and individuals should carry on the legacy and freedom they had as a child.
“I would probably choose the song ‘Dog Days Are Over’ by Florence & The Machine. I think it perfectly captures the school year because it keeps it running, and it shows how we’re always moving towards the future. But then again, it still makes us anticipate what’s in store for us and evokes anxiety for graduation and everyone’s overall time ahead,” expresses senior Rae Manzon.
Although similar to “Here Before,” the song “Dog Days Are Over” doesn’t capture the essence of nostalgia and look back on our childhood. Instead, it is more of a way to congratulate the listener and to inspire hope for what the future holds. The song describes the journey of “suddenly finding happiness” for people who truly believe they won’t ever find it.
“The song is almost like an escape for an individual who truly is discouraged, but after listening, could potentially become inspired by what their future holds for them and the great things they will achieve,” Manzon adds. “It is a song that teaches that there is something special everywhere you look, and to connect back to the end of an AHS school year, it gives a way for people to discover that special spark instead of leaving the year stuck and spiritless.”
“In my opinion, the song ‘We Are The People’ by Empire Of The Sun is the best song I could come up with…It honestly perfectly represents the rough and joyful times throughout my last year at AHS where, in the end, I’m finally happy with all of my friends and other peers surrounding me. It gives me a sense of remembrance, and I know when I listen to it in the future, I’ll be reminded of the greatest time I had during this last year and how much I’ll miss it,” conveys senior Kandice Quinones.
Alike to what Quinones expressed, the song “We Are The People” utterly demonstrates the message of a strong connection and joint unity everyone gains in their future. Although the song does specifically attest to finding that connection within a relationship, it can be seen as a message for friendships all around. It incorporates a theme of nostalgia through lyrics such as “Lie in the sand and visualize… Like it’s seventy five again.”Taken from a high school graduate’s perspective, the lyrics suggest a yearning for a time when we all come back together and connect.
As the song moves, the chorus repeats the same lines, “I know everything about you… You know everything about me… Know everything about us” which means that people can be on such a deep level of connection where they trust each other so much and become transparent with one another. It also passes on the message that individuals can gain knowledge of each other and completely understand each other on a whole different level once they break their wall with each other. This reflects back to the end of our high school careers because we’ve all built relationships and friendships with all types of people throughout these four years. And with this, we have a whole different level of understanding and respect for each other that will be difficult to find in our futures.
These songs perfectly encapsulate the school year and summarize our high school careers. I would describe my school year with songs like “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac, which tell the story of uncertainty but slowly gaining an understanding and a fast change of emotions, people, and events that can feel like a landslide. Or the song “Ribs” by Lorde that perfectly captures the feeling of nostalgia the class of 2025 is feeling with the fear of growing up and turning into adults. Even the song “All Star” by Smash Mouth evokes a sense of happiness and remembrance, along with a comedic and unhinged energy that will get you pumped up for what’s to come. Not to mention, it was featured in Shrek, which is a childhood favorite of most graduating seniors!
With the end of the year coming sooner than later, don’t sit around and be down about the future and the scary things that are coming. Instead, jam out to some of these recommendations and go out with your friends, on drives and listening on speaker, making bonfires at the beach with these songs blasting, so everyone can end the year and start summer with the same happiness and joyfulness that should have within yourself for the rest of your life.
