Everyone has those albums that have in some way or another impacted them. Maybe the album showed up in a time of need and got you through hard times. Or maybe it was the soundtrack of some really good times. Maybe you found yourself inside the lyrics and it reflected who you were at the time.
Music is powerful and can aid in telling a person’s story, at least some of it.
This is my story. At least some of it.
01. Red by Taylor Swift
“Red” is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released in 2012. The album is a mix of pop, country, and rock influences, featuring catchy hooks, relatable lyrics, and Taylor’s signature confessional songwriting style. “Red” explores themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery, with tracks ranging from upbeat anthems like “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” to heartfelt ballads like “All Too Well.” The album was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and earning critical acclaim for its mature production and songwriting. “Red” is regarded as a fan favorite and a defining moment in Taylor Swift’s discography.
The year was 2012 and I was newly 10 years old. My grandma gifted me this album for my birthday, it was the first physical album I ever owned. I would usually listen to my music on my pink iPod shuffle along with the other Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Selena Gomez albums my dad illegally downloaded for me, but this album was something special, something new. It wasn’t the content of the songs because I wouldn’t have been able to relate to them as a 10-year-old, although I was very dramatic in the way I would act out the songs. This album was special because it was mine. I could play it on my CD player and dance around the room, screaming the lyrics, or at my grandma’s house and give a grand performance on the upstairs patio. Or in my parents’ car.
It was everywhere outside my house too. Everyone knows the singles from this album as staples of life in the early 2010’s: “22” and “We Are Never Getting Back Together.” Then the more casual Swifties all know “Red” and “All Too Well,” especially with the Taylor’s Versions.
“Sad Beautiful Tragic” was one that was on repeat. What can I say, I have a thing for drama! The album would play on repeat whenever I got the chance. My other favorites were “Begin Again,” “Treacherous,” “Holy Ground,” and “Everything Has Changed.”
02. Pure Heroine by Lorde
“Pure Heroine” is the debut studio album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, released in 2013. The album is a blend of electropop, dream pop, and indie-pop, featuring minimalist production, sparse instrumentation, and introspective lyrics. Lorde’s distinctive vocal style and unique perspective on youth culture and fame earned critical acclaim and commercial success. The album’s hit singles “Royals” and “Team” topped the charts in many countries, including the US and UK. “Pure Heroine” showcases Lorde’s ability to create an atmospheric and cohesive body of work that resonated with audiences worldwide and cemented her status as a rising star in the music industry.
I started listening to Lorde in the middle of my Hunger Games obsession. We’re looking at 2014-15ish. “Pure Heroine” was already out, and the single “Royals” was on every radio station. Anyone who was anyone was listening to Lorde. She was the number one anti-popular culture girl.
Lorde was on the soundtrack for Mockingjay Part 1 in 2014 and that pretty much sealed the deal for me. I dove into the album feet first. Including the “Love Club EP.” I loved everything. I loved the attitude and the vibe. She was very fitting for The Hunger Games and for a kid obsessed with The Hunger Games, of course I was going to consume her work religiously. After I had gone through Pure Heroine, I moved to Melodrama a few years later. “400 Lux” and “Buzzcut Season” have been the ones that have stuck with me. Of course, I will cry if you play “Ribs,” so best we avoid it…
03. Melodrama by Lorde
“Melodrama” is the second studio album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, released in 2017. The album is a coming-of-age story that explores the emotions and experiences of a young woman navigating love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. “Melodrama” features lush production, complex melodies, and introspective lyrics that showcase Lorde’s growth as a songwriter and artist. The album received critical acclaim for its innovative sound and mature themes, with many critics praising Lorde’s ability to capture the complexity of human emotions. “Melodrama” cemented Lorde’s status as a major force in pop music, earning her a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.
I can tell you I felt very grown up listening to “Melodrama.” Which is a common theme it seems with my music taste. I remember listening to “The Louvre” on repeat.
At this point I was well into middle school and felt the melodrama, if you will, of being a young teenager. All the new feelings you start uncovering and exploring, and how heightened everything is. The album and its contents felt very relatable and yet very far away from me. And I could live in the lyrics for a moment before returning to reality.
I think a lot of her songs do that for me. They transport me to different moments, and I can see them when I close my eyes. She does a really good job with her lyrics and creating stories. That’s what really pulls me in.
My favorites from Melodrama are “Hard Feelings/Loveless,” “Writer In The Dark,” and “The Louvre.”
04. Blue Neighbourhood by Troy Sivan
“Blue Neighbourhood” is the debut studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan, released in 2015. The album is a coming-of-age story that explores themes of identity, sexuality, and growing up in the suburbs. Sivan’s dreamy vocals and lush production create a cinematic atmosphere that perfectly complements the album’s introspective lyrics. The album features collaborations with prominent artists such as Alessia Cara and Betty Who, and was met with critical acclaim for its innovative sound and honest portrayal of youth culture. “Blue Neighbourhood” cemented Sivan’s status as a rising star in pop music and earned him a dedicated fanbase.
I started listening to Troye Sivan back in middle school, thanks to a friend recommendation. She was obsessed with Troye Sivan back then. The first song I listened to was “Gasoline” from his EP, “TRXYE.”
I got into “Blue Neighbourhood” the summer before freshman year. It was perfect for that time of my life. Perfect for the weather, perfect for my age, perfect for the feelings I would later find. It just perfectly incapsulated that coming-of-age experience in a small community. I didn’t live in the suburbs, nor a cult-de-sac, but somewhere in between. It was a pretty big neighborhood that was far from city center and housed my high school. I would play the album on the bus ride home, at golden hour, and then as I walked the rest of the way home. I related to it. It was fitting.
I got into the story of the album well into the school year. Watched the music videos and started to really identify with it. I didn’t know why at the time, but I figured it out later. The themes of identity and sexuality really shone through and spoke to me.
Some of my favorites were “HEAVEN” “WILDS” “for him.” “SUBURBIA” and “BLUE.”
05. Baby Teeth by Dizzy
“Baby Teeth” is the debut studio album by Canadian indie-pop band Dizzy, released in 2018. The album is a collection of dreamy, introspective tracks that explore themes of anxiety, self-doubt, and growing up. Frontwoman Katie Munshaw’s ethereal vocals and the band’s lush instrumentation create a unique sound that is both intimate and expansive. The album’s standout tracks, such as “Swim” and “Joshua,” earned critical acclaim for their raw emotion and catchy hooks. “Baby Teeth” established Dizzy as one of the most promising new acts in indie-pop, with their relatable lyrics and unique sound resonating with audiences worldwide.
I listened to “Baby Teeth” my freshman and sophomore years of high school. I did some living through this album. I couldn’t relate to the experiences the album talked about, but I lived them inside my head.
I wasn’t (and still am not) a very social person, nor very “rebellious.” I didn’t go to any high school parties, and I didn’t have very many close friends at the beginning of high school. I was mostly a people watcher. My teenage experiences because of this were very minimum. So, I found myself living through the experiences of this album. Love and loss of love (I didn’t date), driving around town (I couldn’t drive), laying by the pool at night (I didn’t have a pool). Basically, I romanticized what it was like to be a teenager as a teenager through this album.
Some of my favorites were “Ghost Limbs,” “Stars And Moons,” “Joshua,” and “Backstroke.”
Fun story about the song “Joshua,” I actually met a Joshua, and we became really good friends. He’s actually one of my best friends. And he’s also a Gemini, just like the song. And just like the song, we understand one another in a way I don’t think I am able to vocalize. He hasn’t broken my heart yet, that’s the one difference from the song. Anyways, I just think it’s cool that my freshman year self was singing about a Joshua and now I have one in my life that I care very deeply about.
06. Immunity by Clairo
“Immunity” is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Clairo, released in 2019. The album is a collection of introspective tracks that explore themes of love, self-discovery, and mental health. Clairo’s delicate vocals and minimalist production create an intimate atmosphere that perfectly complements the album’s vulnerable lyrics. The album’s standout tracks, such as “Bags” and “Sofia,” earned critical acclaim for their emotional depth and catchy melodies. “Immunity” established Clairo as one of the most promising new voices in indie-pop, with her candid songwriting and unique sound resonating with audiences worldwide.
“Immunity” was also freshman and sophomore year of high school album. I first listened to this album in 2019 and it was the first sapphic album I ever heard. For that reason alone, it holds a very special place in my heart.
“Bags” is MY SONG. Anytime I like someone Bags will be playing, which tells you a lot about how I deal with those kinds of emotions. Overall, it was an album that I could relate to word for word and that was a big deal. It’s an emotion album and I do consider myself super emotional, so it just works.
Picking favorites from this album is hard for me, but a few standouts would have to be the middle of the album. Starting with “North,” then “Bags,” “Softly,” and “Sofia.”
So those are some of the albums of my life. The albums that in some way or another impacted me, helped shape me, and helped me through some tough emotions.
What are the albums that shaped you?