Songs to Walk Down the Street to

The title pretty much says it all. I don't know what it is about these songs that make them perfect to walk down the street to. Their commonality seems to be a jauntiness - a spring in the lyrical step that inspires one in your own.

Sincerity is Scary - the 1975

When I imagine how I walk down the street to these songs, it's the way Matty walks down the street in this music video. The darkness (and cruelty, actually) of the lyrics juxtaposes the playfully lazy melody that has a swing to it. It's like the song is propelled by that swing: the only thing keeping Matty going in the face of the nihilism is inertia (people forget inertia applies just as much to objects in motion).

Paris - the 1975

I promise they're not all by the 1975. I associate Paris, the song I feel in love with in the depths of winter, with walking around my old neighbourhood and central London amidst the snow, trying not to slip on ice, with a hot coffee in my hand. I was very, very sad at that point, and Paris helped me see through my sadness. I will not articulate further. The song, to me, feels icy.

Something about that underlying persistent arpeggio riff thing at the start (again, I don't have the adequate music terminology) just encourages you to keep one foot in front of the other.

G Funk - Mackned

Again, it's that swing. And your feet can't help but stomp down the street in time to "P, AYE, I-m-P". For the longest time, I didn't realise that it was "aye" and not "A", and wondered what a PAIMP was, lmao. PIMP, Sa, PIMP. This song is very summery, and not only have I walked down the street to it, I've also cruised down the street to this song in my car with the windows down, feeling like a PIMP, especially at the lines "I got bored with my beamer, so I copped me a benz" - gosh I'm silly. But I won't apologise.

Gorilla - Little Simz

Again with the summery feeling. Can't you imagine walking down the street, maybe the balmy start of an evening, wearing an oversized shirt and bike shorts? All I want is to be on the ends dropping gems with my friends. Which I guess I am.

I Want To Break Free - QUEEN

This song makes me so happy. I do want to break free, and this song, when I am walking down the street, breaks open the mundanity of the day and lightens the air. Bonus points if you joyfully tilt your head right, then left, in time to "God knows!"

Take a Walk - Passion Pit

Obligatory.