Katherine Ely / Radio Program Director

Autumn is a season of comfortability and snugness. The holidays in the fall remind us to be thankful for one another and to have fun in the process. To me, the epitome of the fall season is creating a playlist for the upcoming months. The fall season is packed with a variety of festive activities, and each is deserving of its own spot on the playlist. 

Every great fall playlist includes a variety of acoustic tracks, to create a sense of coziness. The acoustic genre focuses on using acoustic instruments, instead of electronic ones. My top contender for this mellow mood season is the 1983 hit “Our House,” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, a soft ballad that beautifully captures a feeling of warmth. 

For the sake of not letting the opportunity go to waste, I would also include “School Spirit” by Ye. Despite his controversial nature, I always find myself listening to this song during the fall semester to get into the spirit and show some school pride at USD. 

Now, onto the fun part of the fall season: Halloween. 

Spooky season is in the middle of autumn and filled with excitement and candy. A great Halloween song is essential for getting dressed up in fun costumes and hanging out with friends. A strong, spooky playlist should include a mix of cult classics and some variety to keep the “Monster Mash” from playing on a loop for hours. 

While Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” might seem like the obvious choice, I suggest starting with another one of Jackson’s hits that I feel is quite spooky: “Smooth Criminal.” This song is fitting, no matter what time of year it is, and I believe it deserves a spot on the playlist, because it is not what people typically expect to dance to. The element of surprise and tension might be just what we need to keep the energy alive.

Another song I often associate with Halloween is the original version of Donovan’s “Season of the Witch.” Lana Del Rey has her own rendition of this song, but the original vocals by main singer, Donovan Leitch, have remained hauntingly consistent in the nearly 60 years since its release. I recommend playing this song as you decorate pumpkins.

To really spice up this seasonal soundtrack, I would also include “1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins. Besides their seasonally themed band name, “1979” always reminds me of lazy Sunday mornings in the fall before the start of a busy school week.

My final song is what lies at the heart of any great Halloween soundtrack: a goosebump- inducing baseline and a guilty pleasure. “Psycho Killer” by the Talking Heads is perfect for Halloween because it playfully describes the chilling thought of being confronted by a crazy murderer. Whether you spent months meticulously planning out a costume, or you decided last-minute to dress as a ghost with a sheet, this upbeat classic will have you boogieing in your costume wherever you go.

After hanging up our costumes, Thanksgiving is on our minds. This is the time to break out the knit sweaters and enjoy a few songs by the fire with family and friends.

This time of year is a reminder to be thankful, and what better way to celebrate the ones closest to us than by watching “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” “The Great Pumpkin Waltz” is a beautifully short song from the soundtrack that carries a nostalgic history for many who grew up listening to it. The beauty of this song lies in its ability to awaken the inner child we, as humans, often forget.

At Thanksgiving, there are two types of people in this world: those who enjoy cranberry sauce and those who do not. However, there is a third option for serving this fall dish that is just as appetizing.

The Irish Rock band, The Cranberries, has plenty of hit songs that pair wonderfully with your Thanksgiving meal. The lyrics of “Animal Instinct” describe the feelings and stresses brought on by insecurity. While the words may seem dark, the song’s lyrics might feel encouraging when faced with pesky relatives who tend to ask daunting questions about your future.

One of the defining musical genres of the fall season is jazz. Thelonious Monk’s “Stuffy Turkey” is a great jazz song to play when guests start to arrive, and it is also the perfect distraction to calm the room, when people begin to get hungry.

An essential part of every great playlist is perfecting the final song. What better way to do so than to remind everyone the significance of the Thanksgiving holiday. That is precisely the message that Bob Marley conveys in his song “Give Thanks & Praises”: that no matter what is happening in our everyday lives, we must remember to be thankful for those who have helped us along the way.

The changing seasons find a nostalgic way to connect time and emotion. Music is one of the ways we bridge and adapt these feelings to our surroundings. Hopefully, this curated playlist will help you navigate the upcoming months and bring forth the magic of the fall season.