Destination Jam: Top 5 nostalgia-inducing indie pop songs, from MGMT's 'Time to Pretend' to 'I Dare You' by The xx
Music lovers out there, it's time to make another choice pick of songs from a particular genre on today's Destination Jam playlist. Indie pop has been around for decades and has a legacy featuring a smorgasbord of artists to choose from, we're sure everyone has a variety of favorites, but we want to showcase some of the most memorable and best indie pop songs in a quick nostalgic trip. So, check out our top five indie pop songs that we simply can't forget below.
MGMT: 'Time to Pretend'
A track that instantly strikes infectious the moment the beat kicks in, MGMT's 'Time To Pretend' also goes down on our list as one of the band's best tracks of all time. The thickened thump of the drums, the sweeping bassy electronics combined with the cheerful insectoid-resonating synth make for both a bizarre and catchy pairing, and such creativity remains timeless. 'Time to Pretend' featured on the band's 2007 debut studio album 'Oracular Spectacular' and has appeared on both Rolling Stone's and NME's list of 'The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time'.
Vampire Weekend - 'This Life'
This song by Vampire Weekend is one of the more recent tracks on our list, which released in April last year. Dipping into the sounds of surf rock, 'This Life' carries a pepped-up rhythm as brushed percussion with a Latin shuffle, vibrant guitar riffs, and handclaps. The official music video carries a sense of nostalgia along with feel-good music, yet is contrasted to the darker tone of frontman Ezra Koenig's lyrics, such as "Baby I know hate. Is always waiting at the gate; I just thought we'd locked the gate when we left in the morning. And I was told that war. Is how we landed on these shores; I just thought the drums of war'd be louder warnings."
The 1975 - 'Somebody Else'
Mind the turn to sadness, but for fans of more melodic music, The 1975's 'Somebody Else' is undeniably enchanting. The warm synth coupled with an '80s-tipped beat, as Matthew Healy sings of dealing with heartbreak on a night alone, are both heavy in weight and inviting. If you lost a lover in 2016 and had this song playing for your comfort after its release, avoid clicking play on the below the music video. If not, listen to one of the most emotional tracks by 'The 1975'.
The xx - 'I Dare You'
Following the similar sounds of the slower jam above, this track released in 2017 and gets a music video with a star-studded cast of actors. Millie Bobby Brown (most commonly known as Eleven from 'Stranger Things') and Paris Jackson (from the dark comedy 'Gringo' and Michael Jackson's daughter) appear in the video. Check it out below. 'I Dare You' is dreamy, subtly romantic and heartbreaking. The first verse goes, "I'm in love with it. Intoxicated. I'm enraptured. From the inside I can feel that you want to. Wake up high on it. Feel it suspending. I'm enamored. Way up in the sky I can see that you want to."
Two Door Cinema Club - 'What You Know'
We lift up your energies with this funky number and the final track on our playlist. 'What You Know' released a decade ago and with one of the most infectious grooves you've heard from an indie-pop band, it's not easily forgotten. The song peaked at No. 64 on the UK Singles Chart and has been used in popular culture as well as in the 2012 Microsoft Outlook.com online adverts.
Destination Jam is a daily list of songs that will keep you entertained and grooving up top in lieu of feeling drained and losing the plot. Look out for a fresh selection of great tunes from MEAWW to refresh your mood every day!
