A Spotify playlist about growing up

This playlist touches on the different facets of growing up and the necessary pains associated with the lifelong process.

1. Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell

This playlist is opened by Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.” I chose this song as the first track because it tells of the disillusionment experienced by someone realizing that life is not always about sunny days and cloudless skies. There will be good and bad times. And I believe it is a sign of maturity when someone comes to terms with that fact. Our innocence on the realities of life ended when we fully understood that we will not be able to appreciate the good times without experiencing the bad ones.

2. Billy by Isbells

“Billy” tells the story of Billy, a sad and beautiful boy with a lonely past. His mother was oblivious to this as well as his father who was not home all the time. Billy has kept all of this bottled resulting to a sad childhood. But growing up meant hope for Billy as this allowed him to leave, forgive, and forget his hurtful past.

3. Innocent by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift wrote “Innocent” following the infamous 2009VMA where she was interrupted by Kanye West during her acceptance speech for winning Video of the Year for “You Belong With Me.”

Removing the 2009 VMA drama from the scenario, “Innocent” is warm blanket hugging you and reminding you that even though you have made mistakes you will always be that innocent child.

4. Old Now by Rosemary & Garlic

“Old Now” is a haunting and beautiful introspection of the march of time and how it affects our parents as much as it does us.

5. Eugene by Sufjan Stevens

“Eugene”, a song from Sufjan Stevens is a recollection of Stevens’ childhood memories from summers in Eugene, Oregon.

Growing up there would be times when I’d remember some of my childhood memories back in Visca. It would be a montage of me playing shatom with my friends, attending Flores de Mayo every summer vacation, biking around Visca, going to the beach, and watching cartoons in the afternoon after classes. I’m grateful that my childhood was a great one because it helped me become the person I am today.

6. Stop this Train by John Mayer

“Stop this Train” is a realization that us growing up means our parents are also growing older. When we were younger we don’t seem to entertain that idea until we’re faced with the harsh truth. What’s scary is nothing and no one can stop this train called life. What we can do is to enjoy the ride and appreciate our parents while they’re still here.

7. Older by Sasha Sloan

“Older” is a song about realizing the difference between how you understood love when you were younger and what it means to you now that you’ve grown older and a bit wiser. It’s a sad but also a necessary discovery because it allows us to look at love in a different light.

8. Seventeen by Alessia Cara

Our view and perspective about different things change when we grow up.

I don’t know about you but I never wanted to grow old fast. I wanted to take my time and enjoy my childhood. I think I might have enjoyed it too much that’s why I am still at times immature.

I can only think that some people might have wanted or wished to grow up fast because of their experiences. “Seventeen” tells exactly that.

9. Midtown Waitress by The Paper Kites

Growing older means experiencing “independence.” For us Filipinos, independence does not happen when we reach 18 because of our culture. That may be a good or bad thing. But regardless, many of us seek the thrilling feeling of being “on our own.” It’s a wonderful feeling for us but it can also mean the opposite for our parents. This is captured poignantly in “Midtown Waitress” a song about a daughter having a conversation with her mother. In the song she tells her experiences on moving out and living in the city with her partner. The daughter is excited with the independence she has, disregarding the hurt that this have caused her mother. But because the taste of independence is exhilarating, she continues living that way even if she has experienced losing her job and her boyfriend to religion.

"Oh the things we do to make it on our own" is my favorite line from the song.

10. 26 by Paramore

“26” is a hopeful song. This song is a conversation between Hayley Williams and her younger self.

It is a reminder to never lose that spark in your life even when things get a little dark and hope seems lost.

11. Growing Pains by Maria Mena

“Growing Pains” is about being heartbroken by a breakup and how painful it can be. But the pain, although it stings, is necessary for the healing to begin. And before you know it, you’ve become stronger and wiser because of the whole experience. 

This song may not fit with the idea of the playlist. But believe you me, as we grow older we will experience having our heart broken by people we love. That's just life.

12. Second Chance by Lucy Rose

“Second Chance” as the title suggests is about having a second chance to believe in oneself. The song narrates the life of this “older” person. When she saw an old photograph of her she realized that she has been beautiful and truthful ever since. And so this became a turning point in her life to start loving herself because she hasn’t done that for a long time.

We might have the same experience with the old woman in the song but as long as we live there will be second chances for us to love ourselves more that what we did in the past.

13. The Sun Will Come Up, The Season Will Change by Nina Nesbitt

Have you ever found yourself going back to a point in your life when things were difficult and then returning to the present and realizing that things will get better in time? That's what “TSWCU, TSWC” is all about - being hopeful for the future.

14. Grow by Muna

"Grow" by Muna is a straightforward song about having the desire to grow by removing the childish aspects from one's life. This is the first track from their album “Muna Saves the World” but I decided to make it the closer to the playlist because for me growing is a never-ending process. The song is a yearning, a mantra to remind oneself to seek growth in any form and way.

Although it is a painful process, it is necessary because growth should be constant in our life.