Ah, yes. Nothing like reflecting on simpler times, like before finals. And even before I was born! Finals is such a stressful time, and even “adults” at college need some kind of comfort. Some students find it in fuzzy socks and Christmas movies. Some find their comfort in their favorite food and a warm blanket. Meanwhile, I find my comfort in music that makes me think of home and my family. Growing up, both my mom and my grandma always listened to our local “oldies” station, Groovy 94.1!
Ranging from The Temptations to Madonna, I heard about every type of music growing up from generations before me. Whenever I am homesick and stressed, I usually listen to 80s pop. But recently, after a late night infomercial, I cannot stop listening to 70s funk music that blared from our radio in the kitchen my entire childhood. Hours upon hours of 70s funk exists, but I narrowed my list down to the songs that truly pushed me to the end of the semester.
1. Parliament- Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)
This song has been pushing me hard to complete this semester, so I can “tear the roof off the sucker” and celebrate that I made it through another semester of undergrad. When my spirits are low and I feel completely depleted from the excessive essays and study guides, I play this song to pep myself up and remind myself of my end goal: to finish finals strong and get funky. Not to mention, I personally idolize funk legend, George Clinton, who is the front man of this bizarre, but groovy, band!
2. Hues Corporation- Rock the Boat
The starting lyrics of this classic pretty much summarizes all of my thoughts toward my professors at this point in the semester. “So I’d like to know where you got the notion, to rock the boat (don’t rock the boat, baby).” And while the band members may be singing about their significant other, I am singing about my grades. Stop rocking them, professor, I like my grades. This song also takes me back to my house, with my two sisters singing this at the top of their lungs. And that alone is enough comfort to get me by.
3. Ohio Players- Love Rollercoaster
My entire relationship with this semester has been a love rollercoaster. One second, I enjoy all my classes. And then I go through one loop, and I am crying from stress. College is a constant up and down, full of both love and hate. This 1975 funk classic has been featured in many films and television shows and anytime I hear it, it automatically lightens my mood.
4. The Commodores- Easy
“Girl, I’m leaving you tomorrow,” I sing out these lyrics as I walk to my next to last final on campus. The Commodores pretty much captured my exact fantasies as I keep my nights late and my assignments hard: I want to be easy like a Sunday morning. Sleep in late, wake up happy and stress-free to some nice breakfast made by my dad. “I wanna be free, just me,” I whisper to myself as I conform to the man and turn in all of my final assignments.
5. The Chi-Lites- Have You Seen Her?
This 1971 hit is one of my all-time favorite soulful songs. Truly embodies the music of the time: love and love lost. Meanwhile, I see it as a personal search for me as I hide away in study lounges and libraries cramming for my exams. “Have you seen her? Tell me, have you seen her?” At least I know The Chi-Lites are searching for me as go into hiding for extended amounts of time.
