It is about the time when college students start to get ready for a spring semester filled with exams, papers, late night cram sessions, stress, stress, and even more stress. Although I could write about this upcoming season of torture, I would rather take a few moments of your time while reading this article to reflect back on a great part of my five-week vacation from all things school.
I took a trip to the past for this winter break. Not literally, of course, just through my computer screen. Immediately following my last exam, I knew that I had to catch up on some much needed binge watching of some great TV shows. Despite the amount of show recommendations that I received from my friends, I decided to watch a show that became a cultural phenomenon for every all about 14 years ago. It is a little show that I like to call, The O.C. Now, I understand how late I may be in watching this, but, in my defense, I was originally too young to understand the serious underlying themes and tone of every episode, despite Seth Cohen's humor and lightheartedness. So, fast forward 14 years and here I am at 19 years old, on my break, opening my laptop, and seriously regretting that I did not watch this show with my older sister when the show was at its peak. Oh 2003, how I miss you.
So, to celebrate my recognition of the greatest show of the 2000s, instead of listing off noteworthy scenes until my readers have all essentially experienced this show, I've compiled a list of my 20 favorite songs that made the show an essential one for the teenage experience. They truly inspired me to want to take a road trip to good ol' Newport Beach! This show, and its music, was the first of its kind to introduce indie bands like Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers, Rooney, and Modest Mouse to the world of Top 40, while simultaneously making the geeky, comic book-loving character the OG of all music hipsters. Although we can't bring back the show, we certainly can celebrate all of the great music that The O.C. introduced our generation to. Here's to Ryan, Marissa, Seth, Summer, Sandy, Kirsten, Julie, Captain Oats, Princess Sparkle, and the bagel slicer. California, here we come.
1. Phantom Planet, "California"
2. Bloc Party, "Blue Light (Engineers 'Anti-Gravity Remix)"
3. The Dandy Warhols, "We Used To Be Friends"
4. South, "Paint The Silence"
5. Mazzy Star, "Into Dust"
6. Bryan Adams, "Wonderwall"
7. Aqueduct, "Hardcore Days & Softcore Nights"
8. Finley Quaye & William Orbit, "Dice"
9. The Killers, "Smile Like You Mean It"
10. Death Cab for Cutie, "The Sound of Settling"
11. Spoon, "The Way We Get By"
12. Interpol, "Evil"
13. Rogue Wave, "Publish My Love"
14. Youth Group, "Forever Young"
15. Patrick Park, "Life Is A Song"
16. Imogen Heap, "Hide and Seek"
17. Keane, "A Bad Dream"
18. Modest Mouse, "Float On"
19. Laptop, "Want In?"
20. Coldplay, "Fix You"
Did you enjoy the songs above and do you want more music from "The O.C.?" Here is a complete list of all of the songs used on the show and the geniuses behind them!
