What’s Oberlin Listening To?The Summer Ends

Sloane D

Illustration by Alex U

We’re back on campus, and you know what that means: it’s time to catch up on what Oberlin’s been listening to.

It’s already well past summer break, so it doesn’t feel quite like the right time for a “songs of the summer” type of article, but it also feels weird to act like it’s Deep Fall right now—the leaves are only just starting to shift from green to yellow, and it’s still disgustingly hot out, but it also gets kind of crisp at night and it’s September. We’re in this weird limbo season that’s sort of hard to describe—but music generally does a pretty good job at that. 

So I took to Instagram, Wilder Bowl, and the comically long flu shot line in Wilder Hall to ask Obies: what’s a song that reminds you of the late summer and/or early fall? As always, I got a diverse range of responses, with a refreshingly minimal presence of midwest emo. Unfortunately I still couldn’t resist the temptation to reference that one American Football song. Sorry, everyone. Here’s some music from people with better taste than me.

Scattered Leaves – The Be Good Tanyas

Hello Love (2006)

Contemporary folk

“I think fall always leads me towards folky music, especially less ultra-produced folk. The Be Good Tanyas are a modern folk group, but it’s not like they’re an indie folk group. I feel like their work has more of a traditional edge. It’s also a song about fall, at least partially, which helps.” –Natasha Dracobly

This Time Tomorrow – The Kinks

Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Pt. 1 (1970)

Pop rock, folk rock, rock & roll

“It reminds me of a very specific place at home, this field with a hill, and the way that the sun looks. It’s probably because I listened to it once when I was there, but I think it’s also reminiscent of change and nostalgia. For me, nostalgia is associated with the change of seasons, and how I’ve watched the seasons year after year, especially from home. I think being in a different place but still seeing the same changes occur is comforting in a way. Fall in Ohio is different from fall in Maine, and I like that.” –Eva Crikelair

Caribbean Blue – Enya

Shepherd Moons (1991)

New Age

“I listened to it a lot last fall, and I’m not a big Enya fan, but for some reason this song had such a grip on me and it just felt very reflective.” –Eva Fraser

Speakers Push the Air – Pretty Girls Make Graves

Good Health (2002)

Post-hardcore, emo, noise pop

“I think this song has a lot to do with memories based around music, which sounds super generic, but I think that there’s a big difference between the life I live during the summer and the life I live during the fall. And I like that this song reflects the transitional period where I start feeling more comfortable with myself.” –Jay Beal

Supermassive Black Hole – Muse

Black Holes and Revelations (2006)

Alternative rock

“I watched Twilight and now I can’t stop.” –Susannah Poese

Dear McCracken – Bug Hunter

The Rough Draft (2018)

Indie pop, singer-songwriter

“Fall seems like a good season for a romance that never was.” –Em Herrema

I Only Have Eyes for You – The Flamingos

Flamingo Serenade (1959)

Doo-wop, R&B

“It feels so fall and very much ‘night at a party.’ Like watching someone you love and nothing stands out to you but that.” –Nimala Sivakumar

Cherrystones – Eugene McDaniels

Outlaw (2005)

Psychedelic soul, folk rock

“Summer is over but I’m ignoring my work.” –Ava Allen

Come Over – MJ Lenderman

MJ Lenderman (2019)

Alt-country, slowcore, slacker rock

“Perfectly driving and hazy, just like the end of summer.” –Owen Bassett

My Life in Art – Mojave 3

Excuses for Travellers (2000)

Alt-country, slowcore, dream pop

“It’s so slow and soft in a way that feels like a late August morning or September dusk.” –Mattias Rowenbale

‘Tis Autumn – Nat King Cole Trio

The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio (1993, track originally recorded 1950)

“It’s a very warm and comforting song that makes me feel connected to the world around me as the seasons start to change.” –Liv Fennuccio

Tin Man – America

Holiday (1974)

Soft rock, folk rock

“America is a very summery band. Oz never did give nothing to the tin man.” –James Purcell

The Dead Come Talking – Roe Kapara

Big Cigars and Satin Shorts (2024)

Indie pop

“It’s spooky and it feels like fall colors.” –Julia Argilan

Fall Into You – Colvin Iorio & Jeremiah Ince

Fall Into You (2024)

Indie pop

“It reminds me of one last time at the beach before summer ends.” –Jeremiah Ince

Harvest Moon – Neil Young

Harvest Moon (1992)

Singer-songwriter, folk rock

“Because real harvest moon tomorrow night [Tuesday].” –Ben Sanchez

Early Sunsets Over Monroeville – My Chemical Romance

I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (2002)

Post-hardcore, emo, pop punk

“It always reminds me of fall because it’s based on the movie Dawn of the Dead.” –Bastet Zyla

Dog Days Are Over – Florence + The Machine

Lungs (2009)

Indie pop, art pop

“This is kinda the song that symbolizes something ending for me.” –Spencer Elkind

Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand – Primitive Radio Gods

Rocket (1996)

Alternative rock

“It just feels like autumn.” –Indigo Brandstein

Dallas Love Field – Henry Jamison

The Wilds (2017)

Singer-songwriter, indie folk

“It ironically gives summer into fall energy when those are the only two seasons it doesn’t mention by name.” –Sophie Montague

Breakfast of Champions – Rainer Maria

Look Now Look Again (1999)

Midwest emo

“It’s an end of summer song to me. Reminds me of early September and things coming to an end and saying goodbye to your friends.” –Fern Slater