Graduation is around the corner. Navigating the stages of early adulthood, such as relationships, breakups, career and self-discovery, can be difficult.
People express these sentiments in a plethora of ways, from movies, to books and music. Music can provide the soundtrack for this era of life, and many songs encapsulate the emotions that come with young adulthood, transition and coming of age.
“CTRL,” SZA’s 2017 debut album, is packed with introspective songs examining themes of tumultuous romantic relationships, heartbreak, loneliness and self-worth as well as coping with adulthood.
“20 Something,” the last song on the album’s tracklist, details SZA’s frustration with the progress she is making in life. The artist laments about the lack of ownership, people and time moving on as she feels stagnated in her life.
The song “Prom” from “CTRL” also addresses the same fears. The song opens with her anxiety about not doing enough, maturing slowly and missing important milestones in her adult life. She dreams of a future where money erases the pain and current mistakes dissipate, asking the world and people around her for forgiveness.
Though the entirety of “CTRL” is a quintessential coming-of-age album, the album’s third single, which has gone eight times platinum in the U.S., “Broken Clocks,” stands out. On this track, SZA displays the fleeting nature of time as her inability to balance all the events and relationships in her life.
The track resonates with listeners using the majority of their time building professional experience at the cost of deteriorating relationships with friends, family and partners.
Moving away from “CTRL,” Ravyn Lenae’s last album, “Bird’s Eye,” featuring “Pilot” constitutes a quintessential coming-of-age despite its recent release.
On “Pilot,” Lenae offers assurance and perspective on what seems to be aimlessness in her life. Comparing herself to a plane pilot, she comforts herself and the listener, assuring that despite the crashes and turbulence, she continues to soar and find her way.
Tame Impala’s “Currents” album hosts a range of songs, similar to Lenae’s “Pilot,” encouraging listeners to go with the flow and not feel the pressure of the impending future. Both “Let It Happen” and “The Moment” embody the themes of adaptability and flexibility with the “currents” of life.
Khalid’s “American Teen” song and album, despite being created as he was transitioning from high school, can easily extend to fit the themes of post-college graduation. The opening and title track, “American Teen,” itself is bittersweet, enjoying the current moments of celebration and youth with the bittersweetness of transition and change lingering in the back of Khalid’s mind.
With “eyes on grey skies” and hoping to be awoken in the springtime, Khalid chooses to grapple with impending changes through the celebration of youth.
“Cranes in the Sky” by Solange is a redirection and reflection song, grappling with whatever issues life presents someone with. Solange wrote the song at 22-years-old, after divorcing her first husband and father of her child, who she was with since age 13.
In this song, Solange lists the coping mechanisms she practiced to overcome her sadness because it casts over her metal cranes in construction sites.
Many listeners have been in Solange’s position, trying to escape and cope with the struggles and transitions of life.
“Pink +White,” one of Frank Ocean’s signature songs, reflects on lessons he learned from a friend who died. It was produced by Pharrell and featured background vocals from Beyoncé.
Its musical components, in combination with its introspective lyrics examining tragedy, mortality and reflection, serve as a more melancholic coming-of-age track.
“Didn’t Cha Know” from Erykah Badu’s sophomore album “Mama’s Gun” is another song that explores the feeling of aimlessness. However, Badu fully realizes she “was born to make mistakes,” and is unbothered by the small bumps she makes on her journey, trusting her “heart will guide me back.”
“Didn’t Cha Know” gives the listener a level of security in understanding they don’t have to be perfect and eventually they will figure things out.
“Young, Fresh N’ New” by Kelis is different from many of the somber and slow-paced songs on this list. “Young, Fresh N’ New” is bold, with Neptune's production, which instantly grabs the attention of the listener.
Kelis expresses her need to get away from the things holding her back from her full potential including location and family. This song emphasizes leaving behind the familiar and embracing the young, fresh and new.
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