Laura Redpath’s Playlist
Mr Brightside – The Killers
This song came out while I was studying for my standard grades and it reminds me of fun time with friends in between school and exams. I distinctively remember finishing my shift at a café on New Year’s Eve (or Hogmanay for me in Scotland) in 2004 and going into Woolworths to buy Hot Fuss, the album this song was featured on, with my tips from the Christmas season. According to my mum there weren’t many other songs to be heard coming from my room once this CD was part of my collection. When I got a turntable for Christmas recently, of course Hot Fuss was one of the first LPs I bought.
UGLY – 2NE1
About a year after graduating from uni I taught in English as a foreign language in South Korea for two years. This song was on repeat everywhere when I first arrived. 2NE1 were huge at the time and pretty much the original BlackPink. Hearing the song takes me back to the adventures I had over there and attempting to sing it in karaoke rooms!
Defying Gravity – Wicked
Before I joined the Playlist for Life, I worked in theatre comms and so I’d love to be able to be transported back that era. While Billy Elliot is my favourite ever musical, Defying Gravity is my favourite ever musical number. It’s really empowering and with such a distinctive hook it’ll no doubt take me back to watching Elphaba ‘fly’ and remind me about my love for live theatre.
Atlantic City – Bruce Springsteen
My dad is a big fan of The Boss and would have his tapes in the car and this song is the one that always stuck in mind. While it’s far from his most popular song, it’s always been my favourite and will make me think of being chauffeured around to friend’s houses and dance classes in my school years.
Out of the Woods – Taylor Swift
I’m a huge Swiftie so it’d be criminal for me not include a song from what’s becoming a very large back catalogue of Taylor tunes. As any Swiftie will know, it’s hard to pick just one song but Out of the Woods is one of my all-time faves. Simple in melody and structure but an absolute banger of a track with one of her best bridges ever. Someone once told me it’s not a party song, but best believe I’m first on the dance floor when this comes on.
