This week, writers picked three songs they consider as guilty pleasures because, let’s be honest, we all have them.

Sarah’s picks

1. Bruno Mars – “Treasure”
2. Coldplay – “Adventure of a Lifetime”
3. Savage Garden – “I Want You”

Bruno Mars dominated my childhood, and “Treasure” is still my favorite creation of his. The recognizable drums in the beginning sets up for what the rest of the song is going to feel like: an exhilarating dance class. The song is a fun, pop track that’s easy to belt out anytime it’s played. Mars sings about a girl he likes, claiming that she is his treasure, and that he’s going to make her his, treasuring her. This song will always be sealed as a guilty pleasure in my mind just because it’s so fun to move and bop your head to. Whenever I need a song to boost my mood, Mars’ “Treasure” will always make the list.

Coldplay is easily one of the best bands of the 21st century. With hits like “Viva La Vida” and “Yellow,” everyone and their mother knows at least one song by Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin. “Adventure of a Lifetime” was released in 2015 and is one of their feel-good songs. The post-chorus lyrics, “Oh, you make me feel / Like I’m alive again” are accompanied by groovy electronic beats. This fast paced, jovial rhythm correlates with the title of the song. The listener really does go on an adventure of a lifetime. 

Throwing it back to the ‘90s, Savage Garden released their popular song “I Want You.” The music perfectly categorizes what the late ‘90s were like: progressive and thrilling. The song’s syncopated melody mixed with guitar riffs sound like an old school music video. Darren Hayes, the vocalist, sings fast in the beginning, evening out his voice by the middle. This unique feature sets this song apart from other Savage Garden songs, and makes it more memorable. Hayes melodiously sings about dreaming of a person he likes, wanting to be near them. The romantic theme of the song is emphasized by the repeating lyrics, “Ooh, I want you, I don’t know if I need you, but / Ooh, I’d die to find out.”

Eli’s picks

1. The Fray – “How to Save a Life”
2. Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up”
3. Train – “Drops of Jupiter”

Anyone who was alive in the mid 2000s is instantly transported back to simpler times whenever they hear the opening piano notes of The Fray’s “How to Save a Life.” Remaining on the Billboard Hot 100 for a whopping 50 weeks, it’s clear why the song is so ingrained in our memories. Now, after having some much needed distance from the song you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing for years, it’s worthy of reevaluation. Singer Isaac Slade was inspired to write the song by a teenager he mentored, telling USA Today, “He was just 17 and had all these problems. And no one could write a manual on how to save him.” Despite the backstory, the lyrics are abstract enough for anyone to relate to, making it one of the most emotionally resonant songs of its era.

It may be irreversibly embroidered into the tapestry of internet meme culture, but Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” is a perfect example of the lyrically shallow, boisterously produced pop music that defined the ‘80s. With the gated-reverb heavy drum machine that sounds like it’s made out of plastic and the iconic Yamaha DX7 bassline, it somehow becomes easy to ignore the lazy, uninspired lyrics and focus on the glorious excess that lies in the song’s production. Because of the song’s novelty reputation, it’s rarely taken seriously. But guilty pleasures are all about listening to music you enjoy, regardless of their quality, and there are very few songs that are as fun to listen to as “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

Released in 2001, Train’s “Drops of Jupiter” is an uplifting portrayal of grief following the death of singer Pat Monahan’s mother. Much like “How to Save a Life,” this song comes from a time when mainstream pop radio featured full bands playing their own instruments on intensely emotional songs. Aided by the sweeping strings of prolific arranger Paul Buckmaster, “Drops of Jupiter” takes the listener on a cosmic, intergalactic journey exploring ideas of death, grief and the afterlife. 

Nick’s picks

1. Justin Bieber – “One Less Lonely Girl”
2. Wings – “SIlly Love Songs”
3. Darius Rucker – “Wagon Wheel”

I am very lucky that my Justin Bieber phase lined up perfectly with my little sister’s Justin Bieber phase. She would force our parents to listen to Bieber in the car, and I would roll my eyes and grimace, but, deep down, I was happy to hear it. Bieber’s early albums are the epitome of 2010s pop. Songs like “Boyfriend” have that whispery tone that was big 10 years ago, and “Baby” is the perfect combo of cheesy love song, teenage heart-throb and weird but somehow good rap verse, all of which are perfect 2010s cliches. Yet, I love the song. If I’m in a bad mood and want to instantly feel better, I’ll jump into my car and blast “My World” and “My World 2.0” on full volume until that’s no longer the case.

Wings’ “Silly Love Songs” has no redeemable musical value. It’s full of trite pop tropes, and there is nothing special about the melody, harmony or anything else the song brings to the table. Despite all of this valid criticism, I don’t think the world has enough “Silly Love Songs.” The usage of recognizable tonal backgrounds and well-known instrumentation makes the song easy to listen to. The lyrics feel almost like a pastiche of love songs. The chorus just repeats the words “I love you” four times. Simple joy is the key to the song. Sometimes lush instrumentation, complex and interesting harmonic choices or anything else that we think makes up the criteria for good music doesn’t matter; rather, at least for “Silly Love Songs,” the ability to make you smile is the only thing that matters.

Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel” is about as cheesy as modern country can get. The unnecessary fiddle intro, the heavily auto-tuned vocals and the almost juvenile drum groove create a three-headed monster that I need to fight off any time modern country gets mentioned. Rucker takes this monster, this concoction that feels to me to be everything wrong with modern country, and makes it fun. I genuinely hate admitting that I like this song. I feel like my country idols John Prine and Blaze Foley are looking down on my scowling, but I can’t lie about it any longer. No matter how bad it should be, “Wagon Wheel” is good.