As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, the music we listen to shifts to reflect the beauty and melancholy of autumn. This playlist captures the essence of fall through a diverse range of songs, from pop punk anthems to haunting melodies. Each track evokes feelings of nostalgia, change, transitions and warmth, making them perfect companions for cozy evenings or brisk walks among fallen leaves. Whether you’re looking for cozy and snug or haunting and dreary, these ten tracks cover all of your Fall music needs.
Check out the Full Playlist HERE.
Decode – Paramore
Pop Punk (2008)
It might be because of the music video, or the stylistic choice to match the dreary vibes of Twilight, but this song is a perfect fall song to start this list off. I don’t like Twilight, but I love this song. Paramore usually has a bit of upbeat and quirkiness that adds to a lighter sound. However, this song shows that the band has a decent range. I love the guitar and drums, and with Hayley Williams’ amazing voice, this song is listened to year round for me. However, it sounds better when listened to it in the fall.
I bought the music video to this song off iTunes to have on my iPod when I was seven. Hayley Williams was my first ever celebrity crush and I have this song and music video to thank for that.
Chemtrails Over the Country Club – Lana Del Rey
Pop (2021)
Lana Del Rey has her fair share of songs that give off a fall vibe. Like If You Lie Down With Me, Gods & Monsters and The Blackest Day, but it was Chemtrails Over the Country Club that sounded the most fall to me. Not only does the sound give off autumn vibes, there is a set of lyrics mentioned “as the summer gets cool” that justifies this being my main pick from Lana. This is also one of my favorite songs by her so there is a bit of bias.
The sing-songy tone of the song is done to perfection. Her voice can be soft yet full of power. The harmonies towards the end of the song make this track. I wouldn’t necessarily call this song bleak, but it is bleak in a fun and exciting way. It’s kind of like how fall is, leaves are falling, and the color starts to fade from the world, but it’s in a fun and pretty way, like this song.
Sunday Morning – No Doubt
Pop Rock, Dance Rock (1995)
Maybe it’s the album cover that gives off a fall vibe with the barren orange tree and the overall look of the cover art. However, this song is more upbeat and not as dark from a sound standpoint. You could argue the opening track to the same album Spiderwebs would be a better pick. However, when I listen to Sunday Morning it’s fun and upbeat, yet it still reminds me of fall. Gwen Stefani’s voice is obviously front and center but the instruments on this track, especially the drumming by Adrian Young is the unsung hero of the track. The pop and dance elements of this song make it seem like it’s anything but a fall song, but I argue it is.
Hunter’s Moon – Ghost
Hard Rock, Alternative Metal (2021)
There’s going to be a trend of bands that seem to have been made for the fall season. The band Ghost is one of them. Dance Macabre, Spillways, Mary On A Cross and even Ritual all make my “Autumn Vibes” playlist. Even more songs by this band make up my “Halloween Vibes” playlist. Their 80’s pop and even classic rock influence, mixed with modern mixing, catchy choruses and easy to listen songs are all reasons why this multi-Grammy winning band is as popular as they are. Furthermore, their use of organs and choirs helps add to a spooky vibe and contrasts a lot of their more upbeat sounds. Not a lot of bands, especially ones that are in the mainstream, use organs or choirs.
However, their light and fun sound is contrasted to their “satanic” lyrics. I say that in quotes because it seems that all religious themes are more of a gimmick than anything. It’s used for shock value and adds to a very visual and entertaining live show, that hasn’t been seen in a long time. It seems to be more of a marketing stunt than a true belief system held by the band and its fans.
I chose Hunter’s Moon for a couple of reasons. First, a “hunter’s moon” is a full moon in October. October is the main month people think of for fall, and what’s more Halloween/autumn themed than a full moon? Furthermore, this song is in the 2021 horror film, Halloween Kills. Lastly, this song has a bit of a darker theme and overall sound to it that makes it the best fall pick, although many of their songs can and should be listened to this season.
Look On Down From The Bridge – Mazzy Star
Dream Pop, Melancholia (1996)
Speaking of organs, this song’s main instrument is an organ. It’s a sad but beautiful song that encompasses the season. This season is when it gets colder, a lot of the greenery and plant life is dying off, and it’s rather sad. However, there is also beauty in it as well. Just because there is sadness, doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful as well. That goes for seasons, songs, movies and really anything. This song’s lyrics have been interpreted to mean suicide, the loss of a life, or even commentary on hardships in life. Overall, it is a dreary and sad song, that has a lot of beauty in it as well.
Pictures of You – The Cure
Gothic Rock, Rock (1989)
Unlike most of the other tracks that explicitly mention fall or are haunting and perfect for the season, this track is a little different. This song is about someone reminiscing on a former lover and the memories they shared. The song isn’t upbeat, but it isn’t sad sounding either. The lyrics on the other hand are rather sad and create the autumn vibe. Both the theme of this song and the season share the end of life and beauty. Similar to the No Doubt pick, this song just feels like a great song to take a fall walk to. This song takes the stark, black-and-white feelings of a sad breakup and adds depth to them. It brings a sense of joy in remembering, mixed with sadness from longing. This reflects the essence of fall, where beauty can be found in endings and transitions.
Autumn’s Air (Remastered) – If I Were You
Metalcore (2019)
One of my favorite things in music is a chorus that has a lot of range in pitch but ends on a high note. This is known as climactic or soaring melodies, and metalcore has a lot of those. Mixed with heavy versus with harsh vocals and soaring choruses, this is a perfect metalcore song for Fall. If I Were You is a lesser known metalcore group but has been around for over a decade. This type of song isn’t for everyone and can be seen as anything but the chill, colder and even darker vibes that come with Fall. Yet, if you like this kind of music, it is a great choice for the season.
Autumn – Caligula’s Horse
Djent, Progressive Metal (2020)
This is one of the most underrated bands that is currently making music. Yes, the genre is niche and specific, but a lot of songs, like this track, I’m shocked that it doesn’t have more listeners. This song shares a similar path to how the season is. The song starts mild and slow, picks up with temperature change but keeps calm and controlled emotions. However, towards the end of the song, like how Fall ends and becomes winter, it becomes harsher and a bit heavier. To add to the Fall feelings, this song’s lyrics mention a lot of change. Fall is known as the season of big changes. Excellent lyrics combined with great instruments and a gentle vocal performance come together to create a truly beautiful song.
Buckbeak’s Flight – John Williams
Classical, Soundtrack (2004)
A different pick in terms of song choice, this is the first score or music from a film that I have included in any of my lists. John Williams is one of my favorite composers of all time and creates truly magnificent and fantastic works. It really transports the listener into the world in which the film takes place. In this case, Harry Potter. And what better Harry Potter film to choose from for a fall playlist than The Prisoner of Azkaban. The third film in the series is notably darker in themes and visually too. It feels like this is the Autumn of all the movies in the series.
This track, along with the scene it goes with, is one of my favorites in Harry Potter. The bleak colors beautifully contrast with the soaring melodies, capturing the sense of freedom it brings to the character. Like many songs on this list, it masterfully blends moments of happiness and excitement with darker, more somber elements, creating a rich emotional tapestry that resonates deeply with the listener/viewer.
Crows – Keith Wallen
Rock, Alternative Rock (2019)
Keith Wallen is a talented musician who is most known for his work as the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist for Breaking Benjamin. He also has his fingerprints as a writer on many other contemporary rock songs. This song shows he clearly has enough talent to sustain a solo project. This haunting yet catchy song is a great slower rock song with dark fall vibes. This song starts out slowly but gains powerful melodies while keeping the same grim sound throughout.
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