I find sad playlists quite striking. If, like me, you consider yourself something of a Spotify Big Brother, lurking on the friend activity of everyone you know, you will know how prevalent of a phenomenon these playlists are. We all have them: those self-indulgent collections of tracks which are curated over time; the ones with names like ‘mellow’ and ‘wallowing’. We’ve all felt the restorative power of an inoffensive afternoon spent sulking in bed listening to Radiohead or on a silly little mental health walk to the soundtrack of Taylor Swift, letting yourself be engulfed in an overpowering Bad Mood. But sometimes, for better or for worse, the busy Cambridge lifestyle means we might not have the luxury of dedicating a day to indulging a bad mood. Instead, I’ve recently discovered how powerful a light-hearted ‘sad playlist’ can be.

“In an unhinged moment of inspiration, I remembered that the song ‘Tubthumping’ by Chumbawamba existed, and was struck by the desire to play it”

Since coming to university, I have concluded that another approach is to shift the mood of those playlists towards a vibe which will hype you up and remind you that you have the resilience to cope with the curveballs of Cambridge. Without going into depressing details, in the dreaded Week 5 of Michaelmas term, I experienced a day where pretty much everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I thought everything was lost; I cycled home from Sidgwick almost straight after I had arrived, utterly defeated, to bask in the commiseration and solidarity of my flatmates. In an unhinged moment of inspiration, I remembered that the song ‘Tubthumping’ by Chumbawamba existed, and was struck by the desire to play it. Those familiar with this uplifting tune can already imagine the power it holds to revive a Cambridge student destitute of emotional motivation; those who are not should heed my advice and take a listen. That experience meant I was able to return to Sidgwick that very same afternoon to finish my work and meet my deadlines with a fresh attitude inspired by this track. That night, I was emotionally stirred to create a playlist to suit that exact mood: despondency at the difficulty of my degree, anger at the utterly overwhelming Cambridge workload, yet also a reminder of the joy I have felt throughout my time here so far, and ultimately, how grateful I am to live where I live.

So here are the ingredients you need to create your own simple playlist to nip those tragic feelings in the bud, and carry you through the stages of the Cambridge blues. The crucial factor is to include songs which make you laugh. It’s perfect for tiresome cycle rides to your faculty when you’re most in need of a mood boost. This playlist won’t be pretty, but it works wonders. Smile, you’re in Cambridge!

“The crucial factor is to include songs which make you laugh. It’s perfect for tiresome cycle rides to your faculty when you’re most in need of a mood boost”

1. ‘Tubthumping’ by Chumbawamba comes in at a strong number one purely because of its cheesy yet truly inspirational intro: ‘Truth is, I thought it mattered… but does it, bollocks… not compared to how people matter’; I thought this represented the reality of life at this institution quite well. Then there’s the chorus, which is quite a good approach to life here: ‘I get knocked down, but I get up again’. I did genuinely listen to this the majority of days towards the end of last term.
2. The second most important factor to consider when you are creating your playlist is a track with a nutty drumbeat. In my opinion, ‘Gold Dust’ by DJ Fresh (Shy FX remix) is the most energising song on the planet, to the point it is on my Desert Island Discs shortlist. This will make you feel unstoppable – but any D&B will do.
3. The next element you need is a track for the self-pitying stage of the stress process. I’m not one to promote repressing your feelings and it’s true that sometimes you just need to ride the wave and wallow extravagantly. Every day can feel the same when you’re overworked and stressed at this institution; take the time to accept how challenging life can be.
4. Be sure to include a corny yet uplifting ballad. I am an Elton John apologist and I believe his music to be deeply empowering, if only you let it. Have you ever listened to ‘I’m Still Standing’ after a long day in the library? Its effects are almost intoxicating.
5. The final, and most important component is a track which never fails to make you laugh. For me, it’s ‘Tip Toe Through the Tulips’ which reminds me of my flatmate and college wife, who would sing it often last term while we were cooking together in the evenings.

Remember, when creating your Cambridge hype playlist, the point isn’t for it to be coherent or aesthetically pleasing – the more unhinged, the better. Embrace the vast spectrum of emotions of life at the University of Cambridge, and prioritise adding tracks which make you laugh and remind you that you deserve to be here. The next time you feel yourself getting worked up, kick back and listen to ‘Tubthumping’ , and see what happens.