Like a bad breakup, since I graduated, everything reminds me of Cambridge; the word ‘professor’ on a recent Law and Order episode made me tear up. But the biggest memento of my time at university has been music. So, to ensure I’m not the only one sniffling at ‘Gold Dust’ by DJ Fresh, I have compiled a list of the main songs that will always take me back to Cambridge, for better or worse.

Dance Monkey - Tones and I

Picture this: It’s Freshers’ Week. You’ve been warned about Cambridge nightlife, but you’ve overcome your hesitation with the sheer determination to have a good time. Fuelled by anxious excitement (and bottom-shelf vodka), you and your brand-new friends bounce through the streets to Revs, exuberant and free, just to walk in and hear ‘Dance Monkey.’ Now imagine this happened in every club, every night, for your entire Freshers’ Week. That was my experience.

“The biggest memento of my time at university has been music”

Everybody has a song that was overplayed at university. Sadly, this was mine. But with its cursive singing and bouncy piano, the track is undeniably of its time and with that, carries a deep nostalgia. While I hope I never hear this song again, if I do, it will transport me back to a core memory of Cambridge. Mostly because it’s the only thing I remember from Freshers’ Week clubbing.

Friday Night - GFOTY

A far better musical memory of Cambridge nightlife is this hyperpop classic. Despite opening with “Friday night, time to get drunk,” this track featured at pres every night of the week. A thumping bass layered beneath glittery synths accompanies GFOTY’s giddy autotuned vocals as she recounts a night out from start to finish.

What made this song so impactful for my friend group was its beautifully crafted and heartfelt lyricism: “DJ, slow it down for an epic BJ” or “this club is banging, so am I, banging loads of guys.” These became frequent taglines and in-jokes so that even when ‘Friday Night’ wasn’t playing, I was constantly surrounded by it. Thirty years from now, I’ll be able to relive my uni days by listening to this song, even if it isn’t the one I show to my children.

Girls Against God - Florence + The Machine

But my time at Cambridge, like anybody’s, has not just been parties and party songs. In my second year, I struggled a lot. Luckily, Florence Welch was there, releasing her deeply melancholy fifth album at exactly the same time.

“In my second year, I struggled a lot — luckily, Florence Welch was there”

This song particularly resonated with me because of its genuinely poignant lyrics. “It’s good to be alive,” she proclaims, “crying into cereal at midnight.” The sharp contrast she illuminates between the joys of life and the depressing reality of living mirrored my own feelings about Cambridge. “Cambridge must be so great!” my dad would say down the phone. I was no longer convinced.

Yet the song is also hopeful. Towards the end, a bright harp introduces a chorus of voices declaring “You’ll be sorry that you messed with me.” Despite her struggles, Florence maintains that she will get through it and escape with a vengeance. That attitude powered me through my hardest times in Cambridge.

You’re On Your Own, Kid - Taylor Swift

Taylor’s heart-wrenching album, Midnights was released the day after I broke up with my first boyfriend. Upon reflection, going to a release-day listening party at the house of a vague acquaintance wasn’t the best idea; nobody likes to watch a stranger sob on their floor. But this song sums up the Cambridge break-up experience.

Cambridge is a small town; you will see your ex, and you will return to the places you fell in love with them, hence the pain of hearing “this town; I dream of getting out.” And I’d be lying if I said “I wait patiently, he’s gonna notice me” didn’t resonate with my hopes that my ex would see me across the Law Library and realise he still loved me.

Milkshake - Kelis

Everybody knows this song, but not everybody can say they’ve heard it live. Thanks to Jesus May Ball 2022, I can. As those familiar first beats began, my friends screamed, turning to each other in sheer joy, and I thought, “I love these people. I’m so happy they’re happy — and even happier to be here with them.” With its many traditions and larger-than-life celebrations, Cambridge is filled with moments like this, moments of intense emotion and profound realisation, though not always with so many “boys in the yard.”

Angels - Robbie Williams

Every John’s Ent ends with this song. A line of drunk rugby lads, arms around each other, chant “wherever it may take me, I know that life won’t break me.” I always thought this song signified the end had come too soon. They didn’t play ‘Angels’ in Senate House, but the feeling was exactly the same.