this playlist was originally made at a very ‘jessica day’ time in my life, with little additions here and there lately. if that resonates with you at the moment (or if you love bright, colorful tights), this might just be perfect for you! while i considered this playlist to be strictly twee at one point, i think it began to morph into the idea of millennial optimism in general, which i still think fits perfectly in the subgenre.
of course i had to add a couple she & him songs, mostly because i wanted to embody zooey deschanel here, and of course i couldn’t do that without the mother of twee herself.
another song i wanted to point out is outbound by after. maddie actually sent me this song awhile back, and even though it was released in 2025, it still manages to match whatever idea i had in my head perfectly. it has the whimsical, fun feeling that i associate with so many of the other songs, and it makes me feel like i’m wearing a beret with a striped scarf and the wind is blowing in my hair while i give a nostalgic chuckle and shake of my head. (does that make sense? x)
finally, honorable mention to sweet disposition by the temper trap. i have a severe attachment to it and there is no better song for the feeling of millennial optimism. in my mind at least. also, it literally plays in 500 days of summer!! there zooey goes again.
- Girls Chase Boys – Ingrid Michaelson
- Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? – She & Him
- There She Goes – The La’s
- Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer
- She Moves In Her Own Way – The Kooks
- Tire Swing – Kimya Dawson
- Anyone Else But You – The Moldy Peaches
- Absolutely Cuckoo – The Magnetic Fields
- Across the Universe – Fiona Apple
- Anything Could Happen – Ellie Goulding
- New Slang – The Shins
- Here’s Where The Story Ends – The Sundays
- Outbound – After
- I Thought I Saw Your Face Today – She & Him
- Blood – The Middle East
- Little Talks – Of Monsters and Men
- Sweet Disposition – Temper Trap
- The Reeling – Passion Pit
- New Soul – Yael Naim

