“Some things don’t work, and that’s the way love goes,” sings Swedish artist Snoh Aalegra in her newest song, “IN YOUR EYES.” It’s a catchy, soulful tune that perfectly embodies the feeling of getting over someone just in time for the flowers to bloom and the sun to shine. Aalegra has been featured on tracks with the likes of Tyler the Creator, Common, and Vince Staples and was a protege of Prince. “IN YOUR EYES” combines the lyrical smoothness of R&B with the flow of hip-hop and a backtrack that sounds like it belongs in a house song. These well-strung-together genres create a certified banger that is sure to send Snoh Aalegra to a radio near you.
You can’t listen to the first 5 seconds of “You Can Call Me Al” without smiling; it’s scientifically proven. Google it. “You Can Call Me Al” is an illustrious classic by the legendary Paul Simon. If you listen to the lyrics, it seems Simon is inviting you to look inward and ask the big questions. Why are you so short of attention? Where’s your wife and family? Do you want to end up in a cartoon graveyard? Maybe I’m stretching here, but I do know that throughout “You Can Call Me Al,” Simon asks the listener to loosen up a little and to not take life so seriously. This is done through incredible trumpet, saxophone, bass, guitar, and of course, penny whistle riffs. Simon sings with joy throughout the song, elevating the deeply profound lyrics. “You Can Call Me Al” embodies sunshine and is perfect for a spring day.
Every good spring day has a spring night, and that’s the perfect time to play Blood Oranges’ “Wish” from his 2022 EP Four Songs. “Wish” is ethereal. The first 35 seconds act as a time machine transporting you away from the quarrels and stress in your day: all that’s left is a back beat that sounds almost like a white noise machine. Blood Orange layers symbiotic guitar and piano riffs onto this beat, complementing it with a keen drum line to make a music environment that carries into the whole EP. “Wish” is an oddball on this list—in that it isn’t a song I would recommend for sunny spring days when you’re with friends. It’s instead perfect for those grey spring afternoons when the world feels simultaneously too slow and too fast, yet Blood Orange creates the perfect, calming haven for exactly three minutes and one second of ethereal listening.
I had to save the ultimate spring song of the ultimate spring album for last: “Dream Girl” by Ravyn Leane ft. Ty Dolla $ign, off Leane’s 2024 album Bird’s Eye, which defines what it means to spend spring with someone. Leane and Dolla $ign effortlessly flow a conversation into music, easily matching and reciprocating each other’s musical energy. Ty Dolla $ign has the ability to show off his gruff vocals while still matching the vibe of the song with his brief rap interlude. Leane continues the delicate yet mature singing we see throughout all of Bird’s Eye. The gentle mix of classical piano and guitar finger-picking swirl together to put your mind at ease instantly and remind you of the perfect day with your perfect someone. “Dream Girl” is a spring love song in every sense.
This article also appears in our March 2025 print edition.
