NEW YORK — Musicians can’t perform on the road but they’re still able to create music during the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s a list of songs released in the last six weeks related to life in quarantine and social distancing. A playlist of the tracks are available on Spotify and Apple Music.
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CREATED IN QUARANTINE: Songs exclusively written while homebound due to the spread of COVID-19.
1. Luke Combs, “Six Feet Apart”: The country singer tackles the simple things we are currently missing in life in quarantine, from visiting our parents to going to the movies. Read our interview with Combs here.
2. Bon Jovi, “Do What You Can”: Written after volunteering at his own community restaurant, Jon Bon Jovi encourages everyone to lend a hand — in any way you can.
3. twenty one pilots, “Level of Concern”: An ’80s dancefloor groove where lead singer Tyler Joseph asks, “Wondering would you be my little quarantine?”
4. Pitbull, “I Believe That We Will Win (World Anthem)”: Feeling down? Mr. 305 has an upbeat, encouraging song for you.
5. Turbo, Gunna and Young Thug, “Quarantine Clean”: A rap song about self-quarantining.
6. OneRepublic, “Better Days”: A reminder that things will get better.
7. Bono, “Let Your Love Be Known”: Posted to Instagram on St. Patrick’s Day, Bono wrote the track after being inspired by Italians quarantined during the outbreak. Will.i.am then performed his own version of the song, which features Jennifer Hudson and Yoshiki.
8. st. Pedro, “Phone Sex”: For those away from their partners, some advice to keep the bedrooms alive.
9. Randy Newman, “Stay Away”: A song about social distancing with Newman’s signature wit.
10. Adam Hambrick, “Between Me and the End of the World”: A tear-jerker about this country singer’s wife, a physician’s assistant working to test people for COVID-19.
11. Michael Bublé, Barenaked Ladies and Sofía Reyes, “Gotta Be Patient”: These three advise us all to keep calm and chill out.
12. Mike Love featuring John Stamos, “This Shall Too Pass”: Just like a Beach Boys song, a feel-good tune that will put a smile on your face.
13. Lil TJay, “Ice Cold”: Reflecting the times, this platinum-selling rapper spills his feelings about the current state of the world.
14. Grace Potter featuring Marcus King, Jackson Browne and Lucious, “Eachother”: In the end we still have one another, Potter advises.
15. Mike Campbell, “Lockdown”: A rocking track with lyrics like, “I’m keeping my distance, at least six feet/And I’m microwaving everything I eat.”
16. Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins Presents The Good News, “Come Together”: An anthem by some of the world’s top gospel musicians, including Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Lecrae, Marvin Sapp and more.
17. Snow Tha Product, “Nowhere to Go (Quarantine Love)": Talk about being productive while at home — in just 24 hours this rapper-actress created this song and its music video about having a free schedule.
18. Tye Tribbett, “We Gon’ Be Alright”: Sampling Kendrick Lamar, Tribbett sends a comforting message to the world.
19. Benjamin Gibbard, “Life in Quarantine”: Death Cab for Cutie frontman sings a soft rock track about people isolating.
20. Alexander 23, “IDK You Yet”: Feeling incomplete and in self-isolation, Alexander wrote and produced this touching song that sounds like a future radio hit.
21. Drive-by Truckers, “Quarantine Together”: The song title says it all.
22. Erika Ender, “Back to the Basics”: “Despacito” co-writer offers a positive song in a time of turmoil.
23. Riley Green, “Better Than Me”: A country song that opens with heat: “Is the world on fire, feels like a bad dream/Did the hammer come down, feels like a kick in the teeth."
24. SENRI OE, “Togetherness”: The Japanese pianist’s breezy instrumental track will brighten up your day.
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REMIXED: Songs that have been re-recorded or remixed to reflect the mood of the world overtaken by the coronavirus.
25. Queen + Adam Lambert, “You Are the Champions”: A forever anthem continues to serve the people.
26. Gloria Estefan, “Put Your Mask On!”: A re-working of her upbeat 1989 single “Get On Your Feet” to remind you about your current
27. Avril Lavigne, “We Are Warriors”: Originally written about her battle with Lyme disease, Lavigne re-recorded the song to
28. Cardi B and iMarkkeyz, “Coronavirus”: A Cardi B rant about the coronavirus has been transformed into a hit song.
29. Todrick Hall, “Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs”: Remixing his original song “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels,” Todrick Hall has created another dance gem for digital nightclubs, a.k.a. Instagram Live. He’s even released a whole album about the pandemic called “Quarantine Queen.”
30. Hillsong Young & Free, “A Message for My Best Friends”: Sending the reminder to stay home through a remix of their song “Best Friends.”
31. Alicia Keys, “My House”: The piano slayer rewrites a Flo Rida hit to warn you: “You can’t come to my house/Suddenly two’s a crowd.”
32. Live Lounge Allstars, “Times Like These (BBC Radio 1 Stay Home Live Lounge)”: Chris Martin, Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding, 5 Seconds of Summer and more link up to sing a 2003 Foo Fighters hit, including the Foos.
33. ArtistsCAN, “Lean on Me”: Justin Bieber, Michael Bublé, Sarah McLachlan and more join forces to lean on one another — from 6 feet apart — to perform the classic Bill Withers tune.
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PRE-PANDEMIC: Songs written before the virus spread but released because the tracks resonate with the current times.
34. The Rolling Stones, “Living In a Ghost Town”: Recorded before the lockdown, this rock song echoes today’s world.
35. Norah Jones, “Tryin’ to Keep It Together”: The title says it all — we hear you, Norah!
36. HAIM, “I Know Alone”: Written about the trio’s feelings of loneliness after touring, the rock groove has a deeper meaning the whole world can now relate to.
37. John Paul White featuring Rosanne Cash, “We’re All In This Together Now”: Originally a demo, the duo recorded a finished version of the song once the coronavirus hit because it related to the current times.
38. Jewel, “Grateful”: Written at time when she was feeling anxious, Jewel released the song now to help others feeling similarly during these crazy times.
39. Brad Paisley, “No I In Beer”: Written in 2018 but released now because of its lyrics about spending time with family and close friends.
40. YUNGBLUD, “Weird!”: Crying while he wrote the song last year, the U.K. singer said he felt lost and couldn’t understand the world. He, and most of the world, feels the same way today.
Mesfin Fekadu, The Associated Press
