Spring break means getting away from from work and responsibility. You’ve finally made it to the semester’s half-way point. You got through midterms, avoided the flu and persevered through the bipolar weather to earn this break. Why not celebrate with some music?

Whether you’re traveling, staying home or working over break, you’ll more than likely be listening to some music. As you probably know, one of the beautiful things about music is that you can listen to it whether you are working or playing. In this case, these are songs you’re probably going to want to listen to while playing and or relaxing.

If you’re in the middle of a spring break slump, or if your plans are just now gearing up for the rest of the week, here are some top picks to keep things lively. 

“Stay With Me” by Valesco — This upbeat dubstep and dance track is simply fun to listen to. The unique blend of sounds and upbeat tempo make fun for driving, working out or just hanging out with friends. Video game enthusiasts may notice most of the sounds featured in the track hint towards 8-bit video game sounds, giving the track a retro vibe. 

“Blue Blood Blues” by The Dead Weather — Don’t let the band’s name fool you, this energetic rock track is sure to make your drive a little more fun or that wait at the airport a little less boring. As The Dead Weather is a “supergroup” band, you may recognize some things about the song such as Dean Fertita of Queens of the Stone Age on guitar and the voice of Jack White of The White Stripes.

“Sabotage” by Beastie Boys — Whether you’re going on vacation or doing something a little rebellious over break, this track appeals to the wild and fun side of things. As heard in a few Star Trek movies, this track is best listened to while driving down a dirt road or fighting aliens. Whichever one you want to do over break is entirely up to, just try not to drive your car off a cliff or shot at by aliens. 

“Under Ground Kings” by Drake — This throwback track to 2011 is a great all-around hip-hop track. The beat and Drake’s temperament in the track make it a fun song to drive to, it’s upbeat enough for a workout and it’s fun to sing along to with your friends. Unless of course your friends didn’t hop on the Drake-train with you back in middle school. In that case, it’s okay to sing this song to yourself. Also, maybe consider getting rid of those friends. 

“Little Hell” by City and Colour — This melodic acoustic track is perfect for relaxing or for playing quietly in the background while you’re hanging out with a significant other or making your drive a little more easy. For a fun fact, City and Colour is the alias of Canadian musician Dallas Green, who was also a former member of the Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire. Kudos to you if you can get the pun.