We know that being on an exchange is a unique experience and sadly not all that many can relate to that. But it seems as if the big stars in music have had a similar experience, because the things they mention are oddly familiar to the experiences we have as exchanges students. Here are 15 songs that relate to your exchange year
1. About arriving to your host country for the first time
Party In The U.S.A – Miley Cyrus
¨I hopped off the plane at L.A.X. with a dream and my cardigan
Welcome to the land of fame, excess, whoa! am I gonna fit in?
Jumped in the cab, here I am for the first time
Look to my right, and I see the Hollywood sign
This is all so crazy, everybody seems so famous
My tummy’s turnin’ and I’m feelin’ kinda homesick
Too much pressure and I’m nervous
That’s when the taxi man turned on the radio
And the Jay-Z song was on
And the Jay-Z song was on
And the Jay-Z song was on
So I put my hands up, they’re playin’ my song
The butterflies fly away
I’m noddin’ my head like Yeah!
Movin’ my hips like Yeah!
Got my hands up, they’re playin’ my song
And now I’m gonna be okay
Yeah! It’s a party in the USA!¨
2. About the rollercoaster of feelings
22 – Taylor Swift
“Yeah, we’re happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time
It’s miserable and magical”
3. About cultural learning
Pocahontas – colors of the wind
¨You think the only people who are people,
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You´ll learn things you never knew you never knew¨
4. About accepting to eat weird food
Hakuna Matata – The Lion King
“Listen. Kid, if you live with us, you’ll have to eat like us”
…
“Oh well, hakuna matata!”
5. About what your exchange turns out to be
Good Riddance – Green day
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don’t ask why
It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos and memories and dead skin on trial
For what it’s worth it was worth all the while
It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
6. About making all the crazy moments the best memories
Memories – David Guetta feat Kid Cudi
¨All the crazy shit I did tonight, those will be the best memories¨
7. About appreciating your home country, your family and friends more
Love You More – Racoon
¨cause i´ve been away too long
And everyday I missed you more
You look like you did before, only prettier
And everyday I love you more¨
8. About never forgetting where you come from
Don’t forget your roots my friend – Six60
“Don’t forget your roots, my friend
Don’t forget your family, yeah
Don’t forget your roots, my friend
The ones who made you
The ones who brought you here”
9. About being broke
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Thrift Shop
” Only got twenty dollars in my pocket”
10. About how hard exchange can be
The Scientist – Coldplay
¨Nobody said it was easy, but no one ever said it would be this hard ¨
11. About homesickness
Jet lag – simple plan
“What time is it where you are?
I miss you more than anything
And back at home you feel so far
Waitin’ for the phone to ring
It’s gettin’ lonely livin’ upside down
I don’t even wanna be in this town
Tryin’ to figure out the time zones makin’ me crazy
You say good morning
When it’s midnight
Going out of my head
Alone in this bed
I wake up to your sunset
And it’s driving me mad
I miss you so bad”
12. About personal growth
Son of Man – Tarzan (Phil Collins)
“Though there’s no one there to guide you
No one to take your hand
But with faith and understanding
You will journey from boy to man”
13. About people mispronouncing your name
That´s not my name – The Ting Things
14. What you and your fellow exchangers feel at the end of the year
The Final Countdown – Europe
¨We´re leaving together
But still it´s farewell
And maybe we´ll come back
To earth, who can tell
…
Will life ever be the same again?
It´s the final countdown¨
15. About ending your exchange
I was here – Beyoncé
¨I was here
I lived, I loved
I was here
I did, I’ve done, everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so everyone will know
I was here¨
Do you know any other songs that you feel relate to your exchange?
Leave a comment and tell me which one! I´d love to hear more examples!
