By WVUD Staff, Intro and Compilation By Macayla Cook
As temperatures and colorful leaves begin to drop across campus, we here at WVUD are dedicated to providing you with adequate tunes. Below, you’ll find the 2024-25 Ops Board’s ultimate picks for the best songs to usher in autumn!
James Kelly, General Manager:
“In The Air Tonight” – Nonpoint
It should be noted that while I do love the original by Phil Collins, it is the Nonpoint version that subconsciously makes me crave tomato pie, don a UD football jersey, and paint my face blue and gold. I am a Newark native, where tailgating and attending home games is a birthright. Though I didn’t know much about football as a kid, the music was at its peak during my childhood and that’s what made me love going to games. This song would blast through the stadium and get the crowd roaring at both third downs and when we gained possession of the ball. Huh, maybe I did know a bit about football.
“Silver Joy” – Damien Jurado
While this song has more of a late-fall into winter vibe, I first heard it in the movie “The Holdovers,” the night before Thanksgiving. My friend Chris (who you’ll read below) and I went to see this for his birthday late that night, and the movie opens with this song. It instantly became my favorite Christmas movie, but whenever I hear this song, it puts me back in that theater. The crackling of the film, the flickering of the bulb in the projector– all things that give you that fall feeling of coziness and warmth.
“Wading In Waist-High Water (Solstice Version)” – Fleet Foxes
While the original is just as moving, this version is my favorite because it was recorded live in a cathedral and it feels as if there’s more weight and depth to the voices singing. That being said, this song tells an interesting story; one that I’ve come to interpret as the story of someone sad to see the days of certainty slowly fading away, but embracing the willingness to explore the unknown with the one they love. The days of summer are behind us, but there’s beauty to be embraced in the coming times of colder weather and colorful leaves, as well as in the fellowship that comes with the fast-approaching holidays. It’s the perfect calling card for anyone sad to see the warm weather moving away for now.
Gretchen Hartenstein, Program Director:
“Dark Blue” – Jack’s Mannequin
This song doesn’t inherently sound like fall, but it’s the memories that make it a fall song for me. I didn’t even know it existed until last year, when I saw frontman Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness live with our Promotions Director, Melissa. This show was a pretty pivotal fall experience for me and it spurred an obsession with many of Andrew’s earlier songs, with “Dark Blue” quickly becoming a favorite. It also takes me back to cold nights and an 11:30 pm “Pot O’ Fries” at Homegrown with someone very special. They know who they are.
“(Feels Like) Heaven” – Fiction Factory
Once again, memories bring Fiction Factory to my mind when I think of fall songs. This time, we head back to the fall of 2020 and my senior year of high school. This song is featured in the first season of Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy” (highly recommend seasons 1 and 2), a show that I was enjoying during that time in my life and that arguably helped get me through COVID.
“Wake Me Up When September Ends” – Green Day
I daresay this is pretty self explanatory. It’s hard to not think of this iconic Green Day song when thinking about the fall. As a college student, fall is a lot. It’s the joy of reuniting with campus and friends and activities you love, while at the same time adjusting to classes and a new schedule once more, deciding how you want to spend your time, and trying to stay afloat. I’ve spent most of my life trying to be a fall person. I was born in October, for crying out loud. To this day, I don’t know if I’ve talked myself into it yet. But at least I know that I am still a marching band kid at heart, even though the activity isn’t a part of my life anymore, and a fall baby, so there’s got to be something in me that’s partial to the fall.
Melissa Wood, Promotions Director:
“Ophelia” – The Lumineers
For this song in particular, I am still unsure as to why exactly it feels like autumn to me. Perhaps it’s the way Wesley Schultz’s voice echoes and cascades hauntingly throughout the chorus. Maybe it’s the subtle yet bright piano ebbing through the background instrumentals which ultimately reminds me of sunlight delicately peeking through colorful leaves on a tall oak tree on windy autumn day. It could even be the pure nostalgia that’s embedded into this song for me that underlines the autumnal vibes. If I’m being honest, it is most likely a conglomerate of all three factors. Either way, this song is definitely deserving of a spot on your fall playlist!
“seven” – Taylor Swift
What would be a fall playlist without at least one Taylor Swift song, particularly from either Folklore or Evermore? An incomplete fall playlist, that’s what! Therefore, if you want a tune that reminisces about the summer’s “sweet tea” and childlike wonder, look no further than “seven.” With a melody cloaked in a mellow beat and soft twinkling vocals that cradle an aura of cold breezes settling in at the farther edge of September, this song makes an excellent addition to any fall playlist.
“Sweater Weather” – The Neighborhood
Of all my picks, I feel like this one needs the least amount of explanation. Everyone knows that when it comes to fall, cozy sweaters are a staple for the majority of the population. Pair that with the fiery imagery of keeping another warm in the midst of a cold thunderstorm, and you have “Sweater Weather.” In addition, this song is another sentimental melody for me, so it naturally embodies a sense of remembrance and supplements perfectly with the season that marks the end of another year around the sun.
Rebecca Lewis, Production Director:
“We Fell in Love in October” – Girl in Red
This song requires little introduction for how it relates to the fall season, and uses the lyric “we fell in love in October, that’s why I love fall” to open the song, continuing to repeat the line throughout. Fall is my favorite season, and this song does resonate with me, especially now, because the first time I said I love you to my current partner was in October (actually not on purpose).
“Sunsetz” – Cigarettes After Sex
This song may not directly reference anything about the fall season, but I find myself queuing this song more often in this time of year. Being from Connecticut, a place that has lots of hills and beautiful greenery (even though many people do not expect that), I play songs like this one when I am driving, as to me, the slow burn of the song emphasizes the autumn colors and beauty splashed over the hills and mountains of the horizon. The title “Sunsetz” also fills me with fall excitement since the sunsets happen earlier as we draw near the colder winter months.
“Pulling Leaves Off Trees” – Wallows
For my people pleasers <3.
Sophia Shull, Music Director:
“Fallen Leaves” – Billy Talent
As the title suggests, this song makes reference to the seasonal change of autumn, but it carries a little more weight than that. October is National Substance Abuse Prevention month, and while Billy Talent pays tribute to a friend suffering from a drug addiction, this song is a perfect rock anthem to blast while the leaves fade from green to orange.
“Spellbound” – Siouxsie and the Banshees
Something about the guitar intro just really helps me picture fall leaves, pumpkin patches, and toasting marshmallows over a blazing bonfire. Siouxsie has really charmed me into diving into each album. A melodic voice backed by powerful instrumentals can always help me picture a clear scenario in my head. In this scenario, I’m running from door to door in my neighborhood, collecting candy from cheerful ladies and vampiric dads. Let my inner witch go wild and free!
“In the Autumn of My Years”- Tigercub
Perhaps there is no more fitting of a song for the fall season than this Tigercub masterpiece. The slow build of eager guitars and thunderous drums creeps through the melody until reaching a powerful tipping point. This almost melancholic composition makes me look back fondly on all the past times I’ve frolicked in leaf piles and stayed warm by the fire on a chilly night. The smells of fallen foliage and burnt marshmallows are no strangers to these muses.
Sanaa Mason, Sports Director:
“NFL on FOX Theme”
What better way to ring in fall than with a rainy day of football with a Wawa Hoagie in one hand and the smell of autumn leaves running through the slightly open window? Fall will always remind me of Sunday Night Football, which, while not a specifically UD thing, is a nationwide celebration. The football anthem truly let you know that it was time to sit down on the couch and scream for your favorite team as they were playing in the worst conditions known to man.
“My Girlfriend Is a Witch” – October Country
I’m not all about sports! A great fall-y song that also references witches which is very Halloweenie.
“Roslyn” – Bon Iver & St. Vincent
While occasionally sad and depressing, this song sometimes warms me up like a fall candle just thinking about the turmoil that is the Twilight Series. Don’t let that deter you from this magical song though; it truly soothes my soul like a Boo Basket in 55 degree weather.
Macayla Cook, News Director:
“Season of the Witch” – Lana Del Rey
In my opinion, no fall playlist is complete without a bit of Lana. So many of her songs have such a pensive, slightly creepy tone to them, which in my mind is exactly what the fall is all about. Especially on “Season of the Witch,” the eerie tone of Lana’s voice is on full display with dry-toned guitars and rhythmic backup vocals that, combined with the spooky lyrics, encapsulate the autumnal season perfectly.
“Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy” – Fall Out Boy
Alright, so maybe the most glaringly pumpkin-spice part of this song is the title, but I also think that fall is a great time to engage in nostalgia, and few albums are more nostalgic than Fall Out Boy’s 2003 masterpiece Take This To Your Grave. I experienced this song live last summer and I genuinely have not been the same since. Happy “you need him? I could be him” season to all those who celebrate.
“There It Goes” – Maisie Peters
I feel like fall is not only a time to enjoy hot chai lattes, it also always ends up being a time for me to do some thinking. “There It Goes” is triumphant, bittersweet, and reflective, in the way that autumn so frequently is. It also has not one but TWO fall months in the lyrics, meaning that there is no better time to finally let go of that one situationship because now you can yell “I’m doing better, I made it to September” and “I wake up and it’s October, the loss is yours” about it.
Chris Malinowski, Training Director:
“Autumn Love” – Death Cab For Cutie
Not to sound like Seth Cohen from The O.C., but I feel like there is something truly fascinating about the vibes that come off of any song from the alternative band Death Cab for Cutie and how heavily their music is able to relate to fall as a season. “Autumn Love,” taken off of their ninth studio album Thank You for Today, showcases Death Cab at their highest element. Through immaculate guitar chord progression and lyricism focusing on self-growth, this song is highly recommended for listening while sitting in a cafe watching the leaves fall outside.
“Campus” – Vampire Weekend
“Campus” by Vampire Weekend is a go-to song for me when it comes to navigating the hustle and bustle of walking on campus due to its eclectic instrumentation, as well as its ability to bottle that weird fuzzy feeling of returning back to college in the fall. As I pass through all of the freshmen walking too slow and see all of the bikes and scooters whizzing by way too fast on The Green, it’s nice to have a good fast-paced song playing through my headphones as I make the journey to my next class.
“Where’d All The Time Go?” – Dr. Dog
To me, I view autumn as a time for self-reflection while the weather changes and time slowly continues marching forward. As it is the last full academic year for me as a student at the University of Delaware, I’m finding myself currently reflecting on the journey that the past few years have been, while also spending time with some of my closest friends on the operations board at WVUD. It’s a bittersweet time for sure, but I think it’s good to look forward to the future while also reflecting on good memories, and I feel as though “Where’d All The Time Go?” encapsulates that feeling all too well.
Neil Irungu, Treasurer:
“Bitter and Sick” – One Two
I found this song on the TV show Reign when I was younger. Intense show. Adelaide Kane is gorgeous. I enjoy harmonies and call-and-response kind of songs; it makes it very fun to sing along, choose which artist you’re going to be singing with, or just add your own harmony all together. This song feels like someone singing a lullaby, or maybe two people singing around a campfire. Regardless, a very autumnal song.
“My Sweetest Tone” – Tender Glue
The bass in this entire song is my absolute favorite and a key reason as to why I’m saving up for a bass to add to my collection (one black Squire Stratocaster named Sirius). I like how it feels calm, repetitive, and warm. It’s also the song I’m most likely to accidentally loop when I’m studying, since its mellowness makes me feel focused. Picture me with code reflected on my glasses, my lava lamp the only light in the room, while this song plays for the sixth time in a row. That’s me on a Monday night.
“The Bottom” – MICHELLE
Hands down the best song to walk around campus to, and considering my commute is sometimes 20 minutes, having good walking songs is highly necessary. This song has been tested multiple times, but feel free to conduct your own research. MICHELLE is just fantastic to listen to in general, and this is one of their more upbeat songs, but it’s not too intense. Fantastic guitar riffs, which I also associate with autumn.