As someone incredibly obsessed with music, it’s easy for me to find songs and albums to connect to. As someone with autism, it’s not as easy to find songs when feeling overstimulated. When I get overstimulated, I tend to go to something that I know will help; however, it doesn’t always work. Thankfully, I have playlists with songs that are great for when I’m overstimulated and overwhelmed.

First on my list is a song called Worry, it’s by The Vamps, and it has this pop-rock blend almost. It reminds me of all of the coming-of-age movie trailers I watched growing up. It’s got every element and dynamic needed for a coming-of-age trailer. I personally love the song very much, and I believe that the theme is very much apologetic while upset, if that makes any sense.

The second song on my list is a song that has been engraved in my brain since I was born. That song is none other than Ripple by the Grateful Dead. I was brought up with rock songs from my dad and more early pop songs from my mom. My dad has been singing Ripple to me since I was younger, and it’s forever one of my favorite songs to sing. The tempo and rhythms that the song has can play o over and over in my head. I also like to develop harmonies to that song because it’s hard to do with my vocal range. I don’t have the best ideas for going that low in pitch for certain male singers. However, this is a song that connects and evokes very positive memories.

My third song is Alberta by Eric Clapton, a blues song. I was never really into the blues as a kid until my dad played Alberta for me. Now he changed Alberta to Brianna just because I was there, I guess. Now I have a vast appreciation for blues music, and the sound that they give off is gorgeous, in my opinion. When it comes to blues, something clicks on in my brain, and I feel very connected to it somehow. I was very much a bubblegum pop kid, but I was very diverse in musical genres.

Next up is my fourth song, and it is a country song, it’s Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts. The main reason why I know this song is because of the Hannah Montana movie. The soundtrack for that movie is very reminiscent of my childhood. The acoustic version from that movie is what I prefer because of the gorgeous harmonies and the sounds that I get from it or show perfectly. It is very addictive to listen to. Being a perfectionist, when I do something at once but know that I cannot get it again, is the worst. However, every time I sing this song, I repeat all of my inflections and riffs, and even my little almost yodels; I can do them nearly every time. Now that’s a good song; when you can connect to it and do everything that you do when you sing to it, that’s how you know it’s good and will love it for a long time.

My fifth song on my list is a One Direction song, and it’s pop but with folk elements. The song is I Want to Write You a Song, and it is excellent for calming me down when I’m feeling overstimulated or overwhelmed. I can play that song and instantly feel at peace. I don’t know if it’s the song’s tone, the dynamic, the harmonies, or even the harmonies I like to do with the guitar instrumental before the song’s end, but that song can call my mind down in seconds. It is a gorgeous song.

One last song on my list; while many could be added to this list, I wanted six. For my last song on this list, I chose a gorgeous song, it’s called Everything Happens For A Reason, and it is by Madison Beer. The tone is sad, but it has a hint of grief. I lost my grandfather in 2014, just before I turned 13, and I struggled to find songs that helped me cope with my grief. While grief is different for everybody, I have struggled to cope with it since, but I have found ways to manage it. When I first heard the song the day it dropped in 2021, I cried my eyes out for about 20 minutes. I didn’t realize why I cried so hard to that song, but I know why I cry to it now. When I miss my late grandfather, I play that song, and I can let out all my feelings and my grief. I connect with this song so immensely because I am an emotional person, obviously, and I feel angry about his death.

So, this is a list of songs that I connect to and can occasionally help me when I feel overstimulated or overwhelmed. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, but if you don’t, that’s OK too! Not everybody’s music taste is the same, but make sure to enjoy what you like.

Song List:

Worry – The Vamps: https://youtu.be/T2QkfvrRdbc

Ripple – Grateful Dead: https://youtu.be/QmMjY6tXaEo

Alberta – Eric Clapton (my favorite rendition Clapton did of the song): https://youtu.be/Y5-zo6Qq9GQ

Bless the Broken Road (Acoustic) – Rascal Flatts: https://youtu.be/bdhS1pRUVE8

I Want to Write You a Song – One Direction: https://youtu.be/dTvgQ7-jPYk

Everything Happens For A Reason – Madison Beer: https://youtu.be/pfDqTpqqKo8