On New Year’s Day, a lot of us have the thought that we need to do something for ourselves. Whether it’s going to the gym, committing to a Sunday reset routine, or finally tackling that pesky to-be-read (TBR), sometimes we just need to do SOMETHING, right?
I had the same feeling this year, but instead of getting a gym membership I’d never use after Jan. 3, I decided to lean more into my interests in 2026. That’s how I decided to make a playlist where I add a song every day in 2026, so I can reflect on it at the end of the year. Whether it’s a relatively mundane day or a day that absolutely changed my life, I’ll have a song for it.
While I wish I had come up with the idea to share it with you all before halfway through February, we’re here now! I’ll be sharing what I add every week, from Sunday to Saturday, along with my favorite lyric from each song. So without further ado… welcome to Rena’s Radio!
Rena’s Radio: Week of 2/8-2/14
Sunday (2/8): “DtMF” by Bad Bunny
As an avid Super Bowl halftime show lover, I looked forward to Bad Bunny’s performance for MONTHS. I had a countdown on my phone and everything, and he did not let me down. Between the cultural references, the set design, Lady Gaga AND Ricky Martin, I was sat and fed for 13 minutes. While I didn’t listen to Bad Bunny often before the Super Bowl, that changed immediately as of Sunday night. I added “DtMF” to my playlist when I got home that night and had tears in my eyes reading the lyrics. It’s such a beautiful song with the emotional combination of bittersweetness, nostalgia, and regret. I have a feeling that this will be my song of the year already, and I’m looking forward to wrapped season to see if I’m correct.
Favorite lyric: “Ya no estamos pa’ la movie’ y las cadenas/Estamos pa’ las cosas que valgan la pena” (We’re no longer about the flashy stuff and chains/We’re here for the things that are truly worth it)
Monday (2/9): “Careless Whisper” by George Michael
I have no other reasoning for this besides the fact that I was thinking about how much I miss George Michael. From WHAM! to going solo, that man has been an icon from the 80s to this day. While he had SO many bangers, “Careless Whisper” is just in another league of its own. The sax solo? The yearning? Absolutely iconic, no notes needed. I love you forever, George.
Favorite lyric: The entire bridge. From “tonight the music seems so loud” to “please stay,” that man was going THROUGH it.
Tuesday (2/10): “UGH!” by The 1975
While I cannot stand Matty Healy in the slightest, I have loved this song for almost 10 years. Tuesday was a mentally draining day, so I desperately needed a funky beat playing in the background while I sat in the Union, agonizing over poetry analysis. From stage left, “UGH!” entered my brain and I immediately remembered why I’ve loved this song since the day it was released. Also, just the title alone is relatable on a daily basis.
Favorite lyric: “When I said I liked it better without my money, I lied.”
Wednesday (2/11): “I Can Change” by LCD Soundsystem
I decided that Wednesday was the day that I was going to delve into Edgar Allan Poe levels of emotional turmoil, and I wrote for HOURS. Obviously, that level of emotion required equal levels of emotion through song. My mom was actually playing another LCD Soundsystem song while I was writing, and that made me remember “I Can Change,” which is another one of her favorite songs by them. The lyricism in this song is insane, and the singer’s desperation and pleading just hits you in the chest. While this song is the textbook definition of a toxic relationship, it definitely made for a seriously relatable tune. However, I hope everyone involved received therapy.
Favorite lyric: “And love is a curse/trapped in a hearse.”
Thursday (2/12): Basic Being Basic by Djo
I’ve found so many songs through TikTok trends, and this song was one of those discoveries. I’ve loved it since I first heard it, and instantly connected to the lyrics. The thought of trying so hard not to be considered basic, and ending up being basic anyway, is such an odd yet relatable concept (and one that I have been absolutely guilty of doing). Also, here’s a fun fact: I tried playing this in Fortnite Music Festival on hard mode and got humbled almost immediately. However, I still love Djo and this song, and I have faith that I’ll master it eventually.
Favorite lyric: “Change your body, change your face, curl your hair then make it straight” (as someone with curly hair that I hate, this was more relatable than I’d like to admit)
Friday (2/13): “Friday I’m in Love” by The Cure
Happy Valentine’s Day weekend, and to all my spooky-coded friends, happy Friday the 13th! I love Friday the 13th, and I’m extremely excited that we have two of them back to back, since there’s another one in March. If anyone is interested in learning a little more about the lore behind Friday the 13th, one of our other staff writers wrote an article on it that I linked here.
Whenever Valentine’s Day itself or the start of Valentine’s weekend is on Friday, “Friday I’m in Love” has been played in my house for my entire life. It’s such a happy, romantic song, and I love all three minutes and 34 seconds of it. It captures the feeling of kicking your feet, giggling on the phone, and counting down the minutes until you see your person next so well, and it’s so different from the melancholy, darker themes The Cure usually has in their songs. That contrast between the giddy, lovesick song and the gothic band is what made me add it to the playlist.
Also, another fun fact: my parents have considered this their song since they started dating. Thanks for introducing me to this song, guys, it’s much appreciated <3
Favorite lyric: “Always take a big bite/it’s such a gorgeous sight/to see you eat in the middle of the night.”
Saturday (2/14): “Lovesong” by The Cure
Quick guys, guess what my most played band was this week!
Anyway, Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope everyone, in a relationship or not, had an amazing day filled with love.
Lovesong has been one of my favorite songs for years, since it’s actually another one of my parents’ favorite songs by The Cure. The story behind it is genuinely beautiful, and it makes me tear up every time I read about it.
The lead singer, Robert Smith, wrote this song as a wedding present to his then fiancée, Mary. They met when they were 14 years old, and Smith has talked about how she saved his life multiple times. While I’ve always loved this song, I never understood the feeling Smith had with Mary until I fell in love with my fiancé. The feeling of being safe, secure, and seen is incredible, and it cemented Lovesong as one of my top 10 songs since that moment.
It’s such a gorgeous song, from the instrumental to the lyrics to the meaning behind it, and I think that made it the perfect song for Valentine’s Day.
Favorite lyric: “Whenever I’m alone with you/you make me feel like I am whole again.”
I’m adding in the Apple Music and Spotify versions of my playlist, so if anyone would like to listen along as I go, feel free! Welcome to the journey, it’s going to be a fun ride.
I’ll see everyone next week for the next edition of Rena’s Radio!
