Hamilton has already seen its first couple of snows. Puffer jackets and warm boots have made their way back onto campus, and this week’s 13 Beats have the perfect songs for your snow day backdrop!

1. “Dark Red” – Steve Lacy (2017)
“Only you my girl, only you babe,” repeats Lacy throughout “Dark Red,” emphasizing his desire for his lover to stay with him. The song is centered around overthinking and yearning, which highlights the intense feelings he still has for his lover. The emotional meaning, emphasized by the references to red lipstick (in the title), coupled with some smooth bass give the song a cozy and dark winter feeling.
RIYL: Tyler, the Creator, Arlo Parks, Mac Miller

2. “cardigan” – Taylor Swift (2020)
Consistent with its title, “cardigan” provides the listener with a warm and fuzzy listening experience. Swift croons about her lover treating her like “a cardigan under someone’s bed” and how he “put [her] on and said [she] was [his] favorite,” illustrating how special he made her feel. The slow piano makes the song sound magical, like snow falling outside a window.
RIYL: Phoebe Bridgers, Lana Del Ray, Billie Eilish

3. “Left for Denver” – The Lumineers (2019)
The Lumineers embed their signature raw sound in this song about a family leaving and growing apart. The snowy, nostalgic image of Denver holds significance for the band, as it’s where their fame began.
RIYL: Vance Joy, Mumford & Sons, The Head and the Heart

4. “Fuzzybrain” – Dayglow (2019)
“There’s rain outside, steady winter, my heart feels like such a mixture,” croons Sloan Struble in this track about feeling confused when it comes to his love for a girl. Guitar strums give the song a calm and fittingly “fuzzy” sound.
RIYL: COIN, Hippo Campus, Hunny

5. “Anymore” – Ella Mai (2017)
Ella Mai’s earthy R&B voice gives her music a particularly rich feel and is highlighted in “Anymore.” Lyrics like “you won’t feel my touch anymore ‘cause we ain’t in love anymore,” form this powerful break-up anthem. The inclusion of piano along with the bass makes the song jazzy and wintry.
RIYL: SZA, Kehlani, H.E.R.

6. “blind” – ROLE MODEL (2020)
“Cause I’ve never seen someone quite like you,” professes ROLE MODEL about his lover in the chorus of “blind.” The song depicts ROLE MODEL falling in love with someone over social media — a common occurrence when you can’t see them in person, whether due to a snowstorm or another reason.
RIYL: Jeremy Zucker, Wallows, Alexander 23

7. “White Winter Hymnal” – Fleet Foxes (2008)

“White Winter Hymnal” is echoey, nostalgic and full of references to the beauty of winter. Lyrics like, “I was following the pack, all swaddled in their coats with scarves of red tied ‘round their throats,” make the listener want to put on a warm coat and embrace the snow. The track highlights the passage of seasons, making it almost fairytale-like and magical to listen to.
RIYL: Sufjan Stevens, The Lumineers, The Head and the Heart

8. “Come Over” – Noah Kahan (2022)
Noah Kahan sings of the life he envisions for himself and his lover in this warm folk anthem. “I’m in the business of losing your interest and I turn a profit each time that we speak,” sings Kahan, as he shows how much he wants his lover to “Come Over” and spend time with him.
RIYL: Caamp, Lizzy McAlpine, Dean Lewis

9. “No Idea” – Don Toliver (2020)
Maybe it’s the fact that “No Idea” trended on TikTok in the heart of winter 2019 and 2020, but the song has an undeniable winter energy. Don Toliver yearns for his lover to come back because “since [she’s] been gone [he’s] been just okay.”
RIYL: Trippie Redd, Kali Uchis, Post Malone

10. “The Night We Met” – Lord Huron (2015)
“I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you. Take me back to the night we met,” sings Lord Huron, emphasizing the loss he feels after a break-up and his desire to go back to the happier memory of meeting his significant other. Jessica Maros’ vocals at the beginning of the track give it a calm but haunting feel.
RIYL: Gregory Alan Isakov, Caamp, Fleet Foxes

11. “Baby Came Home 2/Valentines” – The Neighbourhood (2015)
Jesse Rutherford sings about a couple losing contact in this two-part song. Lyrics like, “You can call me up, phone works two ways, you know,” exemplify the longing that Rutherford feels for his lover who has grown apart from him. The song is slow and eerie as it switches from singing to an echoey spoken-word poem.
RIYL: Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, Vampire Weekend

12. “Snow on The Beach” – Taylor Swift (feat. Lana Del Rey) (2022)
High-pitched bells and resonant vocals adorn lyrics about snow and falling in love in “Snow on the Beach.” “Tonight feels impossible, but it’s coming down no sound it’s all around,” belts Taylor Swift, as she describes the magic she feels as she’s falling in love. Lana Del Rey’s ethereal voice shines through at moments during the song, complementing Swift’s bright tone.
RIYL: Phoebe Bridgers, Billie Eilish, Lorde

13. “Annabelle’s Homework” – Alec Benjamin (2018)
“She just smiles and says ‘Thank you for the geography,’ ‘cause that’s all it meant to her,” sings Alec Benjamin about a girl who only talked to him for help on her homework. The slow and steady guitar and bass accompany the school’s reference-filled lyrics.
RIYL: Cavetown, Conan Gray, Blake Rose