70+ Songs to Write Scenes To (Link to Playlists Included!)

Music. There is something about it that has the power to speak to us and mess with our emotions. And when it comes to sitting down for a writing session, music actually has the power to make or break your scene.
As most of you know, I am a big believer in background noises like static and rain. But sometimes, a good song is just what I need to give me inspiration. So today, I want to share with you some of my favorite songs for different moods and scenes. And no worries--all the work has been done for you! Each song listed can be found in my writing playlists on YouTube (which I've attached links to on the titles of each section.) Enjoy!



Kiss Me Slowly - Parachute (words cannot express my love for this song)
La Da Dee - Cody Simpson
Come On Get Higher - Matt Nathanson
Fearless - Taylor Swift
Falling For You - Colbie Caillat
Hear You Me - Jimmy Eat World
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Marry Me - Bruno Mars
Ours - Taylor Swift
Never Stop - SafetySuit (the wedding version of this song will definitely be played at my wedding)
Check Yes Juliet - We The Kings
Falling Slowly - Kris Allen
I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie
If The Moon Fell Down - Chase Coy
Baby Blue Eyes - A Rocket To The Moon
Olive You - Dave Days and Kimmi Smiles (THIS SONG IS JUST ADORABLE OKAY)
Love In A Box - The Workday Release

Broken - Lifehouse (OW)
Like A Knife - Secondhand Serenade
Distance - Secondhand Serenade
Exit Wounds - The Script
Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
Nothing - The Script (I looove this song)
All Too Well - Taylor Swift
Always Hate Me - James Blunt
Don't Forget - Demi Lovato
Down - Jason Walker
What I Know - Parachute
Goodbye - Secondhand Serenade
Like We Used To - A Rocket To The Moon (This was my jam in 9th grade)
Losing Your Memory - Ryan Star
Amnesia - 5 Seconds of Summer
The Memory - Mayday Parade
Stay - Mayday Parade


Blown Away - Carrie Underwood
Dancing With A Wolf - All Time Low
Done - The Band Perry (I sing this song very loudly when I'm driving, FYI)
Enemies - Shinedown
Face Down - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Gunpowder and Lead - Miranda Lambert
Better Than Revenge - Taylor Swift
Over You - Chris Daughtry
Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne
When You Get Home, You're So Dead - Mayday Parade (I used to put my headphones and listen to this at full blast when I was mad)

B-e-a-utiful - Megan Nicole
Cool Kids - Echosmith
Flares - The Script
I'm Just A Kid - Simple Plan
I'm With You - Avril Lavigne
Invisible - Taylor Swift
Therapy - All Time Low (I heard this song live and about died)
Unwell - Matchbox Twenty
In Too Deep - Sum 41

Grief/Loss:
Terrible Things - Mayday Parade (SO MANY TEARS)
Everything's An Illusion - Mayday Parade
Lullabies - All Time Low
Forever And Always - Parachute
Say Something - A Great Big World
Ronan - Taylor Swift (This song makes me sob. If you don't know the story behind the song, please read it here.)
Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
If I Die Young - The Band Perry
The Mess I Made - Parachute
What If You - Joshua Radin
Echo - Jason Walker
Do You Feel Alive - Raphael Lake & Ben Fisher
Radioactive - Imagine Dragons (THIS SONG IS JUST YES)
Geronimo - Sheppard
Hanging On - Ellie Goulding
Sail - Awolnation
Monster - Imagine Dragons
Battle Cry - Imagine Dragons
Ready, Aim, Fire - Imagine Dragons
Marching On - OneRepublic
The Call - Regina Spektor
Safe and Sound - Taylor Swift
Come Away to the Water - Maroon 5
What If This Storm Ends - Snow Patrol (If Unperfected was a movie, this song would be in the trailer)
Dreams - Bastille & Gabrielle Aplin (And this song would play when the credits go up)
Kingdom Come - The Civil Wars
The Power of Love - Gabrielle Aplin (This song is brainstorming fuel. Sooo many ideasss)
Skinny Love - Birdy
Dark Days - Punch Brothers
Coming Home (Part II) - Skylar Grey

So there you have it--all of my favorite songs to write to! I hope some of you find this list helpful, and I hope it inspires you to write! (Honestly, listening to the Grief/Loss playlist makes me really want to kill a character). Happy writing! :)

"He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:3