Spring is coming, and plans for brighter days are already buzzing. Winter fades, and the urge for fresh air grows stronger as the days lengthen. Music becomes the perfect companion for that seasonal shift. Whether tucked in with noise-cancelling headphones on a subway ride, simmering in the background while cooking, or spinning vinyl for a cozy afternoon, music sets the mood for renewal and warmth.
Which compositions best announce the approach of spring? Here is a thoughtfully chosen playlist that goes beyond the obvious, inviting listeners to feel the season arriving from a different angle.
The Shocking Blue, Long and Lonely Road.
Shocking Blue emerged when Dutch guitarist Robbie van Leeuwen drew inspiration from Eric Clapton’s Strange Brew in 1967, nudging him to form a band. The name evolved along with the group, and the standout voice of Mariska Veres helped define their bold, boundary-pushing sound. Veres, a Hungarian-born performer with a remarkable vocal presence, helped push art in new directions.
In 1969 the band released a track that often serves as an anthem for spring. It speaks to the long, solitary road each person travels to discover their own world, and for many listeners it signals the arrival of spring in a personal sense of renewal.
Boris Grebenshchikov, Burlak.
This track stands among the strongest expressions of what is often called Russian rock. It leans toward a bardic style, yet the force of its delivery makes it feel like a fusion of Beatle-esque energy, Stones grit, and Hendrix spirit wrapped into one bold statement about the coming of spring and the resilience of the human spirit.
The song, written in 1992 at a moment of cultural transition, speaks to endurance during difficult times. Its opening questions—how will the snow melt, and what will come next—function as a hopeful manifesto and a window into a more positive future.
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Might Be Spring.
The piece from the musical film State Fair, written in 1945, is remembered as a hopeful reminder that spring often accompanies love and new possibility. The timeless melody pairs with lyrics that evoke longing and the anticipation of what love and the season might bring, delivering a sense of gentle yearning that feels both intimate and universal.
Spring, by KINO, and Viktor Tsoi’s broader catalog, offers a different lens on the season. Tsoi’s writing is known for its directness and emotional honesty. The song about spring carries a mixture of longing and resilience, pairing simple, vivid imagery with a candid emotional core. The result is a concise, evocative portrait of the season’s arrival.
Tom Waits, You Can Never Hold Back Spring.
Waits, once known for raucous, dynamic performances, later released a track that feels delicate and intimate. The song resonates with the idea that spring’s arrival is unstoppable, a natural force that moves through life regardless of circumstance. It echoes a broader cultural sentiment that spring’s return is an inexorable law of the world, a concept echoed in ancient storytelling about cycles and renewal.
DDT, Player Spring.
This piece captures a wistful longing for the joy and promise of spring. The lyrics honor resilience in the face of hardship, urging listeners not to surrender but to persevere until spring arrives. There is a quiet strength in the music, a reminder that happiness can be something we pursue actively even when life is difficult. The emotional arc culminates in a sense of renewed life and possibility.
In listening to this collection, one senses that spring is not just a season but a feeling waiting to be felt again. The playlist invites listeners to slow down, notice the changing light, and allow the music to accompany the moment when the world awakens and starts anew. Through melody, rhythm, and voice, the season’s promise becomes a shared experience that resonates across cultures and decades.