The spring semester is about halfway through, and everyone knows what that means: midterms and finals are coming. With that being said, I’ve probably consumed more energy drinks in the past two weeks than ever before and listened to hours upon hours of music during study sessions in order to remain sane and functional.
I was sitting in my chemistry lecture, doing the USA Today Crossword (as one does) and trying to think of an article idea when I heard the crunch of someone’s Celsius can nearby. I knew what had to be done: a playlist consisting of everyone’s favorite energy drinks as songs.
Red Bull - "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd
Red Bull is simple and definitely does the job. It’s never failed me, at least (my favorite flavor is the Summer Edition: White Peach)! I think The Weeknd’s "Blinding Lights" does the exact same. "Blinding Lights" has a tempo of 171 BPM and is also very much capable of energizing its listeners. How can one possibly be sluggish at that rate?
Monster Energy - "Rät" by Penelope Scott
Do you remember when making huge towers out of Monster Energy cans was popular in 2020? I sure do. In fact, all I can think of when I see someone drinking Monster is 2020. Because of this, I’ll have to say that if it were a song, it’d be "Rät" by Penelope Scott, who went viral on TikTok in 2020 after releasing three albums: Junkyard, The Junkyard 2 and Public Void.
Celsius - "Good Feeling" by Flo-Rida
In all honesty, I had some trouble picking a song for Celsius. It has fairly simple packaging and is described as a “better-for-you" energy drink, making it hard to find songs that really spoke to me. However, after some light research, I found out that Celsius had some early partnerships with Flo Rida, which fits pretty well. Flo Rida’s "Good Feeling" is fun and has themes of celebrating success and overcoming obstacles, which fits the athletic audience Celsius is trying to appeal to.
Ghost Energy - "Broccoli" by Lil Yachty
With its colorful packaging and sugary, unique flavors, Ghost Energy is without a doubt, targeted towards a younger audience. Like Ghost, "Broccoli" by Lil Yachty is casual and fun, reflecting on the singer’s rapid rise to fame. Interestingly enough, the brand had a collaboration with FaZe Clan (including Lil Yachty), which I didn’t know when I chose this song, so it fits perfectly. On a side note, I would definitely recommend trying the Welch's grape flavor. It mimics the flavor of grape jelly a little too well and it’s kind of freaky.
Alani Nu - "Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2" by PinkPantheress
Alani is probably my go-to energy drink for the gym. Similarly, PinkPantheress is one of my go-to artists to listen to while working out. I love the packaging of Alani and like Ghost, the flavors are all pretty unique and fun. "Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2" has a BPM of 133 and can be described as a high-energy bedroom-pop/rap fusion that mimics 2000s synth-pop. In my mind, the energy drink and the song go together hand-in-hand.
Bloom - Let Alone The One You Love by Olivia Dean
If Bloom was a person, she’d be preppy and probably try to follow the “Clean Girl” trends on social media. The drink is marketed as a zero-sugar, low-calorie beverage with prebiotic fiber and botanicals, likely with the intention of trying to make it a “healthier” option for energy drink lovers. To me, Olivia Dean has a very preppy, clean sound. I love playing her on rainy days or while I’m in the shower and I think Bloom fits her sound, specifically her song "Let Alone The One You Love", perfectly.
HM: Yerba Mate - "Summer’s Over" by Jordana, TV Girl
While it may not fit the same vibe as the other energy drinks I wrote about, Yerba Mate can still be considered an energy drink. It provides a more organic, sustainable energy boost. Yerba is probably one of the more down-to-earth, mellow energy drinks I’ve tried. Plus, I only ever drink it during the summer, so it definitely reminds me of laying out on the beach. I think "Summer’s Over" by Jordana and TV Girl matches that pretty well.