Students pick their anthems for 2026

“She’s a Rainbow” by The Rolling Stones — Audrey Chang ’28 

This is the first song on my morning playlist, starting  my day — and hopefully also my 2026 — on a bright note. I also always envision the iconic scene this song features in, from one of my all-time favorite shows, “Ted Lasso,” which, correspondingly, is also one of the most joy-filled, optimistic stories that I would love my 2026 to resonate with. 

“For Good” by Stephen Schwartz — Allie Skalnik ’26

Long before “Wicked” crashed onto the big screen in a flurry of pink, green, glitter and meme-able moments (and “Wicked: For Good” followed with much of the same), this duet held the power to bring me to tears with just the sound of its opening chords. As I face 2026 — and the simultaneous elation and horror that comes with writing my graduation year every time I write the date, now — I can’t help but feel intensely grateful for those I met along the way. 

Whether it be the people I latched ahold of during the first days of freshman year, the deep friendships that emerged in just the last year or the countless friendly faces I’ve come to appreciate in my daily commute, the best thing about being human is being shaped by every single person I come in contact with. And as I navigate the road ahead, I hope to appreciate that, remember all Stanford has taught me — and ensure it was all “For Good.”

“Punk Rocky” by A$AP Rocky  — Emerson Prentice ’29

A$AP Rocky’s new single for his upcoming album “Don’t Be Dumb” has me excited for the new year. It’s weird and different, but that’s why it’s so good. Similar to Teezo Touchdown’s work on his album “How Do You Sleep At Night?” this song from Rocky is more punk and gritty than his previous work or the singles he’s been coming out with since his last album, “TESTING,” from 2018. But that’s what gets me so excited about this new album — and this new year. It’s a chance to do things in innovative ways  with no strings attached, because 2026 is a time of reinvention.  

“Tu Última Canción” by Los Temerarios — Anthony Martinez Rosales ’27

Los Temerarios’ 1993 release is an emotional goodbye to a love that is fading, a relationship that never came to complete fruition. You can feel the emotion in the singer’s voice as they try to not remember the past and forget the person they once loved. I think this is a perfect anthem for 2026 because it reminds me to feel intensely and deeply. It reminds us that when bad things happen and we are at our lowest lows, we must remember to be happier than those who have harmed us. Remember to continue our trek in life no matter what lows we have — because the highs make this life worth living. 

“Goodbye” by Sabrina Carpenter — Anisha Pandey ‘29

Embracing my inner Sabrina sass, I want 2026 to be the year I bid farewell to the things that hold me back. Many people have resolutions to “be more positive,” yet I think happiness also lies in actively distancing from negativity, just like Sabrina’s ex in the song. 2025 helped me realize that trusting myself opens the door to new opportunities, so I’m hoping to be even more empowered and self-confident in the new year.  

“Goodbye” isn’t a sad song for a reason. To me, it represents a fresh start for the better.

“Ima Read” by Zebra Katz (ft. Njena Reddd Foxxx)  — Blyss Cleveland, PhD candidate

I have the privilege and misfortune of working on my dissertation this year. My New Year’s resolution is to go beyond data collection and analysis and spend at least 15 minutes a day writing. I have had difficulty with this goal because every time I open the current draft, all the words I know fly out of my head, or I become unable to use words in a way that confers meaning. I am in a duel of sorts with my dissertation, and I’m losing.

In order to fight back, Zebra Katz’s “Ima Read” featuring Njena Reddd Foxxx will be my anthem this year. The expletive-laden track is about vanquishing a competitor at a drag ball. While writing a dissertation is less glamorous than walking a ball, it requires the same degree of finesse and vigor — a fact that Katz calls out in the first verse: “Schools in I’ma read that bitch / I’ma write a dissertation to excuse my shit.” On days when I cannot muster the strength to meet my minimum writing goal, Foxxx’s plaintive delivery of “It’s gonna be cohesive / It’s gonna be my thesis” will be a reminder to bring my dissertation into existence and make it make sense at some point in the future.

“It Will All Make Sense In The Morning” by Halou  — Mei Knutson ‘29

Over winter break, I saw Halou in concert. The band’s lead singer, Rebecca Coseboom, was clearly a child of the ‘90s; I could picture her 20 years earlier performing exactly the same set, draped in white and gold. Under the spotlight, her bangles and tattoos shone and made her look like a being made of stardust. This all came after a freshman fall that was simultaneously the best time of my life and the most confusing. It was 10 weeks of questioning everything about myself: Am I a valuable friend? Do I even have a place at this school? How can I pin myself down when I’m constantly changing? In the swell of the music, I felt like I’d found an answer I couldn’t name. 

One of my favorite songs from Halou’s set was “It Will All Make Sense In The Morning.” Coseboom’s girlish voice sticks to gritty industrial guitars like a rainbow on an oil slick. Fans of Portishead and Slowdive might recognize trip-hop and shoegaze influences. The title becomes a repeating refrain, a promise of self-realization. I’m manifesting 2026 as a period of clarity, like the moment after waking up from a dream. I’ll figure out my major and choose a direction in life. I’ll take better care of myself, finding a balance between school and fun that works for me. Everything will begin to make sense.

“Born to Hand Jive” by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs — Melita D’Souza ’29

This quarter, I am producing Ram’s Head’s Spring Show, “Grease!”, and I want to carry the energy of the famed ditty, “Hand Jive”  into the rest of the year. I want 2026 to feel lively, collaborative and full of movement, even when things get stressful. Producing this show reminds me that creating something with other people can be joyful, chaotic and fulfilling all at once. This year, I want to lean into that feeling. I want to say yes to creativity, community and moments that make life feel brighter. 

“Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield – Megan D’Souza ‘29

I think the best thing 2026 could be is a year that is yet unwritten. Instead of having wild expectations about what 2026 should be, I think it is time we take a step back. I feel at peace knowing that I can let 2026 play out one day at a time, rather than focusing on what might go wrong. There is so much opportunity for 2026, and I hope to make the most of every day.

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