My song from abroad: How traveling internationally might completely change your music taste
Photo Collage by Emily Paris, Photo Editor
“Sunsleeper” by Barry Can't Swim
“I will never forget that feeling of hearing my favorite song, stomping my feet as we ran towards the lights, feeling the wind in my hair, thinking how lucky I was to be in Rome and knowing there was nowhere else I'd rather be.” - Natalie Glausi (junior, public relations and advertising major)
“Sunsleeper” by Barry Can't Swim - Found in Rome, Italy
Glausi saw Barry Can’t Swim performing live at Spring Attitude Festival during her time abroad in fall of 2024. She bonded with her friend, Katelyn Pohlman (junior, sociology major), over the house music genre and shared an experience of listening to it through the heavy rain and tight packed crowds. The trip was booked pretty last minute; the hostel, train ride and outfits were all decided on the day prior. Barry Can’t Swim’s eclectic music provides the perfect scene for a night of nonstop dancing for this duo while abroad.
“(It was) indescribable. It was one of those nights where it felt like he was playing all of my favorite songs because he knew I was there,” Glausi told The Panther.
“Hulapalu” by Andreas Gabalier
“My friends and I went to an Irish pub that had karaoke and these two guys were singing this song and were REALLY into it. We tried our best to follow along with the German… it wasn’t great but it was memorable.” - Max Pruett (senior, vocal performance major)
“Hulapalu” by Andreas Gabalier - Found in Salzburg, Austria
Gabalier is an Austrian singer who performs an intertwine of folk and rock and roll genres in music. His single, “Hulapalu,” has become a signature song during the Oktoberfest season, a two-week festival in Munich that celebrates German culture and food.
“Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony
“The title means ‘Live My Life’ and I fully embraced these lyrics my whole trip abroad. I made the most of my trip by immersing myself in the Argentine culture, putting myself out of my comfort zone and fully embracing life to the fullest, with a sense of celebration.” - Rylee Knapp (senior, communications studies major)
“Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony - Found in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Chapman University offers an interterm course titled “Spanish Language and Culture,” a four-week long faculty led travel course to Buenos Aires. Students are invited to indulge themselves in what this tip of South America has to offer. Knapp found “Vivir Mi Vida” through this course. Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, specializing in salsa music, through his Puerto Rican heritage.
“AZAMAN” by Rema
“(My friend abroad) taught me how to dance to this style of music with this song. It was so impressive meeting her… …Whenever I’m reminiscing on my time abroad and miss my Swiss friend, I can always go back to this song.“ - Malena Gordon (junior, public relations and advertising major)
“AZAMAN” by Rema - Found in Madrid, Spain
The AfroBeat genre brings the ingredients of jazz, funk and soul music into African patterns. It’s a rhythmic groove that paints visuals of joy and harmony through its melodies. Gordon got to experience its inherent way of building connection through her encounter with two girls during her last weeks abroad. Now she uses their bond to the music genre as a way to keep in touch.
“Ue Wo Muite Arukou” by Kyu Sakamoto
“Its slightly melancholic yet hopeful tone mirrored the reflective beauty of Japan’s landscapes and history.” - Jane McGregor (master’s student studying real estate)
“Ue Wo Muite Arukou” by Kyu Sakamoto - Found in Tokyo, Japan
Also known as “Sukiyaki,” this 1967 jazz song became McGregor’s soundtrack for her time abroad. The title translates to “I Look Up As I Walk,” and paints the perfect scene for the peaceful hikes full of scenery one can take through Japan. The song has a double meaning, as it became an anthem for Japan’s incorporation into the world scene after World War II.