Wash Up and Rock Out with this Squeaky-Clean Playlist
Simply some songs for when the washing-up mountain looks insurmountable.
The following is a collaborative article from Georgia Wood and Bryony Lewis-Ogden.
Here in Flat 102, we spend a lot of our lives washing up. Roof-raising tunes are, therefore, a must. Despite many eclectic tastes (and the odd disagreement), we think we’ve settled on the perfect mix for a multi-pan day. From your indie classics. to the oldies but goldies, those wok stains will disappear in a jiff.
‘Who Do You Think You Are’- Spice Girls
There’s not a lot to say about this one. If you’re not on board, stop reading. You’re in the wrong place. Every house with multiple ladies is sure to have discussed which Spice they are (and we’re not talking about rosemary and thyme). This house’s Posh and Scary are here to spice up your life with this absolute banger!
‘Fit But You Know It’- The Streets
The perfect number to sing into your washed-up wooden spoons. The sarcasm is elite.
‘Jenny From the Block’- JLO
This R&B classic about being humble, despite garnering success, might seem incongruous in a student kitchen. However, the natural dance moves are a wiping action and therefore totally acceptable and preferred while washing utensils.
‘Black and Gold’- Sam Sparro
In Bryony’s words: “It’s just a bop”. Sparro’s relaxed club vibe makes us wish we had a disco ball in the kitchen (especially since one of the lightbulbs has blown and still hasn’t been replaced. Landlords, do better).
‘Like A Virgin’- Madonna
Make your plates shiny and new like Madonna. This pop goddess could not be missed from the list.
‘Midnight Sky’- Miley Cyrus
A newer addition to this list, but nevertheless, one you can belt at the top of your lungs. Don’t we all know that Miley and Disco Queen are synonymous? The bass is a highlight over the chorus.
‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’’- Scissor Sisters
According to Georgia: “It might just be my favorite song”. This song is straight from your primary school disco, just like the embarrassing amount of squash consumed in our household. You physically cannot remain still while this plays, making it perfect for the dreaded end-of-day task.
‘Will We Talk?’- Sam Fender
Often played when no one will make a decision regarding the speaker, Sam Fender is 1) wildly attractive, 2) well politically-aligned, and 3) executes a banger. It’s a regular occurrence to wander into the kitchen and hear multiple caterwauls of “she said I don’t usually do this kinda thing”, making it an instant must-have.
‘99 Luftballons’- Nena
From the time when West and East Germany were still separate and acid wash denim was at its peak, Nena’s one-hit wonder is still complete nonsense and we love it. The dance moves elicited by this are truly terrible.
‘Take Me Out’- Franz Ferdinand
The unnecessary and irrelevant (albeit wonderful) 54-second intro aside, how can you not want a dance? And really isn’t that the spirit of washing up? “I think I could walk a marathon to just this song” – that’s how serious we are about the importance of this song.
‘Relax, Take It Easy’- MIKA
As Bryony owns all three MIKA CDs and they have permanent residence in her car, we had to include something from the Lebanese legend. Described as “groovy”, this is more relaxed but still a top-notch number. It also stretches those vocal cords.
‘Saturday Night’- Whigfield
Every night is Saturday night at 102. Equally, every night needs a bit of Europop. Poorly executed versions of the dance are done by whoever is drying up. Every. Single. Time.
‘New Shoes’- Paolo Nutini
A chilled vibe that conserves energy for the mammoth task of scrubbing pans. Paolo Nutini hits the spot. It also classes up this list (a bit).
‘You Spin Me Right Round’- Dead or Alive
While rumour has it this song is about stalking,our dads didn’t teach us to dance disco for no reason. Plus, Georgia knows every single word and is definitely a top tea towel swinger.
‘How To Be A Heartbreaker’- MARINA
“Very empowering if you’re an absolute b*tch”. MARINA is a staple of every event in this house, be it showers, essays, or – of course- the washing up. Also, does anyone know where The Diamonds are? Are they okay?
‘Jump Around’- House of Pain
Arguably more cardio than your average home work out, House of Pain really brings the energy. After a long day of sitting hunched over Microsoft Teams, the physical benefits of this song cannot be ignored. Essentially, we’re getting a 2in1: a clean flat, and a workout.
‘My Number’- Foals
Monday’s Calling, isn’t it? This song appeals to the defiant adolescent in all of us. Even as we pretend to be adults doing the washing up.
‘Hey Ya!’- OutKast
We love a shoulder wiggle when our hands are elsewhere (in the washing-up bowl of course! Dirty-minded git). OutKast pulls a blinder in terms of high impact, high focused washing-up. Side note- if you have washing-up shy flatmates this one is a community builder.
‘Take A Chance On Me’- Mamma Mia Version
National treasure Julie Walters is never more iconic than in this moment. While ABBA may have birthed this masterpiece, Julie’s incredible spin on it is phenomenal. An excellent one for if you’re drafting a risky text. Nothing looks better than disco hands with sparkly liquid soap bubbles.
Bonus Entry:
‘Angels’- Robbie Williams
After much debate and the threat of being disowned by a certain flatmate (who shall remain nameless), ‘Angels’ has made it onto the list. This wedding classic has us lighting up our phone torches for long-distance boyfriends and long lost loves. An ode to all those tupperware lids that went missing.
Hopefully this playlist is the antidote to your washing-up pain. Listen below!