Everyone (in the senior division and above) has songs that make them wistful for moments they can never have-ana (ou i see wat u did here daniel hahaha) again, but are some songs more universally nostalgic? Listen to and learn more about the selections below, which are widely celebrated as nostalgic masterpieces, then discuss with your team: what do they have in common? Do they reveal a formula for making people sad about their lost happiness that future songwriters could follow? And do they work on you, or are you immune to their charms—and harms?

The Beatles | Yesterday (Youtube)

• The general consensus is that the song is about how fleeting life can be, and to take the time to appreciate the moments that we currently have and not take them for granted. The song contains lyrics saying how yesterday, or the past, made him more in love, free, and happy. The present makes him want to hide and making himself face the consequences of this actions. The person in the song says “Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play”. The most repeated line is “Oh, I believe in yesterday”. (please listen to the song & take note, instruments used)

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away

Now it looks as though they're here to stay

Now I long for yesterday Yesterday

love was such an easy game to play

• The singer’s declaration that yesterday ‘came suddenly’ means that, until recently, he was on cloud nine and living happily with his lover in his life. But this present happiness became a past memory very quickly and suddenly: ‘today’ morphed into ‘yesterday’ so rapidly that it took him by surprise. (source

Maroon 5 | Memories (Youtube)

• “Memories” is an evolution of the more acoustic sound… Lyrically, the song is a reflective look back at the past, while also paying homage to those in our lives who may no longer be with us. Structurally, the song is a reimagining of “Pachelbel’s Canon”, a famous late 17th/early 18th-century canon created by German Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel. The progression of “Memories” borrows from the harmonic sequence of “Pachabel’s Canon”. The song was released on September 20, 2019. (source

Here's to the ones that we got Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not 'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories Of everything we've been through Toast to the ones here today Toast to the ones that we lost on the way 'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories And the memories bring back, memories bring back you

• Other than the main message of the song paying homage to those who may no longer be with us in our lives, it seems fitting to be played in a Thanksgiving dinner, a high school reunion, or on New Year's Eve. I think the song can be in a situation where the singer is literally giving a toast (it would make a great song number in a musical, really). Maybe in a tavern after a long hike and the hikers/travellers are drinking to relax or refill their energy, they reminisce about the people they have lost along the way.

Ali Haider | Poorani Jeans

• Poorani Jeans or Old Jeans in English is a song about the bonding memories you make with your friends/classmates in college. The song mentions about the nights they stayed up late and the morning where they jumped up the wall to go home; going to college late and the professor telling them to get out from class, and singing songs with friends. The song also mentions about his first love in his youth. (Lyrics with English translation)

Smoking cigarette in the street Shining our teeth all the time Reaching college always late And then the sir telling us to get out from the class Going out and then always saying that The system over here is bad Banging the table in the canteen And then singing songs with friend

That first love of early youth And then writing A plus R on the hands Peeking from the window Writing her letters again and again Gifting her gold earrings Borrowing money from friends

• Haider began his singing career in Pakistan at a young age, emerging out of his university campus as the voice for an entire generation of youngsters. His songs became anthems for the urban youth, who related to Haider's stories of growing up, young love and aspirations to prove one's self (source). The song originally came from his 1993 album Sandesa but its not the 2017 Purani Jeans movie directed by Tanushri Chattrji Bassu that’s for sure because this track is not seen in the movie nor is it in the soundtrack. I think they based his song and adapted it to a movie since it was about college and friendships.
• If Memories by Maroon 5 make them nostalgic about drinking with friends, Ali Haider’s Poorani Jeans makes them nostalgic by looking at a pair of old jeans and a guitar he owned during college. (thank you to my good friend Skullanaitor and Wolfnonplayer for helping me find sources and giving me gist of the song, it was very difficult to not find any)