The JTI Mood Playlist Menu

In Fall 2021, the Jewish Teen Initiative (JTI) at Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston and BaMidbar launched a nine-month Mental Health and Wellness Track of the JTI Peer Leadership Fellowship. The teen fellowship cohort focused on peer engagement through a mental health and wellness lens, culminating in community projects. Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month, stay tuned to BaMidbar and JTI as we share their projects related to mental health awareness and stigma reduction.

By Dylan Kerble, Annie Overbaugh, Judy Dicker, James Dicker, & Jackson Selby

We created playlists and list of podcast for all your emotional needs.

Welcome to our JTI Mood Playlists! Over the past few months, us Jewish Teens have come together and compiled a list of songs and podcasts to create a total of 6 different playlists!

These playlists all correspond to a different “mood,” so no matter what you’re feeling, we’ve got you covered. Music is something that everyone feels different about, so we’ve worked to find songs that could appeal to a plethora of listeners. We encourage you to listen to these by yourself, with a friend, or even family.

Why are we doing this? Music is something that has a huge impact on someone’s mental health! Studies have shown the benefits of music on not only mental health but physical health as well. These studies show that music can decrease stress and anxiety, and improve overall mental health and wellness. Whether you listen to these songs as a way to cope with anxiety, as a distraction from stress, or just as background noise, we hope you enjoy our playlists.

Stress Relieving

The “Stress Relieving” playlist consists of songs that allow you to relieve any stress you may be feeling. Sometimes, we just need a break from whatever we’re doing. That is okay. Taking a music break may help to de-stress and calm your nerves. Take a breath, pop your headphones in, and maybe even close your eyes. We hope that these songs eliminate or lessen your stress and help to take off any kind of pressure you may be feeling.

A-O-K by Tai Verdes

Vienna by Billy Joel

Someone New by Hozier

Home by Phillip Phillips

Know your Worth by Khalid

Hey Jude by The Beatles

Glad you Exist by Dan + Shay

SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK by Joji

Sunflower by Post Malone

Borderline by Tame Impala

New Light by John Mayer

Coaster by Khalid

I Don’t Miss you at All by FINNEAS

In My Room by Frank Ocean

Good Days by SZA

Dylan Kerble is a senior in high school who is involved in both sports and community service. She enjoys being active and outdoors, making art, and baking. She is a member of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead and works in the JCC’s early childhood program during the school year. She also is a camp counselor at the JCC Kindercamp during the summer.

Mood Lifting

The “Mood Lifting” playlist consists of songs meant to boost your mood. We specifically picked songs for this playlist that not only have an upbeat tempo, but an inspiring message as well. Music is an important tool that can be used to aid your mental health. Listening to and taking in important messages through music is one of the best ways to boost your mood and keep yourself healthy mentally and physically. The goal of this playlist is to provide others with messages that will make them feel happy, confident, and comfortable within their own skin. We hope that this playlist inspires you to be kind to yourself and others.

Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen

I’m Still Standing by Elton John

Valerie by Amy Winehouse

Try by P!nk

Love Myself by Hailee Steinfeld

One Call Away by Charlie Puth

I’ll Be There by Jess Glynne

The Climb by Miley Cyrus

Stronger by Kelly Clarendon

Look for The Good by Jason Mraz

Geronimo by Sheppard

Count on Me by Bruno Mars

Beautiful People by Ed Sheeran

Cabin Fever by Jaden

Mad Behaviour by Izzy Bizu

Way it Goes by Hippo Campus

Annie Overbaugh is a senior at Swampscott High School, where she is involved in student council. Annie enjoys reading, painting and spending time with friends. She is a member of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead and BBYO. She works in the JCC’s early childhood program during the school year and is a camp counselor at its Kindercamp during the summer.

Happy Feely

The “Happy Feely” playlist consists of songs that you’re meant to listen to when you just want to feel good. These songs are upbeat and make you want to sing along and dance. It is important for your mental health to be able to release any built up energy and these songs will help you make that happen. It is important to take time for yourself and find ways to celebrate a good moment and keep that good feeling going!

Uptown Girl by Billy Joel

Jackie and Wilson by Hozier

Are You Bored Yet? by Wallows

Can I Call You Tonight? by Dayglow

Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes

Good Feeling by Flo Rida

You’ve got a friend in me by Randy Newman

Upside Down by Jack Johnson

Good as Hell by Lizzo

Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men

Mr. Brightside by The Killers

Just a Little While by the 502s

Candy by Robbie Williams

Electric Feel by MGMT

Dead To Me by Kali Uchis

Magic in the Hamptons by Social House

Blue World by Mac Miller

Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John

Judy Dicker is a senior at Swampscott High School. She is captain of her high school swim team, a lifeguard and a swim instructor. She enjoys spending time with her friends, listening to music and traveling. Judy is a member of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead and BBYO and her favorite shows are “Gossip Girl,” “Friends” and “Skins UK.”

Calming/Relaxing

The “Calming/Relaxing” playlist consists of songs to play when you are in a mellow mood. The songs that we picked for this playlist are slower and are less “in your face” than most other songs. The purpose of this playlist is to let people know that it is okay to take time for yourself and to help people mentally recover from a long day or from stress or anxiety.

Blackbird by The Beatles

Catch and Release by Matt Simons

Rises the moon by Liana Flores

My House by Declan Mckenna

Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens

Georgia by Vance Joy

I Hear Symphony by Cody Fry

Evergreen by Yebba

1950 by King Princess

Better by Khalid

Good News by Mac Miller

The A Team by Ed Sheeran

Beautiful Boy by John Lennon

Honolulu Honey by Jeremy Sherman

Somebody Else by Jaden

Deep Breathing by Relaxing Songs For Everyone

Free Spirit by Relaxing songs for everyone

Relax for the kind by relaxing songs for everyone

Lights Down Low (Instrumental) by The O’Neill Brothers Group

Somewhere Only We Know (Instrumental) by Allen & Bright

This is Me (Instrumental) by Steven C

Pink + White by Frank Ocean

James Dicker is a sophomore at Swampscott High School. He plays soccer, skis and is an assistant instructor in martial arts. James is a member and madrich (teacher’s assistant) at Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead and he plays the drums and guitar.

Classical/Background music

Classical pieces of music are closer to poems or stories than what we think of as music. Rather than using words to create setting, plot, and emotion, classical music uses sound. It can make you feel happy, sad, angry, relaxed, melancholic, joyous and all other possible emotions through simple changes in pressure in the air detected by microscopic hairs in your ears. From the gentle, eye-watering melodies reminiscent of a sort of “genesis of goodness” of Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” to the romantic evening under a starry night vibe conveyed by Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 18th variation on a theme of Paganini, this playlist will carry you through an array of relaxing, heart-warming, peaceful sounds to take your mind from this world to one rid of worry.

Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens: Le Cygne

Gymnopedie No. 1 by Erik Satie

Clair de Lune, L. 32 by Claude Debussy

Berceuse Opus 57 by Frederick Chopin

Leider Ohne Worte Opus 62 number 6 by Felix Mendelssohn

Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude by Franz Liszt

Chopin Nocturnes (2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 19) by Frédéric Chopin

Piano Concerto No. 1 Mvmt. 2 by Frederick Chopin

Humoresque No. 7 by Antonin Dvorak

Ave Maria S. 558 by Schubert/ Liszt

Morceaux de Fantasie, Op. 3 No. 3 by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Variation 18 by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Symphony No.2: Mvmt. 3 by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Piano Concerto No.2 Mvmt. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Chopin Sonata No. 3 Mvmt. 3 by Frédéric Chopin

Jackson Selby is a Junior in high school at St. John’s preparatory school. He is a great student, and a talented pianist. Having battled with some strong anxiety in the past, Jackson is eager to use his acquired weapons and wisdom to help others with their mental health struggles as well.

Podcasts

In addition to our playlists, we have also come up with a list of podcasts that deal with mental health. They range from podcasts that help you relax and destress, to podcasts that take a more comedic route when talking about mental health. Everyone has their own way of coping, so that is why we have a variety of podcasts for all kinds of listeners. Some are shorter, while some are a little longer. Talking about all of this can help us to spread awareness and increase our knowledge so that we are better equipped to recognize when someone is struggling with their own mental health.

The Mindful Minute