time travel music video

8 Emotional K-Pop MVs That Tackle Time Travel

Time travel is one of the coolest sci-fi concepts out there. Include it in a K-pop music video and you’ve got yourself a short film with feelings in abundance. Love, friendship, sacrifice, self-love… The reasons for time travel are many and the outcome can only be one: restoring balance, even if it paradoxically means tweaking the timeline.

Here are eight emotional K-pop music videos that tackle time travel. Buckle up for the heartfelt ride of a lifetime!

1. FTISLAND – “Severely”

Unable to come to terms with his girlfriend’s loss, Lee Hong Ki storms out of her funeral only to find himself standing before his girlfriend… alive. Confused at first, he later understands that he went back in time after seeing the date in a newspaper. He decides to make use of this new chance at saving his girlfriend. Lee Hong Ki takes us on quite an emotional journey as he spends the next days trying everything in his power to prevent her from dying.

2. 2AM – “You Wouldn’t Answer My Calls”

Im Seulong receives an unexpected phone call that leaves him perplexed: his girlfriend is calling to remind him of their date at the hotel, to which he reacts mysteriously. The call prompts him to storm to the hotel, but he is welcomed by a crime scene instead. Shattered and helpless, he makes another phone call hopelessly trying to warn her, but in vain. Im Seulong appears to be stuck in a time loop between the present and the past, and watching him relive the events of his partner’s death every single time is heart-wrenching.

3. BTS – “Epiphany”

BTS’s storyline has hinted at time travel many times throughout their videography, but this is the first music video where we glimpse tangible proof. The heartwarming lyrics address how the idol’s perception changed about himself and how he advocates self-love in comparison to the past. As for visuals, the scenes where rain is pouring upside down and where two Jins are in the same room makes me think that Jin is spiritually – if not literally – traveling in time to reconcile with himself. Talk about an emotional trip throughout time!

4-5. MONSTA X – “Dramarama” + “Find You”

MONSTA X is undoubtedly the master of action music videos, and this time they bring sci-fi into the mix. In these thrilling short films, time travel is represented by a watch that holds a personal – and very painful memory – for Hyungwon after losing a dear family member. He makes use of his inherited accessory to help his fellow members. The poignant part about these music videos is that although MONSTA X has the power to turn back time, there is nothing they can do to flee the “save or be saved” ultimatum… Or is there?

6-7. IU – “You & I” + “Above The Time”

As an artist who’s been around for over a decade, IU has also contributed to the time travel trope. How, you ask? She kicks it up a notch in “You & I” and builds her own time machine in the hope of reuniting with her love interest who seems to be cursed by a sleeping spell. Years later, she lets us know through “Above The Time” that she has been lovingly keeping an eye on her partner all this time up until the moment where they finally get together. It’s emotional just seeing IU and Lee Hyun Woo reunite after time has passed in the latter music video!

8. INFINITE’s Sunggyu – “60 Seconds”

We often use the expression “rollercoaster of emotions,” but Sunggyu has fully lived it to the letter. Moments after laying eyes on his crush, he instantly takes a trip into the future that lasts exactly 60 seconds. During this short amount of time, he learns about his potential relationship with his crush – in detail. Upon his return, it is up to him to decide whether he wants to go through with it or not.

Which time travel music video is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Esmee L . is a Moroccan lively dreamer, writer, and Hallyu enthusiast.

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The 10 best songs about time travel

They built The Best Of Everything... out of a Delorean?

Today has been named Back to the Future Day, as nerds celebrate the date Marty McFly and Doc Brown visit in the 1989 sequel.

While Back To The Future Part II suggested we’d all be traveling around in flying cars, cooking tiny pizzas and wearing self-lacing Nike boots, it all turned out to be the stuff of fevered Hollywood dreams. They haven’t even made Jaws 18 yet, so who looks foolish now?

But it got us thinking – what are the best songs about time travel? And yes, we’ve included Huey Lewis’s Back In Time , because it’d be foolish not to, today of all days.

BLACK SABBATH – Iron Man (Paranoid 1970) The song featuring one of metal’s most satisfyingly basic riffs also boasts some of Geezer Butler’s most sensitive and imaginative lyrics. The titular man has travelled to the future and witnessed the apocalypse; on his return he was turned to steel, and cannot communicate his warning. However, when mankind is hostile towards him, his vengeance becomes the destructive force that causes armageddon. Our lesson, people: never laugh at an iron man.

QUEEN – ‘39 (A Night At The Opera 1975) A dreamlike acoustic stomp with opaque, otherworldly lyrics and a hauntingly melancholic conclusion, ‘39 is arguably Queen’s finest Brian May-fronted song. It concerns an astronaut who travels the Milky Way throughout the year of ‘39, but on return finds “The earth is old and grey” and “So many years have gone though I’m older but a year.” Primarily concerning Einstein’s theory of special relativity, Brian later admitted there was an allegory for life on the road.

IRON MAIDEN – Caught Somewhere In Time (Somewhere In Time 1986) Launching with the quintessentially 1986 sound of a guitar synth – a controversial experiment at the time for the no-frills British metallers – this crypto-title track is an under-appreciated gem from the band’s bulging ‘80s catalogue. With the transition from bouncy tempo to resolute gallop, and the epic, mystical terrace-chant chorus, this is a classic Maiden opener, and the time travel theme is subtle, tempting the listener into the experience of a lifetime.

LED ZEPPELIN – Kashmir (Physical Graffiti, 1975) “I am a traveller of both time and space,” sings Robert Plant in this iconic orchestral epic, although that may just be a reflection of the allegorical spiritual enormity radiating from this mesmerising song. However, there’s an online lyrical analysis from a Doctor Who fan suggesting that “Talk and song from tongues of lilting grace whose sounds caress my ear” might have something to do with the Ood, a species that didn’t appear in the show until 40 years later, making Robert Plant a literal time traveller, albeit one with nothing better to do than watch telly.

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INTERNATIONAL SUPERHEROES OF HARDCORE – Back To The Future (Tip Of The Iceberg, 2008) New Found Glory’s tongue-in-cheek side-project, knocked out in their pants for a laugh with a focus on silly pop-cultural themes, got round to their unambiguous homage to the classic movie on this 2008 EP, alongside songs like Screamo Gotta Go and Hardcore Hokey Pokey . However, in these lyrics the band yearn for Doc Brown to take them back to the early days of the hardcore scene, to see “Youth Of Today at the Anthrax” and “Cro-Mags at the Ritz”.

ORANGE GOBLIN – Time Travelling Blues (Time Travelling Blues, 1998) Although primarily a positive song, with ten separate uses of the word ‘baby’ and promises of seeing the sunshine (baby), the ‘blues’ of the title derives from the line: “Time travel, it’s been getting me down, been gone so long I don’t think I’m ever coming down.” It’s hard not to imagine this is another metaphor for life on the road, where Orange Goblin largely remain, 18 years later…

HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS – Back In Time (Back To The Future: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1985) “I didn’t fancy writing a song called Back To The Future ,” says Huey Lewis in USA Today this week, coolly explaining his initial instinct to turn down the chance to write a song for the movie. However, after penning the smash hit theme song The Power Of Love , Huey made Back In Time refer more specifically to the content of the film: “Tell me Doctor, where are we going this time? Is this the 50s? Or 1999?“

URIAH HEEP – Traveller In Time (Demons And Wizards, 1972) Bursting open with a massive swaggering riff, the Heep’s 1972 ditty reads like it’s written from the perspective of the then-incumbent Doctor Who, Jon Pertwee’s third incarnation, who had been put on trial by the Time Lords for meddling and exiled to 1970s England (result!). Who else could have inspired lines like “I have a feeling that there must be a time when I’ll get a chance to go home, ‘cause I’m just a traveller in time, trying so hard to pay for my crime.”

HAWKWIND – Silver Machine (In Search Of Space, 1972) After the song’s original vocalist, Bob Calvert, was sectioned under the Mental Health Act, Lemmy took the Hawkwind mic for the first time and secured the acid-fried space rockers their first and only major hit single, an iconic and parodic love letter to the titular sci-fi device. “It flies sideways through time,” explains Mr Kilmister, adding “It’s an electric line to your Zodiac sign,” which is a neat trick.

THE GATHERING – Strange Machines (Mandylion, 1995) The curtain-raiser on the most pivotal, game-changing album from this dreamy Dutch sextet, *Strange Machines *was our first glimpse of new frontwoman Anneke van Giersbergen, whose ethereal, impassioned ululations enlivened this song of yearning for the gift of time travel, even in lines like “Russian Revolution, let’s do it in one day, Beethoven and Gershwin, I think that would be OK.”

Back To The Future gets the metal treatment

Chris has been writing about heavy metal since 2000, specialising in true/cult/epic/power/trad/NWOBHM and doom metal at now-defunct extreme music magazine Terrorizer. Since joining the Metal Hammer famileh in 2010 he developed a parallel career in kids' TV, winning a Writer's Guild of Great Britain Award for BBC1 series Little Howard's Big Question as well as writing episodes of Danger Mouse, Horrible Histories, Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed and The Furchester Hotel. His hobbies include drumming (slowly), exploring ancient woodland and watching ancient sitcoms.

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37 Songs About Time travel (Pop, Rap & More)

30 Aug 2022 — Filed Under: Music

I. Country Songs About Time travel

Ii. pop songs about time travel, iii. rock songs about time travel, iv. christian songs about time travel, v. r&b songs about time travel, vi. rap songs about time travel, 1. i’ve been everywhere by hank snow, willie nelson.

Artist: Hank Snow, Willie Nelson Album: – Year: –

The song is a travelogue, detailing the narrator’s journey across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In each verse, the narrator lists the places he’s been and the things he’s seen. The chorus repeats the phrase “I’ve been everywhere, man.”

2. The Time Warp by Patricia Quinn, Charles Gray, Nell Campbell, Richard O’Brien

Artist: Patricia Quinn, Charles Gray, Nell Campbell, Richard O’Brien Album: – Year: –

“The Time Warp” is a song from the 1975 rock musical The Rocky Horror Show and its 1976 film adaptation The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is performed by Patricia Quinn, Charles Gray, Nell Campbell, and Richard O’Brien. The song is about dancing, time travel, and sexual liberation.

3. How Great Thou Art by Carrie Underwood

Artist: Carrie Underwood Album: Greatest Hits: Decade #1 Year: 2014

The song is a hymn about how great God is and how He is worthy of our praise. Carrie Underwood sings about how God created the world and everything in it, and how He is our protector and guide. The song is a reminder of how much we need God in our lives, and how He is always there for us.

1. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia by Vicki Lawrence

Artist: Vicki Lawrence Album: The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia Year: 1973

The song is about a man who is on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. His sister comes to visit him and tells him about how their town is doing since he’s been gone.

2. Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper

Artist: Cyndi Lauper Album: She’s So Unusual Year: 1983

The song is about a woman who is in love with a man who is always busy with work and never has time for her. She tells him that she will wait for him, no matter how long it takes.

3. Back to the Future by Huey Lewis

Artist: Huey Lewis Album: Back to the Future: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Year: 1985

The song is about a man who is living in the past and longing for the future. He is stuck in a rut and wants to get back to the future.

4. Back in Time by Huey Lewis and the News

Artist: Huey Lewis and the News Album: Back to the Future: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Year: 1985

The song is about a man who is looking back on his life and regrets some of the choices he made. He is looking back on his life with nostalgia and longing for the past.

5. Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis

Artist: Oasis Album: (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? Year: 1995

The song is about not dwelling on the past and not being angry about things that have happened. It is about moving on and looking to the future.

6. The Boy With the Thorn In His Side by The Smiths

Artist: The Smiths Album: The Queen Is Dead Year: 1986

The song is about a boy who is misunderstood and ridiculed by others. He has a thorn in his side that represents the pain and suffering he endures. Despite all the negativity directed towards him, he still tries to remain positive and hopeful.

7. Heroes by David Bowie

Artist: David Bowie Album: “Heroes” Year: 1977

The song is about a person who is feeling lost and alone, but finds strength in being a hero. The lyrics talk about how everyone has the potential to be a hero, and how we should never give up on ourselves. The song is uplifting and empowering, and encourages listeners to never give up on themselves.

8. Back to the Future by Huey Lewis

The song is about a man who is looking back on his life and wondering what could have been. He regrets some of the choices he made in the past and wonders what his life would be like if he could go back and change them.

9. The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News

The song is about the power of love and how it can change people. It talks about how love can make people do things they never thought they would do, and how it can make them happy and make them feel alive.

1. Yesterday by The Beatles

Artist: The Beatles Album: – Year: –

The song is about a man who is struggling to deal with the loss of his love. He is trying to remember the good times they had together, but he can’t seem to get over her death.

2. Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis

3. here comes the sun by the beatles.

Artist: The Beatles Album: Abbey Road Year: 1969

The song is about the hope that comes with the arrival of springtime.

4. Time by Pink Floyd

Artist: Pink Floyd Album: The Dark Side of the Moon Year: 1973

The song is about how time is passing by and how everything is changing. The lyrics talk about how time seems to be moving faster and how people are growing older. The song is sad and reflective, and it makes the listener think about their own life and how time is passing them by.

5. Back in Time by Huey Lewis and the News

“Back in Time” is a song performed by Huey Lewis and the News, released in 1985 as a single from the soundtrack to the film Back to the Future. The song peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

6. Time Travelling Blues by Orange Goblin

Artist: Orange Goblin Album: – Year: –

The song is about a man who is regretful of all the time he has wasted in his life and wishes he could go back and change things. He is also critical of the world around him and how it has changed for the worse over the years.

7. Time Travel?? Yes!! by The Flaming Lips

Artist: The Flaming Lips Album: At War with the Mystics Year: 2006

The song is about the idea of time travel and how it would be amazing to be able to travel through time. The lyrics talk about how time travel would be a great way to see different parts of history and to meet different people. The song is upbeat and has a positive message about time travel.

8. Time Travel by Never Shout Never

Artist: Never Shout Never Album: Time Travel Year: 2011

The song is about a person who is in love with someone who is in love with someone else. The person who is in love with the person who is in love with someone else is trying to figure out a way to make the person they love, love them back. They consider time travel as a way to fix the problem, but they eventually realize that it’s not worth it and that they should just move on.

9. I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith

Artist: Aerosmith Album: I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing Year: 1998

The song is about a man who is in love with a woman and doesn’t want to miss a single moment with her. He wants to spend every waking moment with her and doesn’t want to miss a single thing she does.

10. Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

Artist: Journey Album: Escape Year: 1981

The song is about a man who is down on his luck and is trying to make his way in the world. He is told by someone that he should never give up on his dreams and to never stop believing in himself.

1. I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe

Artist: MercyMe Album: The Worship Project Year: 1999

The song is about a person imagining what it will be like to be in heaven. The person imagines being in a beautiful place with no more pain or suffering. They imagine being reunited with loved ones who have died and being able to worship God freely. The song is a reminder that even though we don’t know what heaven will be like, we can trust that it will be better than anything we can imagine.

2. The Time Has Come by Hillsong UNITED

Artist: Hillsong UNITED Album: I Heart Revolution Year: 2008

The Time Has Come is a song about living in the moment and not worrying about the future. It is about enjoying life and not worrying about what tomorrow may bring.

3. In Christ Alone by Passion Conferences

Artist: Passion Conferences Album: – Year: –

The song is about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and how His love for us is everlasting. It talks about how we are saved by grace through faith in Him and how His death has paid for our sins. The song is a reminder that we are never alone because Christ is always with us.

4. 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman, Steve Angrisano

Artist: Matt Redman, Steve Angrisano Album: Spirit & Song: Disc M Year: 2013

The song is a worship song about giving thanks to God for all the reasons He blesses us. It starts with the reasons we have to bless the Lord, such as His love, His faithfulness, and His mercy. Then it talks about how we should bless the Lord even when we don’t feel like it, because He is worthy of our praise. The chorus is a declaration that we will bless the Lord always, no matter what.

5. O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Hillsong Worship

Artist: Hillsong Worship Album: You Are My World Year: 2001

The song ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Hillsong Worship’ is a Christmas song that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The song talks about how Jesus is the light that came into the world to save us from our darkness.

6. O Holy Night by Casting Crowns

Artist: Casting Crowns Album: It’s Finally Christmas – EP Year: 2017

The song is a ballad that talks about the birth of Jesus Christ and how he is the hope for humanity. It talks about how his birth changed the world and how we should all believe in him.

7. Joy to the World by for KING & COUNTRY

Artist: for KING & COUNTRY Album: Christmas: Live From Phoenix Year: 2017

This song is a joyful celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a call to all people to rejoice and praise God for His goodness and love. The song speaks of the hope and peace that come from knowing Christ, and it is a reminder that He is the reason for our joy.

8. Angels We Have Heard on High by Hillsong Worship

Artist: Hillsong Worship Album: Celebrating Christmas Year: 2005

The song is a modern rendition of the traditional Christmas carol, Angels We Have Heard on High. The lyrics celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the angels that appeared to the shepherds on the night he was born. The song is a worshipful ballad that reflects on the wonder of Christ’s birth and the hope that his coming brings to the world.

9. In Christ Alone by Keith & Kristyn Getty

Artist: Keith & Kristyn Getty Album: In Christ Alone Year: 2006

“In Christ Alone” is a song by Keith and Kristyn Getty, written in 2001. The song is based on the apostle Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:3 that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” The song reflects on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and the victory he achieved over death.

10. Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio

Artist: Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio Album: Spirit & Song: Disc M Year: 2013

The song is a modern rendition of the classic hymn, “Amazing Grace.” The lyrics reflect on the saving power of God’s grace and the speaker’s gratitude for being forgiven. The song is upbeat and worshipful, with a message of hope and redemption.

11. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by David Crowder Band

Artist: David Crowder Band Album: – Year: –

The song is a modern rendition of the hymn of the same name. It is a prayer for God’s guidance and mercy, and a declaration of the singer’s intention to follow Him.

12. 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman, Steve Angrisano

13. holy, holy, holy by reginald heber.

Artist: Reginald Heber Album: – Year: –

The song is a hymn about the Holy Trinity. The first verse is about the Father, the second verse is about the Son, and the third verse is about the Holy Spirit. The song ends with a prayer that the Trinity would be glorified forever.

1. Turn Back Time by Aqua

Artist: Aqua Album: Aquarium Year: 1997

The song is about a person who is regretful about a past relationship and wishes they could turn back time to fix things.

1. Time Travelin’ (To the Past) by OutKast

Artist: OutKast Album: Aquemini Year: 1998

The song is about a man who travels back in time to meet his ancestors. He meets his great-grandfather, who tells him about his life and how he was able to overcome difficult times. The man then travels back to the present, where he finds that his life has changed for the better.

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‘The Greatest Hits’ Changed How These Stars Listen to Music

MIXTAPE MISTAKE

Stars Lucy Boynton and Justin H. Min haven’t looked at their playlists the same way since appearing in Hulu’s moving new time-travel drama.

Coleman Spilde

Entertainment Critic

Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty Images/Searchlight Pictures

There are few distinctly human biological experiences more frustrating than wanting to cry but being unable to make the tears flow. We can feel the sadness in the core of our being, and our minds are trapped in the dense, impenetrable fog of our feelings, tumbling around our brains like a sneaker in the dryer. And yet, the tears just will not fall. If you’re like me, you remedy this nagging sensation by putting on your noise-canceling headphones, drawing the curtains, and pressing play on “ Fingertips ” by Lana Del Rey. The crying begins, the catharsis takes hold, and it becomes almost too easy to sit and stew in that all-consuming grief. Sitting in this sadness can be such a relief that we start to crave it.

Lucy Boynton, star of The Greatest Hits —a new romantic drama streaming on Hulu now—understands this all too well. “I’ve become much more mindful of not wallowing [in the way music makes me feel],” Boynton told The Daily Beast’s Obsessed recently. The effect of music on her mood is something that she says she’s noticed much more often after wrapping this film, which is all about the power that music has to sway our emotions—whether in a positive or negative direction, or some volatile space in the middle.

Lucy Boynton and Justin H. Min.

Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images

In the film, a young woman named Harriet (Boynton) is stuck in her grief over her boyfriend Max (David Corenswet), whom she lost two years prior in a tragic car accident. In her anguish, Harriet discovers that she can briefly time-travel back to moments that she and Max shared whenever she hears a song that was playing when they were together. This could easily be a corny gimmick for the film to hook itself onto, but instead, The Greatest Hits conjures plenty of emotional resonance by exploring how deeply humans tie music to their experiences, and how it impacts our ability to feel and to grieve.

This sonic time-traveling is Harriet’s gift, as well as her curse. It allows her to see the love of her life one more time, at least for the length of a song. But ultimately, these strange occurrences keep her from moving on, derailing her life and career entirely. “It’s so much easier than we give credit to. We get pulled back [in time], stay tethered to those memories, and hold onto those things as superior to present tense,” Boynton told me over the phone. “I think it’s a human trait to do that.”

While the film is an accessible, crowd-pleasing romance, it’s also a stirring meditation on the non-linear process of grieving, and how complicated it can be to allow ourselves to move forward. Both Boynton and her costar Justin H. Min, who plays Harriet’s love interest David—whom she meets in a loss support group, where he shows up to try to process his grief surrounding his parents’ death—found themselves deeply affected by writer-director Ned Benson’s slyly moving script. In interviews with The Daily Beast’s Obsessed, Boynton and Min told us all about their relationship to grieving, how they use music to process their emotions, why it’s so easy to stay planted in the joy of the past, and the beauty that comes with moving forward.

Lucy Boynton and Justin H. Min in The Greatest Hits .

Searchlight Pictures

This movie is one of the most original time-travel stories in years, primarily because the film is initially reluctant to call what Harriet is experiencing time travel. I have to imagine that’s something that attracted you to the script.

Boynton : When I first read the script, I saw time travel and I assumed it would be a kind of sci-fi movie, and then I found exactly what you said to be true. I use music in the same way Harriet does. I think we all do. The film is about how easy it is to get locked into a sense of nostalgia or sentimentality, and that’s a human trait to do that—not necessarily just for rose-tinted parts of your life, but just as you grow older, and re-analyze, and understand parts of your life more, and cherish people and moments. It’s so much easier than we give credit to, to get pulled back and stay tethered to that. What this film teaches you is that you’re not dishonoring something by moving forward. And that was such a vital lesson to learn from the script. I found it such a unique way to explore that message and such a hopeful way of looking at it.

Min : [Getting] the script was very timely, because I was grieving the loss of someone I knew very well. As I was experiencing that, I was handed this movie that explores grief, music, and moving on. It felt very pertinent to me, I think that’s one of the beautiful things about what I get to do: I explore these kinds of things through my work. Things I might be going through in my own life, I can experience a sense of catharsis and healing as I work through the material.

When Harriet returns to these moments in the past during her life with Max, she’s not immediately concerned with trying to save him—she typically begins an interaction just by enjoying her time with him. Lucy, what is it like to convey that emotional balance of seeing someone you love but knowing that it won’t last?

Boynton : It’s a tricky line to walk, and it’s heartbreaking. We all have that fantasy—especially when we’ve lost someone—about getting more time, this stolen time with someone we loved. It started as such a gift for Harriet. It healed the heartbreak, in a way, because it meant she didn’t have to face it. She could play a record and go back and have those cherished moments with Max again, and sit in this past tense. [But] it’s something that becomes her greatest obstacle. It prevents her from staying connected to the people around her.

You realize you’re not growing in that. What was previously a medicine for the pain starts to make the injury much worse. It’s a devastating thing to recognize. There is no such thing as repeating past times; whether you like it or not, you are still tumbling forward. The resistance makes it more painful.

Justin, just like Lucy, your character also has to straddle this loss while attempting to welcome something back into his life. David is similarly trying to cope with both the loss of his parents and their business that he inherited, where he’s keeping their memory alive.

Min : It was a real balancing act. As an actor, I try to balance that, but also in the head of the character, David’s trying to figure that out as well. He wants to move on, he wants to move forward, but he’s still weighed down by the grief over his parents. It physically manifests itself by keeping the antique shop. Harriet is someone who takes him into the present, and brings him out of his head. That’s often what grief does to us. It keeps us in our head, in our thoughts, in sadness. Sometimes you meet people in your life, or have circumstances in your life, that pull you out of your head and into your body. It’s the beauty of these experiences that Harriet and David have together [that does this]. The silent disco they go to, the Bears in Space party—these are things that bring them into the present tense.

The film’s premise is that something like a song—and the memory we attach to it—can be enough to take us right back to that place in time. Are either of you prone to letting your music dictate the mood? For me, if I hear the wrong song on shuffle, the day is a wash.

Min : [ Laughs. ] Absolutely. It’s interesting, because I feel like I use music in both scenarios. In one case, I use it to bring me out of a particular mood. For instance, if I’m feeling sad, some songs cheer me up and bring me back to moments in time when I was so happy, free, and joyful. And then there are other times you just want to sit in whatever feeling you’re processing. So you use an amplification of that through music.

I think it’s good to be a little bit masochistic in that way. It’s a necessary part of life.

Boynton : I didn’t notice until doing this movie that I use music in the very same way that Harriet does. All my playlists are so tethered to a time in my life, or the person who first played it to me. Or, the context of the song is just as vital—and just as at the [forefront of my mind]—as the song itself. I’ve become much more mindful of not wallowing, of not trying to stay there.

Lucy Boynton and Justin H. Min

Are there any songs in particular that are go-tos to do this for you?

Boynton : Oh my god, so many.

Min : I mean, I have playlists that are just like, “Feels.”

Boynton : From my childhood, a mixture of the Spice Girls and the Beatles, a real healthy combo of those. And then, the song that I—I have this one song on repeat all the time—it’s called “Saying Goodbye” by Ondara . That song just reminds me of being in London, in summer, in such a specific place and time. So again, trying not to overplay that one and relive that too much, but it’s definitely my current guilty pleasure.

That’s always a tricky line to walk: not overplaying, knowing that you could very easily cross that line.

Boynton : I’m guilty of just having songs on a loop. Play it till the end of time.

The Greatest Hits is so steeped in Los Angeles music and festival culture. And as we wade through the muck of our carefree early 20s, so many people find that their dreams get sidelined by the events of life, which is exactly what happens to Harriet after she loses Max, and to David after he loses his parents. Did either of you experience this? My life is not how I anticipated it would look even five years ago.

Min : Oh my gosh, absolutely. I feel like I have an existential crisis every six months. It’s just a consequence of getting older. I think when you hit these specific junctures in your life—when you feel like your identity is changing, your values are changing—you’re forced to reckon with what exactly you want to do, who you want to be, and how you want to live. That ever-evolving process is the beauty of life, and the journey that we all go on. When we’re younger, we think we’re waiting to arrive somewhere, at a destination. The older you get, you realize you’re never arriving. It’s always an ongoing journey, always an ongoing process.

I love how poetic that is. And I’m also glad to know I’m not the only one who has an existential crisis every six months.

Boynton : Honestly? It’s the greatest freedom reaching an age that I had put so much weight of anticipation and expectation on. [ Boynton turned 30 in January .] When I was in my late teens, I had a checklist of where I wanted to be at 25 and then 30, and then the closer you get to that age, you realize how old you thought 30 was when you were 17—rude! But you totally didn’t give yourself grace for life to happen.

That has been the greatest privilege. All of the people I’ve met unexpectedly, all of the things that have happened that have been a surprise, have been the greatest gifts, whether that is teaching yourself to do something difficult, or just some piece of kismet landing in your lap. I think that’s what is so unaccounted for in terms of planning. The older I get, the happier and calmer I am, because I’ve let go of that strict idea of expectations in myself… The advice I got from my mom all my life is, “The older you get, the better it gets,” and you don’t believe that in your late teens because you’re told that youth is the greatest currency. It lasts a lot longer than anyone gives you warning for.

I feel younger now than I did when I was 17 or 18.

Boynton : ABSOLUTELY . And god, you don’t hold yourself to such strict expectations! Everything just gets better and freer.

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast  here .

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Machine Gun Kelly & Trippie Redd – “time travel” [Video]

This is one of the standout songs from their new joint project, genre: sadboy .

Watch the visuals below:

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The Ultimate Travel Playlist: 100 Best Travel Songs (with Lyrics and Videos)

Katie Hammel

July 18, 2023

10 min read

Music has the power to transport us, change our moods, and conjure memories. And, for many travelers, music is closely linked to travel. It can helps us understand the people and culture of a place, break down language barriers, and sear certain moments into our memories forever.

With help from members of our Travel Community and Going staff, we've created the ultimate travel playlist of 100 travel songs. Some reference specific places, others showcase the musical talent of a specific country, and others simply celebrate the joy of exploration.

Here, in no particular order, are 100 of our favorite travel songs.

56 songs that reference specific places in the title or lyrics

Sure, some of these songs, such Paris by the Chainsmokers or Toto’s Africa , actually have little to do with the specific place; it’s just used as the title or the setting for the story. But others not only reference a country or city, they also evoke a specific sense of that particular place or tell a story about that destination.

For example, in Marrakech Express , Crosby, Stills & Nash recount scenes from a train ride Nash actually took in 1966. In London Calling , the Clash sing about the social issues facing London in the late 70s. In Walking in Memphis , Marc Cohn croons about his experience wandering the city. And Simon & Garfunkel's America was inspired by a road trip that Paul Simon took with his girlfriend.

Here are some of our favorite songs that mention a specific city or country, and a snippet of the lyrics.

Listen when:  you're on a $388 flight to Vienna, or a $671 flight to Johannesburg, or a $353 flight to Paris, or...

1. Kathmandu – Bob Seger

I think I'm going to Katmandu

‍ That's really, really where I'm going to

If I ever get out of here

That's what I'm gonna do

I know my plane is due

The one that's going to Katmandu

Up to the mountain's where I'm going to

K-k-k-k-k-k Kathmandu ‍

2. One Night in Bangkok – Murray Head

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster

The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free

You'll find a god in every golden cloister

A little flesh, a little history

I can feel an angel sliding up to me

3. I've Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash

I've been everywhere, man

Crossed the deserts bare, man

I've breathed the mountain air, man

Travel, I've had my share, man

I've been everywhere

I've been to

4. Africa – Toto

The wild dogs cry out in the night

As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company

I know that I must do what's right

As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti

I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become

It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

I bless the rains down in Africa

Gonna take some time to do the things we never have

Bonus: Check out the 2018 cover by Weezer and this awesome 2016 video from Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard.

5. Marrakech Express – Crosby, Stills & Nash

Take the train from Casablanca going south

Blowing smoke rings from the corners of my my, my, my, my mouth

Colored cottons hang in air

Charming cobras in the square

Striped jellabas we can wear at home

Don't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express

6. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) – Shakira

Today's your day

You paved the way

If you get down get up oh oh

When you get down get up eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

This time for Africa

7. San Francisco – Scott McKenzie

If you're going to San Francisco

Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair

You're gonna meet some gentle people there

8. London Calling – The Clash

The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in

Engines stop running, the wheat is growin' thin

A nuclear era, but I have no fear

'Cause London is drowning, and I, I live by the river

9. Galway Girl – Ed Sheeran

You know, she played the fiddle in an Irish band

But she fell in love with an Englishman

Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand

Said, "Baby, I just wanna dance"

With my pretty little Galway girl

You're my pretty little Galway girl

10. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) – They Might Be Giants

Every gal in Constantinople

Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople

So if you've a date in Constantinople

She'll be waiting in Istanbul

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam

Why they changed it I can't say

People just liked it better that way

11. Ramblin’ Man – the Allman Brothers Band

I'm on my way to New Orleans this mornin'

I'm leavin' out of Nashville, Tennessee

They're always having a good time down on the bayou

Lord, them Delta women think the world of me

Lord, I was born a ramblin' man

Tryin' to make a livin' and doin' the best I can

And when it's time for leavin'

I hope you'll understand

That I was born a ramblin' man

12. Aux Champs-Élysées – Joe Dassin

Aux Champs-Elysées, aux Champs-Elysées

Au soleil, sous la pluie, à midi ou à minuit

Il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Elysées

In English:

Champs-Elysees, Champs-Elysees In the sun, in the rain, at noon or midnight There is everything you want on the Champs-Elysées

13. Lovers in Japan – Coldplay

Tonight, maybe we're gonna run

Dreamin' of the Osaka sun

Ohh, ohh, ohhh

Dreamin' of when the morning comes

14. Barcelona – George Ezra

Every time you have to go

Shut my eyes and you know

I’ll be lying right by your side

In Barcelona

15. April in Paris – Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

I never knew the charm of spring

I never met it face to face

I never knew my heart could sing

I never missed a warm embrace

Till April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom

Holiday tables under the trees

April in Paris, this is a feeling

16. Blue Hawaii – Elvis Presley

Come with me

While the moon is on the sea

The night is young

And so are we, so are we

Dreams come true

In blue Hawaii

17. Back in the U.S.S.R. – The Beatles

Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out

They leave the West behind

And Moscow girls make me sing and shout

That Georgia's always on my mind

Aw come on!

Yeah I'm back in the U.S.S.R.

You don't know how lucky you are boys

Back in the U.S.S.R.

18. Rio – Netsky featuring Macklemore

It’s the “Rio” remix, you should see us

Swimming in the ocean like the pool is hella heated

Expedited Visa and I’m posted with my feet up

Parasailing over beaches, got my girl from Ipanema

19. Barcelona – Ed Sheeran

And you and I we're flying on an airplane tonight

We're going somewhere where the sun is shining bright

Just close your eyes

And let's pretend we're dancing in the street

20. Havana – Camila Cabello

Havana, ooh na-na

Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh na-na

He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na, ah

Oh, but my heart is in Havana ‍

21. In America – Neil Diamond

Everywhere around the world

They're coming to America

Every time that flag's unfurled

Got a dream to take them there

Got a dream they've come to share

22. Tennessee – Arrested Development

They tell me my ears are so young

Go back, from whence you came

My family tree, my family name

For some strange reason it had to be

He guided me to Tennessee

Take me to another place, take me to another land

Make me forget all that hurts me, let me understand your plan

23. Paris – The Chainsmokers

We were staying in Paris

To get away from your parents

You look so proud

Standing there with a frown and a cigarette

Posting pictures of yourself on the internet

24. Graceland – Paul Simon

The Mississippi Delta was shining

Like a National guitar

I am following the river

Down the highway

Through the cradle of the civil war

I'm going to Graceland

25. Carolina in My Mind – James Taylor

In my mind I'm gone to Carolina

Can't you see the sunshine?

Can't you just feel the moonshine?

And, ain't it just like a friend of mine

To hit me from behind?

Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

26. New York State of Mind – Billy Joel

Some folks like to get away

Take a holiday from the neighborhood

Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood

But I'm takin' a Greyhound on the Hudson River line

I'm in a New York state of mind

27. Walking in Memphis – Marc Cohn

Saw the ghost of Elvis

On Union Avenue

Followed him up to the gates of Graceland

Then I watched him walk right through

Now security they did not see him

They just hovered 'round his tomb

But there's a pretty little thing

Waiting for the King

Down in the Jungle Room

When I was walking in Memphis

I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

Walking in Memphis

But do I really feel the way I feel?

28. America – Simon & Garfunkel

Cathy, I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh

Michigan seems like a dream to me now

It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw

I've gone to look for America

29. Mexico – James Taylor

Way down here you need a reason to move

Feel a fool running your stateside games

Lose your load, leave your mind behind Baby Jane

It sounds so simple I just got to go

The sun's so hot I forgot to go home

Guess I'll have to go now

30. California – Phantom Planet

Hustlers grab your guns

Your shadow weighs a ton

Driving down the 101

California here we come

Right back where we started from

California, here we come.

31. Chicago – Sufjan Stevens

I fell in love again

All things go, all things go

Drove to Chicago

All things know, all things know

32. Kokomo – The Beach Boys

Off the Florida Keys, there's a place called Kokomo

That's where you want to go to get away from it all

Bodies in the sand, tropical drink melting in your hand

We'll be falling in love to the rhythm of a steel drum band

Down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take you to

Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama

Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go

down to Kokomo, we'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow

That's where we want to go, way down in Kokomo

33. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Sweet home Alabama

Where the skies are so blue

Lord, I'm coming home to you

34. Vertigo – FM Belfast

We are going far away

Don't you look down

You are high above ground

We are driving with our friends

We are driving to a faraway place

35. California Love – Tupac and Dr. Dre

Say what you say, but give me that bomb beat from Dre

Let me serenade the streets of L.A

From Oakland to Sacktown

The Bay Area and back down

Cali is where they put they mack down give me love!

California, knows how to party

In the city of L.A.

In the city of good ol' Watts

In the city, the city of Compton

We keep it rocking

36. Malibu – Miley Cyrus

But here I am

Next to you

The sky is so blue

37. Midnight Train to Georgia – Gladys Knight and the Pips

He's leaving

On that midnight train to Georgia

And he's goin' back

To a simpler place and time

And I’ll be with him

I'd rather live in his world

Than live without him in mine

38. California Dreaming – The Mamas and the Papas

All the leaves are brown

And the sky is grey

I've been for a walk

On a winter's day

I'd be safe and warm

If I was in L.A.

California dreamin'

On such a winter's day

39. New York Groove – Ace Frehley

Many years since I was here

On the street I was passin' my time away

To the left and to the right,

Buildings towering to the sky

It's outta sight in the dead of night

Here I am, and in this city, with a fistful of dollars

And baby, you'd better believe

I'm back, back in the New York groove

40. Miami – Will Smith

Party in the city where the heat is on

All night, on the beach till the break of dawn

Welcome to Miami

Bienvenidos a Miami

Bouncin' in the club where the heat is on

I'm goin’ to Miami

41. Vienna – Ultravox

The music is weaving

Haunting notes, pizzicato strings

The rhythm is calling

Alone in the night as the daylight brings

A cool empty silence

The warmth of your hand and a cold grey sky

It fades to the distance

The image has gone only you and I

It means nothing to me

This means nothing to me

42. Viva Las Vegas – Elvis Presley

Bright light city gonna set my soul

Gonna set my soul on fire

Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn

So get those stakes up higher

There's a thousand pretty women waitin' out there

And they're all livin' devil may care

And I'm just the devil with love to spare

Viva Las Vegas, viva Las Vegas

43. Rocky Road to Dublin – The Irish Descendants

Well in Dublin next arrived, I thought it'd be a pity

To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city

So then I took a stroll down among the quality

Me bundle it was stolen in a neat locality

Something crossed me mind, then I looked behind

No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin'

Inquiring for the rogue, said me connaught brogue wasn't much in vogue

On the rocky road to Dublin

44. Beverly Hills – Weezer

Beverly Hills

That's where I want to be (gimme, gimme)

Livin' in Beverly Hills

Rollin' like a celebrity (gimme, gimme)

45. Surfin' USA – The Beach Boys

Haggerties and Swamies

Pacific Palisades

San Anofree and Sunset

Redondo Beach L. A.

All over La Jolla

At Waimea Bay

Everybody's gone surfin'

Surfin' U.S. A.

46. I'm Shipping Up To Boston – Dropkick Murphys

I'm a sailor peg

And I've lost my leg

Climbing up the top sails

I've lost my leg!

I'm shipping up to Boston, whoa

I'm shipping off to find my wooden leg

47. Hello Seattle – Owl City

Hello Seattle, I am a manta ray

Deep beneath the blue waves

I'll crawl the sandy bottom of Puget Sound

And construct my summer home

48. God Blessed Texas – Little Texas

God blessed Texas

With His own hand

Brought down angels from the promised land

Gave 'em a place where they could dance

If you want to see heaven, brother, here's you chance

I've been sent to spread the message

49. Taj Mahal – Sam Roberts Band

Sitting with you on the banks of the Ganges

Stealing a kiss on the streets of Bombay

Caressing your hair like the wind through the palm trees

I never dreamed that anyone could take you away

Keep on keep on keep on singing

I'm building a beautiful statue

To make sure that no one forgets you

50. Alaska – Maggie Rogers

I was walking through icy streams

That took my breath away

Moving slowly through westward water

Over glacial plains

And I walked off you

And I walked off an old me

Oh me, oh my, I thought it was a dream

So it seemed

51. Miles from Minnesota – The Lower 48

Yes next year we'll go traveling

Our escapades so baffling

Our sovereign love returning to the sea

We'll be miles from Minnesota then

Writing letters we won't send

For no words shall contain what will be

Well your sweet voice and my rough hands

When darkness prowls we will dance

Through bluffs and fields and orchards with the moon

Yes next year we will leave this place summer's kiss is just a taste

Fall's warm embrace is coming to us soon

Oh! We've got everywhere to go

You should sleep, I'll see you in the morning

52. Take Me Home Country Roads – John Denver

Almost heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River

Life is old there, older than the trees

Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong

West Virginia, mountain mama

Take me home, country roads

53. Miles Away – The Maine

I took a trip up the west coast

Was searching for a temp so low

And a summer high

The Sun swayed and set slow

Made waves with some friends I know

Got lost in the ebb and flow

Of the drifting tide

I didn't ever want to come down

From that west coast rush and summer high

And easy, peaceful sense of time

54. Brazil – Declan McKenna

I wanna play the beautiful game while I'm in Brazil

'Cause everybody plays the beautiful game while out in Brazil

'Cause it's all you've ever wanted, and it's all that you want still

Don't you wanna play the beautiful game out in Brazil?

55. Under African Skies – Paul Simon

Joseph's face was as black as the night

And the pale yellow moon shone in his eyes

His path was marked

By the stars in the Southern Hemisphere

And he walked the length of his days

Under African skies

56. Take It Easy – The Eagles

Well I'm a standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona

Such a fine sight to see

It's a girl, my lord, in a flatbed

Ford slowin' down to take a look at me

Come on baby

Don't say maybe

I gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me

We may lose and we may win

Though we will never be here again

So open up, I'm climbin' in

Take it easy

26 awesome international songs

A song’s title or lyrics don’t need to explicitly mention a specific place; sometimes it's the artist, the melody, the language, or simply the emotion of the song that ties it in our memories to a place we love.

Whether it’s the sultry sounds of Gotan Project’s Amor Porteno taking us back to a tango club in Buenos Aires, or the ethereal sounds of Hoppípolla from Sigur Rós transporting us to the otherworldly landscapes of Iceland, these international songs make us think of the places they are from or written about.

Listen when:  you're on your cheap flight to Iceland, or packing for your trip to Seoul, or strolling the streets of Paris, or driving the backroads of Scotland, or...

57. The Last – Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

58. let the music play – shamur, 59. la vie en rose – edith piaf, 60. gangnam style – psy.

61. Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin

62. money (that's what i want) – cheryl k, 63. royals – lorde, 64. rewrite – asian kung fu generation, 65. redemption song – bob marley, 66. dreams – the cranberries, 67. little busters – the pillows, 68. jai ho – a.r. rahman.

69. Counting Stars – Nujabes

70. i’m gonna be (500 miles) – the proclaimers, 71. sni bong – dengue fever, 72. jungle drum – emiliana torrini.

73. On and On – VIXX

74. beds are burning – midnight oil, 75. amor porteño – gotan project, 76. dui bu qi – transition, 77. sirocco – ulrich schnauss and jonas munk, 78. mi gente – j balvin.

79. Hoppípolla – Sigur Rós

80. somewhere over the rainbow – israel kamakawiwoʻole, 81. land down under – men at work, 82. guantanamera – celia cruz.

‍ 18 great songs about travel and wanderlust

Finally, the last songs on the list are those that inspire us to get out and see the world, that commiserate with those us of suffering from the travel bug, and that celebrate the beauty of a life less ordinary.

Listen when: you're suffering from an acute case of wanderlust or dreaming of your next great adventure.

83. Born to be Wild – Steppenwolf

Get your motor runnin'

Head out on the highway

Lookin' for adventure

And whatever comes our way

Yeah Darlin' go make it happen

Take the world in a love embrace

Fire all of your guns at once

And explode into space

84. Roam – The B52s

Roam if you want to

Roam around the world

Without wings, without wheels

Without anything but the love we feel

85. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For – U2

I have climbed the highest mountains

I have run through the fields

Only to be with you

I have run, I have crawled

I have scaled these city walls

These city walls

But I still haven't found

What I'm looking for

86. Come Fly with Me – Frank Sinatra

Come fly with me, we'll fly, we'll fly away

If you can use some exotic booze

There's a bar in far Bombay

Come on fly with me, we'll fly, we'll fly away

87. On the Road Again – Willie Nelson

On the road again

Goin' places that I've never been

Seein' things that I may never see again

And I can't wait to get on the road again

88. Road to Nowhere – Talking Heads

We're on a road to nowhere

Come on inside

Taking that ride to nowhere

We'll take that ride

I'm feeling okay this morning

And you know

We're on the road to paradise

Here we go, here we go

89. Life is a Highway – Tom Cochran

Life's like a road that you travel on

When there's one day here and the next day gone

Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand

Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

There's a world outside every darkened door

Where blues won't haunt you anymore

Where the brave are free and lovers soar

Come ride with me to the distant shore

We won't hesitate, break down the garden gate

There's not much time left today

90. When I’m Gone (Cups Song) – Anna Kendrick

I’ve got my ticket for the long way ‘round

The one with the prettiest of views

It’s got mountains, it’s got rivers, it’s got sights to give you shivers

But it sure would be prettier with you

When I’m gone

You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone

You’re gonna miss me by my walk

You’re gonna miss me by my talk, oh

91. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

Someday girl I don't know when

We're gonna get to that place

Where we really wanna go

And we'll walk in the sun

But till then tramps like us

Baby we were born to run

92. Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root

Well, I would like to hold my little hand

And we will run, we will, we will crawl, we will

I would like to hold my little hand

And we will run, we will, we will crawl

Send me on my way (on my way)

93. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett

I blew out my flip flop

Stepped on a pop top

Cut my heel had to cruise on back home

But there's booze in the blender

And soon it will render

That frozen concoction that helps me hang on

Wastin' away again in Margaritaville

Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt

Some people claim that there's a woman to blame

But I know it's my own damn fault

94. Moon River – Audrey Hepburn

Two drifters, off to see the world

There's such a lot of world to see

We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend

My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

95. Leaving on a Jet Plane – Peter Paul, and Mary

My bags are packed

I'm ready to go

I'm standing here outside your door

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is breakin'

It's early morn

The taxi's waitin'

He's blowin' his horn

Already I'm so lonesome

I could cry

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll wait for me

Hold me like you'll never let me go

I'm leavin' on a jet plane

I Don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go

96. The Passenger – Iggy Pop

I am a passenger

And I ride and I ride

I ride through the city's backside

I see the stars come out of the sky

Yeah, they're bright in a hollow sky

You know it looks so good tonight

I stay under glass

I look through my window so bright

I see the stars come out tonight

I see the bright and hollow sky

Over the city's ripped-back sky

And everything looks good tonight

97. Vacation – The Go-Go's

All I ever wanted

Had to get away

Meant to be spent alone

98. Homeward Bound – Simon & Garfunkel

Every day's an endless stream

Of cigarettes and magazines

And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories

And every stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be

Homeward bound

I wish I was

Home where my thought's escaping

Home where my music's playing

Home where my love lies waiting

Silently for me

99. No Roots – Alice Merton

I like standing still, but that's just a wishful plan

Ask me where I come from, I'll say a different land

But I've got memories and travel like gypsies in the night

I count gates and numbers, then play the guessing game

It's just the place that changes, the rest is still the same

And a thousand times I've seen this road

A thousand times

I've got no roots, but my home was never on the ground

100. Fly Away – Lenny Kravitz

I want to get away

I want to fly away

Yeah, yeah, yeah ‍

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Katie is Going's Director of Content Marketing. She has been to 30+ countries, prefers markets to museums, hates cucumbers, and dreams of one day living in a small cabin by the sea in Iceland. Originally from Detroit, she lived in Seattle and Chicago before settling in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their two cats.

Published July 18, 2023

Last updated December 28, 2023

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August 22, 2019

Modal time theory: Understanding human existence through time travel and music

by Flo­rian Meyer, ETH Zurich

Time is a fundamental dimension of human existence and comes in many forms. Using a comparative approach, philosopher and physicist Norman Sieroka looks at what distinguishes them, using time travel and music.

Have you ever come face-to-face with yourself before? Obviously not. But it is the kind of thing that might happen during time travel in science fiction —for example, in films such as Back to the Future . In this 1980s blockbuster, Marty McFly travels back in time from 1985 to 1955. This is the year when his parents fell in love. When Marty intervenes in the plot, he changes the past—and runs the risk that his parents will neither fall in love nor get married. If that had happened, he never would have been born. But how could Marty have travelled through time if he doesn't exist?

It is from these contradictions that the film gets its entertainment value. " Back to the Future is a good example of the internal conflict that stories about time travel have to struggle with," says Norman Sieroka. As a physicist and philosopher, he has studied the concept of time extensively. "Contradictions such as those Marty McFly experienced occur in particular when the sequence of cause and effect is reversed. The question of whether this is even possible makes the subject of time travel an interesting philosophical issue."

Traveling through time-like loops

In physics, for example, there are theories in which time travel is possible in principle. For example, under certain conditions, the general theory of relativity allows closed, time-like loops. In this theory, space and time are not independent of each other, but are defined by geometry. You can think of space-time like a marble run: similar to how marbles roll along a track, the planets orbit the sun on a course that prescribes how they move through space-time.

In some parts of the universe, the geometry could bend so much that the space-time curves bend back to their starting point, forming time-like loops. Astronauts who travel through such a loop would then return to a point in time where they "had already been" or which "had already existed."

What does time travel say about theories of time?

Such descriptions of time travel reflect basic positions of time theory. Sieroka says, "If an individual is convinced that—by definition—the past no longer exists and the future is still to come, then they will presumably consider time travel to be physically impossible, since the destinations do not actually exist." To a certain extent, such an individual considers only the present to be real.

Sieroka calls this position regarding philosophy of time a "modal time theory" (or in philosophy jargon, A-theory), because its fundamental order is that of the past, present and future. He differentiates this from the "positional theory" (B-theory), which orders events according to whether they will occur earlier or later. Typical examples of this theory can be found in physics. For example, when a ball rolls down an inclined path, you measure the time between an earlier point t1 and a later one t2—it doesn't make a difference whether you measure it yesterday, today or tomorrow.

Absolute simultaneity does not exist in the theory of relativity, which is why in this theory no point in time can be clearly determined as present. "Modal time" theories are therefore hardly represented in physics. However, for human perception and subjective experience, the present and the "modal time" are of paramount importance: "People can remember the past, but not the future. They can also influence the future, but not the past," Sieroka explains. "On the other hand, we have the 'earlier-later relation,' because there is cause and effect in the world, and effects follow their causes and not the other way round."

There is no one single "real" timeline

Back to the Future portrays this in a comical way. "Once I have been born, this fact is essentially established and can never be undone even if I travel through time—at least not within a single world as described in classical physics," Sieroka concludes. During his time as a Privatdozent at ETH Zurich, he published a book on the subject entitled Philosophie der Zeit (Philosophy of Time).

Norman Sieroka has been full Professor for Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Bremen and a member of the directory board for ETH's Turing Centre Zurich since April. Together with Renato Renner, ETH Professor for Theoretical Physics, Sieroka is also researching the concept of time in quantum physics and the requirements for quantum clocks.

But what really is the present? Is it a point in time or can it be expanded? Different sciences and areas of application have plausible answers to this question. That's why Sieroka is following a comparative approach: "There isn't an elementary or 'real' time that all others can be reduced to. You can have a deeper understanding of time only if you seriously consider its different forms and the cross-connections among them."

For a long time, mathematics regarded time as a prime example of a continuum that supposedly consists of individual points. "Upon closer examination, such a continuum turns out to be a theoretical requirement rather than a fact," Sieroka admits, "and leads to considerations as to whether time is instead possibly composed of overlapping intervals."

Hearing is time perception

The transition from rhythm to audible notes neatly illustrates this (see film 2): if the frequency is very low, you can hear a rhythm or "staccato," individual clicks. As soon as the frequency picks up, you no longer hear a rhythm, but a tone at a particular pitch. In the film example, even two pitches can be distinguished over time. Typically, the transition does not occur at a specific point in time, but flows in a short, temporally extended "moment." Likewise, you do not hear separate successive notes in pieces of music, but a full melody.

"Just as the power of sight shapes our perception of space, so hearing shapes our perception of time," Sieroka says. People can usually estimate the duration of sounds more accurately than the duration of how long an image is shown to them (see film 1). For Sieroka, hearing is an example of why one time form should not be put before another: "Time is such a fundamental dimension of human existence that it encompasses and structures physical and biological as well as social and spiritual characteristics."

Provided by ETH Zurich

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WATCH VIDEOS

On The Red Carpet

'the greatest hits': grief, music and... time travel.

"The Greatest Hits" will take you on a wild journey through music and time.

LOS ANGELES -- Searchlight Pictures' new film, "The Greatest Hits," is a unique amalgamation of genres. Part love story, part sci-fi fantasy and part heart-wrenching drama, the movie is sure to take you on a wild journey through music and time.

After Harriet loses her boyfriend in a car accident, she finds that certain songs transport her back to different moments in the past. In her search for a song that will help prevent the accident, she can't help but get caught up in a new whirlwind of emotion when she meets David.

The film is written and directed by Ned Benson and stars Lucy Boynton, Justin Min and Austin Crute. On The Red Carpet had the opportunity to speak with them about the story.

"I've always been very tethered to my past and I never quite clocked how detrimental that can be, so I really do empathize with where she's at and the way she justifies it," Lucy Boynton, who plays Harriet explained.

Harriet meets David at a grief therapy group, where he too has suffered the loss of a loved one. The role resonated with Justin Min, who portrays David.

"As I was experiencing grief myself and sort of getting into the mindset of David, it helped me to process and heal a lot of my own personal things. So, I'm very grateful in that regard," he said.

Austin Crute, who plays Harriet's friend Morris, explained "I think music is, scientifically, it's sound to say that music is a marker for you to remember your life by."

Benson took this idea and ran with it. "It's really about the emotional power of music in our lives and how it affects us, both by throwing us back into the past, and sort of reminding us to live our lives."

"The Greatest Hits" is streaming now on Hulu.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Searchlight Pictures, Hulu and this ABC station.

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Top 100 Time Travel Movies

Best Films about time travel.

• Movies or TV
• IMDb Rating
• In Theaters
• Release Year

1. Back to the Future (1985)

PG | 116 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi

Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.

Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Michael J. Fox , Christopher Lloyd , Lea Thompson , Crispin Glover

Votes: 1,305,917 | Gross: $210.61M

2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

R | 137 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

A cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.

Director: James Cameron | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger , Linda Hamilton , Edward Furlong , Robert Patrick

Votes: 1,173,367 | Gross: $204.84M

3. The Terminator (1984)

R | 107 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

A human soldier is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman whose unborn son is the key to humanity's future salvation.

Director: James Cameron | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger , Linda Hamilton , Michael Biehn , Paul Winfield

Votes: 923,649 | Gross: $38.40M

4. The Butterfly Effect (2004)

R | 113 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Evan Treborn suffers blackouts during significant events of his life. As he grows up, he finds a way to remember these lost memories and a supernatural way to alter his life by reading his journal.

Directors: Eric Bress , J. Mackye Gruber | Stars: Ashton Kutcher , Amy Smart , Melora Walters , Elden Henson

Votes: 520,899 | Gross: $57.94M

5. Back to the Future Part II (1989)

PG | 108 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi

After visiting 2015, Marty McFly must repeat his visit to 1955 to prevent disastrous changes to 1985...without interfering with his first trip.

Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Michael J. Fox , Christopher Lloyd , Lea Thompson , Tom Wilson

Votes: 572,255 | Gross: $118.50M

6. 12 Monkeys (1995)

R | 129 min | Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

In a future world devastated by disease, a convict is sent back in time to gather information about the man-made virus that wiped out most of the human population on the planet.

Director: Terry Gilliam | Stars: Bruce Willis , Madeleine Stowe , Brad Pitt , Joseph Melito

Votes: 646,466 | Gross: $57.14M

7. Groundhog Day (1993)

PG | 101 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

A narcissistic, self-centered weatherman finds himself in a time loop on Groundhog Day.

Director: Harold Ramis | Stars: Bill Murray , Andie MacDowell , Chris Elliott , Stephen Tobolowsky

Votes: 684,727 | Gross: $70.91M

8. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

PG-13 | 181 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe.

Directors: Anthony Russo , Joe Russo | Stars: Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Mark Ruffalo , Chris Hemsworth

Votes: 1,264,673 | Gross: $858.37M

9. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

PG-13 | 132 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

The X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.

Director: Bryan Singer | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Ian McKellen , Hugh Jackman , James McAvoy

Votes: 744,811 | Gross: $233.92M

10. Interstellar (2014)

PG-13 | 169 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi

When Earth becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans.

Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Matthew McConaughey , Anne Hathaway , Jessica Chastain , Mackenzie Foy

Votes: 2,097,443 | Gross: $188.02M

11. Predestination (I) (2014)

R | 97 min | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

As his last assignment, a temporal agent is tasked to travel back in time and prevent a bomb attack in New York in 1975. The hunt, however, turns out to be beyond the bounds of possibility.

Directors: Michael Spierig , Peter Spierig | Stars: Ethan Hawke , Sarah Snook , Noah Taylor , Madeleine West

Votes: 304,559 | Gross: $0.07M

12. Mirage (2018)

TV-MA | 128 min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery

Two storms separated by 25 years. A woman murdered. A daughter missed. Only 72 hours to discover the truth.

Director: Oriol Paulo | Stars: Adriana Ugarte , Chino Darín , Javier Gutiérrez , Álvaro Morte

Votes: 64,181

13. Palm Springs (2020)

R | 90 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Mystery

Stuck in a time loop, two wedding guests develop a budding romance while living the same day over and over again.

Director: Max Barbakow | Stars: Andy Samberg , Cristin Milioti , J.K. Simmons , Peter Gallagher

Votes: 182,508

14. Midnight in Paris (2011)

PG-13 | 94 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.

Director: Woody Allen | Stars: Owen Wilson , Rachel McAdams , Kathy Bates , Kurt Fuller

Votes: 449,732 | Gross: $56.82M

15. Timecrimes (2007)

R | 92 min | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi

A man accidentally gets into a time machine and travels back in time nearly an hour. Finding himself will be the first of a series of disasters of unforeseeable consequences.

Director: Nacho Vigalondo | Stars: Karra Elejalde , Candela Fernández , Bárbara Goenaga , Nacho Vigalondo

Votes: 68,741 | Gross: $0.04M

16. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

PG-13 | 113 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

A soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.

Director: Doug Liman | Stars: Tom Cruise , Emily Blunt , Bill Paxton , Brendan Gleeson

Votes: 736,360 | Gross: $100.21M

17. About Time (I) (2013)

R | 123 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.

Director: Richard Curtis | Stars: Domhnall Gleeson , Rachel McAdams , Bill Nighy , Lydia Wilson

Votes: 385,610 | Gross: $15.32M

18. The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

PG-13 | 107 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

Henry DeTamble, a librarian, possesses a unique gene that lets him involuntarily travel through time. His wife, Claire Abshire, finds it difficult to cope with it.

Director: Robert Schwentke | Stars: Eric Bana , Rachel McAdams , Ron Livingston , Michelle Nolden

Votes: 157,865 | Gross: $63.41M

19. Back to the Future Part III (1990)

PG | 118 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi