The Ultimate Crush Mixtape: Soundtracking the Sweet, Torturous Magic of In-Between Feelings

There is a very specific, high-definition kind of magic that comes with having a crush. Suddenly, the ordinary world takes on cinematic color. A mundane Tuesday afternoon transforms into a potential meet-cute scene; a casual text message with a single typo is dissected like ancient hieroglyphics; and the simple act of them walking into a room feels like the bass dropping in your chest.

Having a crush is equal parts exhilarating and agonizing. It’s a masterclass in overthinking. And because human vocabulary often falls short when you’re trying to explain why a passing glance from someone across a crowded room can ruin your entire day (in the best way possible), we turn to the universal translator: music.

Whether you’re quietly admiring from the back row, floating on cloud nine after an accidental brush of hands, or staring at your ceiling at 2:0{0} AM wondering if they even know you exist, here is the ultimate guide to the soundtrack of your crush.

1. The Secret Admirer: Longing from Afar

For every person who has ever stood frozen in a hallway, practicing a casual wave that never actually happens, there is a song that captures that delicious, aching distance. This is the realm of the secret crush—where loving someone from two seats away feels like both a privilege and a punishment.

• “Heather” by Conan Gray
  A masterclass in quiet, unrequited ache. It captures that gut-wrenching realization that they are looking at someone else entirely, while you’re keeping score of every sweater they wear.
• “I Wanna Be Yours” by Arctic Monkeys
  Deeply devoted and slightly obsessive, this track channels the feeling of wanting to weave yourself into someone’s everyday life, even if you haven’t quite found the words to tell them yet.
• “Gorgeous” by Taylor Swift
  Playful, slightly frustrated, and utterly honest. It’s the sonic equivalent of being too intimidated by someone’s face to form a coherent sentence, resulting in you accidentally being a little rude just to hide how starstruck you are.

2. Head Over Heels: The Euphoric Butterfly Phase

Then comes the shift. Maybe they smiled back. Maybe they laughed at your joke. Suddenly, gravity doesn’t quite apply to you anymore. Your steps feel lighter, your Spotify algorithm gets dangerously upbeat, and every love song ever written suddenly feels like it was written specifically about your life.

• “Talk Too Much” by COIN
  Pure, hyper-energetic indie-pop adrenaline. This song mirrors the nervous panic of having so much you want to say to your person that your brain short-circuits and your mouth runs a mile a minute.
• “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure
  Timeless, sweeping, and dizzying. It sounds like spinning in circles until you’re breathless, completely intoxicated by the sheer joy of someone’s presence.
• “I Like Me Better” by Lauv
  The anthem for when a crush starts to rewire your confidence. Being around them makes you feel like a shinier, braver version of yourself, and this track captures that golden-hour glow.

3. The 2 AM Overthinker: Decoding the Digital Silence

When the sun goes down, the butterflies sometimes turn into anxious little acrobats. This is the late-night overthinking zone. You’ve replayed today’s interactions a dozen times, stared at the typing bubble that appeared and then vanished, and now you’re deep in your feelings.

• “telepatía” by Kali Uchis
  Smooth, hypnotic, and deeply yearning. It’s the ultimate track for long-distance crushes or late-night texting sessions where every emoji feels like a hidden message.
• “Reflections” by The Neighbourhood
  Moody, atmospheric, and introspective. It captures the bittersweet limbo of wondering where you stand and hoping against hope that the feeling is mutual.

4. Shooting Your Shot: The Anthem of Brave Leaps

Eventually, the tension reaches a breaking point. You can’t live in the purgatory of “what-ifs” forever. Whether you actually end up sending that confession text or just decide to carry yourself with a little more swagger, you need a track that hands you your courage on a silver platter.

• “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift
  The holy grail of underdog crush anthems. It’s theatrical, unapologetic, and gives you the permission to believe that maybe, just maybe, the person you’re dreaming about is looking for someone just like you.
• “Paper Rings” by Taylor Swift
  Upbeat and fiercely committed before anything has even officially begun. It reminds you that romance doesn’t need to be complicated—sometimes you’re just ready to dive in headfirst.

Why Our Crush Playlists Matter

We tend to downplay crushes as trivial, teenage, or fleeting. But the truth is, having a crush is one of the most creatively potent states of being. It forces us to pay hyper-attention to the world, to notice small details, and to feel deeply alive.

The songs we attach to our crushes become time capsules. Years down the road, you might hear a stray chord from an indie track or a nostalgic pop hook, and suddenly you’ll be transported right back to the smell of cheap coffee in the campus library, the glow of your phone screen in a dark room, and the electric thrill of wondering, “What if?”

So curate your playlist, put your headphones on, and let the soundtrack carry you through the sweet, messy magic of it all.