The boy band Why Don’t We recently released their second studio album, titled “The Good Times and the Bad Ones” which consists of 10 songs. I’m going to be honest, my rankings have changed a lot since I first established them. But while it was difficult to pick my favorites, the ones at the bottom aren’t there because I don’t like them, I just don’t like them as much as some of the other ones. Some songs I am just not really in the mood for at the moment, either because I have listened to them so much already or because they don’t fit the current vibe. This is actually a good thing, though, because it means that there are a variety of songs on the album. For me, this ranking has and will probably change more, but for now it is as follows. In the end here is the list I decided on. Check out the songs here! 

1. “I’ll Be Okay”
2. “Love Song”
3. “Slow Down”
4. “For You”
5. “Be Myself”
6. “Grey”
7. “Fallin’” 
8. “Lotus inn” 
9. “Look At Me”
10. “Stay” 

1. “I’ll Be Okay”: “I’ll Be Okay” became one of my favorites really quickly. The album was actually named off of one of the lyrics in the song: “We did it for the good times and the bad ones.” The intro is one of my favorite parts because it is so upbeat, and the song follows that vibe. From the teasers the band posted on Instagram I could tell I would like it, and I saw the connections to the other themes of the album. The song quickly moved to the top of my list because of how catchy and fun to sing along with it is, as well as how easy it is to dance/want to dance to. If you’re in a good mood and need something fun to listen to, or even just need something to get your spirits up, this song will do it! It will for sure get the party started!

2. “Love Song”: The perfect song to blast in the car with a friend on a sunny day!! It is so easy to sing along to and the lyrics are easy to catch on to fast. I could listen to this on repeat for days. Its peppy, upbeat tune just makes me want to smile forever and ever! The lyrics are extremely creative and uplifting, and the song has a cute concept that tells the story as it’s being sung. The band talked in an interview about how it’s about writing a song for a person and saying this is how it goes, then singing it. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I actually think that it is very cool and a fascinating way of looking at it. Watch the interview here! (Time stamp at 5:15)

3. “Slow Down”: Another great one to blast on the AUX. This was their third and last single released before the album and should absolutely be played in the car on a hot summer day with the windows rolled down, speeding down the freeway. It is exceptionally catchy and a blast to sing along to. Not to mention it’s great live! (through zoom calls, of course). I am definitely guilty of playing this one on repeat.

4. “For You”: I love the message in “For You”! It’s sweet and about being there for someone no matter what. And even if they don’t want you to, you will have their back. The song, especially in the chorus, tells this story that is a little sad, but with the specific lyrics, it ends up having this sincere, heartfelt meaning. It is a little electronic sounding, which adds to the various sounds on the album. Depending on your mood and environment I think it can have an upbeat and cheerful feeling, but also a slower, more sensitive sentiment. Overall it’s a very feel good song which I really enjoy both when I’m hyped up or more mellow.

5. “Be Myself”: “Be Myself” is a song about anxiety. The hope for this song was that it would help a lot of people who relate to this and that it would resonate with a lot of people. Daniel Seavey, of Why Don’t We, wrote the song about Jack, another band member, after he shared his anxiety. The lyrics are really heartfelt and emotional and capture Jack’s feelings of anxiety well. The band has said this album is very vulnerable for them because it is something that is coming only from them, and “Be Myself” is one of the best examples of this. Definitely more on the “bad times” side of the good times and the bad times, but like all the songs on the album, it has its place. It is personal and vulnerable and I think those characteristics are what make the best music. If this song doesn’t show the genuine care and respect the boys have for each other, then I don’t know what does.

6. “Grey”: “Grey” is a really sad song, but great nevertheless. It definitely has a different tone and mood from most of the other songs, but that gives the album more variety which is a nice touch. You can really feel the sadness in it when they’re singing. It’s a ballad and is soothing but sad at the same time. I like it a lot, I just haven’t listened to it as much because sometimes the sadness doesn’t really match my mood. But I think the calmness could make me feel either better, or just even sadder. Either way it’s good to listen to when you’re sad so you can just wallow in your feelings or maybe you’ll feel better after. Warning: if you are sad it might make you cry!

7. “Fallin’”: “Fallin’” is only down here because I’ve been listening to it for a couple of months so it’s less new to me. I absolutely loved it when it came out, and I still do. It is the lead single off the album and was definitely the perfect song to come back with after their eight month break. It has some inspiration from Queen, Kanye’s Black Skinhead drums, Borns’ “Electric Love” and more. There was a lot of (much deserved) focus around “Fallin’” because it was their first song in months, but because it’s not as new as their other songs, I am trying to listen to the rest of the songs. To me it feels like the beginning of a new story and a new era. The song is super high energy and it has a strong beat and melody that is easy to rock out to. I’ve listened to this song so many times on repeat and enjoyed every minute of it. I can’t imagine them coming back with any other song.

8. “Lotus Inn”: I don’t want anyone to think that because “Lotus Inn” is near the bottom that it isn’t good. It is so good and the perfect song to play at a sleepover or something. It’s all about having a good time, which is something that the music video shows well. The music video was so entertaining that I even wrote another article about it. Overall, it is something that definitely fits in the album’s theme. There is a lot of energy in this song which will get anyone excited. A definite show closer! (To read more about the music video for “Lotus Inn,” click here)!

9. “Look At Me”: I didn’t like “Look At Me” that much when I first heard it. I was expecting it to be one of the slower songs, and it kind of is but not quite in the calming way I thought it would be; like the way “Be Myself” is. It is definitely a new style from any of their other music they’ve put out so far. But I know they are writing their own music for the first time and trying new sounds out. So far I’ve liked what they’ve come up with. As I gave it a chance and listened to it more I started liking it more. The instrumental part of it is really good and the lyrics fit well, although they’re a little strange, but that’s okay. The song is kind of spooky but mellow at the same time, and the beginning is something I definitely would have never expected in a million years. But I like that they’re branching out and trying new things with their music.

10. “Stay”: This one is a little on the slower side but still has a nice, steady beat. The tempo is probably a little slower than “For You,” but faster than “Be Myself.” I don’t love it as much as some of the other ones, but still a good song! I think it will grow on me more later. I do love the chorus, though I don’t love the verses as much; they’re a little less catchy than some others, but the song is not bad. This might be because there are parts that are a little hard to understand, so looking up the lyrics is going to be important if you’re going to sing along. It’s a great song to try to mellow yourself out with though!

If you are a fan of some dancy, pop music this album is definitely for you! It is 100 percent a 10/10. Even if pop music isn’t completely your style, there might still be some songs on there for you, but you’ll never know unless you give it a listen. The album was highly anticipated and didn’t disappoint. I highly recommend it, especially if you’ve been needing some new music!