10 Songs for Your End of the World Playlist

The end of the world may not happen Friday as the Mayan calendar predicts, but if the world were to end during your lifetime, what music would you want on your End of the World playlist?

Would you have serious music that causes you to examine your life or upbeat music  that leads you to celebrate your time on Earth? The following are some songs—serious and not so much so—to possibly put on your playlist for the world finale.

1. “In My Life” by the Beatles: Classic and contemplative, this song is a good way to look back on what and who you have loved.

2. "It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" by R.E.M.: A must-have song, obviously. When the world ends, R.E.M. will be raking in the dough like Prince in 1999.

3. "Till the World Ends" by Britney Spears: Yes, Britney Spears. But as a dancing fiend I'd take the command to “keep on dancin’ till the world ends” pretty seriously.

4. "Who Will Save Your Soul?" by Jewel: Another thought-provoking selection, though I’m actually not a Jewel fan and am glad we’re past the period of time when this song could be heard on the radio or in a supermarket every five minutes.

5. "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin: Of course.

6. "I Got a Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas: This song may have been played to death, but that’s quite appropriate for the world’s end. Plus, I got a feeling if a concert was thrown during the end of the world, the Black Eyed Peas—the most over-exposed group ever—would headline. No doubt they’d incorporate a few dozen product placements too.   

7. “Live Like We’re Dying” by Kris Allen: A good reminder for anyone.

8. “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC: Short, sweet and to the point. And you can unabashedly perform the fun choreography, because, hey—the world is ending—you won’t have to worry about hiding your face from anyone afterward.

9. “Jesus Walks” by Kanye West: While it’s irksome that a song with a great beat and meaningful lyrics is sung by someone who insists on tacky, rude self-promotion, we can rest assured that the world’s end will probably be delayed since Kanye will interrupt the process. 

10. "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen: To remind you that worse things can happen than the end of the world.  

What would you put on your End of the World playlist?