So, you are finally turning twenty?
How excited are you about the upcoming changes in your life?
Are you taking up some minor responsibilities already as you prepare for adulthood?
There are a lot of changes to embrace in your 20s around your relationships, schooling, and general life.
Sometimes, that can trigger all the weirdest imaginations as you reflect on the next decade of your life.
Below are the 30 best songs about being 20 to calm the nerves.
1. “Twenty-One” by Khalid
Do you remember your 21st birthday?
It’s one of the most special moments in a person’s life but it can also be anxious.
Khalid captures such emotions in his “Twenty-One” song, describing the anxiety on the eve of his 21st birthday.
It’s all about the usual experiences of growing up and going through your first heartbreak, the usual regrets, and everything in between.
Khalid has an important message in the end; “You gotta hold on tight.”
2. “22” by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s “22” is a brilliant anthem for the carefree fun of youthful life.
The singer reminisces all the memories while reflecting on the journey to her 22nd birthday.
It is one of the best songs about being 20 years old that still resonates with contemporary pop lovers.
The catchy lyrics and pop beats pushed it into the top 10 in many countries, besides reaching #20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
3. “20 Something” by SZA
This song perfectly describes all the anxieties, struggles, and uncertainties of being 20.
SZA shares her biggest fears in her twenties, confronted by feelings of loneliness and aloneness after returning home in years.
The memorable chorus brings out the uncertainties of life as the narrator laments the fragility of the 20s relationships and defines her path.
Ultimately, a message of hope and resilience shines through the song, encouraging the listeners to hang on because everything gets better in the end.
4. “Twenty-Somethings” by Judah & The Lion
The trickiest thing about your twenties is the endless anxieties and uncertainties as you struggle to define your life’s path.
“Twenty-Somethings” is a folk-pop song that captures the same emotions, describing the struggles to figure out what you want.
The lyrics encourage the listeners to keep going because being in your 20s means you will make mistakes anyway.
5. “Schoolin’ Life” by Beyoncé
Beyoncé’s song from her 4th studio album, 4 of 2015, describes midlife schooling from the 20s to 50s.
The song is packed with drum kits, horns, electric guitars, and synthesizers, giving it a memorable beat and a danceable rhythm.
Beyoncé affirms what everybody in their 20s and mid-years want to hear.
That mid-life experiences don’t define your life because things never go according to plan.
Even though time flies, you only need to take everything a step at a time while learning through the journey.
“This is for them twenty-somethings/Time really moves fast, you were just sixteen.”
6. “Young, Wild & Free” by Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa ft. Bruno Mars
The twenties are the perfect time to live your life to the fullest because you don’t have many responsibilities.
“Young, Wild & Free” is a song about self-expression and having fun without worrying about what others think.
7. “When I Grow Up” by NF
We all have those memories of our biggest childhood dreams.
The determination to succeed follows us through to our 20s.
And this is the perfect song to live those dreams.
While the song isn’t necessarily about being 20 years old, it expresses the dreams of success that we all have growing up.
8. “Pushing 20” by Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter expresses that carefree attitude we all portray in our 20s.
The 20s is about pushing the boundaries without worrying about other people’s opinions.
Sabrina released the track when she was only 19, looking forward to a new chapter in her twenties.
As the 20s beckon, you start to assume more responsibilities and make important decisions.
The secret at this point is to control your thoughts and not let other people’s opinions affect you.
9. “Forever Young” by One Direction
We all want to stay young forever.
Just like in “Forever Young,” where the band members want to sing and dance forever even though they know life won’t always be easy.
As the 20s approach, you will want to cherish every moment.
10. “Learning To Fly” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
“Learning To Fly” is a song about life as we battle obstacles on the way to achieving our dreams.
In life’s journey, you will encounter endless challenges, from religious traps to relationships and mental issues.
What matters most is how you respond to every situation.
“Learning To Fly” spreads a hopeful message for new beginnings.
You can either rise above every challenge or let it consume you.
It’s quite the redemption song you should listen to as you enter a new phase in life.
11. “Under 21” by Ferris
Any young and carefree music lover will find Ferris’ songs quite relatable.
It’s about the carefree stage when many people want to experience it all.
The song was released under Ferris’ 1997 It Means Everything album and became popular amongst younger listeners.
12. “Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars
Some twenty-somethings only want to relax on a bed or sofa the whole day while having those endless fantasies.
This song is for such twenties, the lazy ones, who love their bed and food.
They never do a thing.
13. “Yesterday” by The Beatles
The Beatles’ song brings the nostalgic feelings of yesterday.
Unfortunately, it’s a sad song about broken love, filled with regrets, longing, and guilt.
Doomed romance is one of the first things that will welcome you to your twenties.
And when the going gets tough, let the song’s lyrics guide your path as you start a new chapter.
See also: Best Beatles Songs
14. “Life Of The Party” by Shawn Mendes
We can all do with a little more enthusiasm, even with the uncertainties of being 20.
Shawn Mendes encourages the listeners to enjoy their life’s journey because we all have unique paths.
The Canadian singer-songwriter has been in the limelight ever since he was 14.
And there’s probably no better person to describe teenage and early adult life than him.
The song’s lyrics resonate with teenagers and anyone turning 20.
A stage where you’ll struggle to know what you want in life.
15. “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield
Every day is a chance to define your life’s path.
Just like Natasha Bedingfield expresses in her 2004 adult contemporary song.
The lyrics describe the freedom to live our lives to the fullest by taking one step at a time.
Every day is a blank page, and you choose what to write on it.
So, don’t worry about anything.
16. “Not Nineteen Forever” by The Courteeners
How do you wish to spend your 20s?
For the English band members, it was all about partying and drinking.
And they tell their story in “Not Nineteen Forever.”
17. “What’s My Age Again?” by Blink-182
The onset of growth and maturity is exciting and scary at the same time.
It’s easy to get stuck in your teenage behaviors through to your twenties because time flies quickly.
And sometimes, people in their twenties fail to recognize that they should act better than their age.
Still, don’t forget to have fun when you can.
18. “At Least I Look Cool” by Sasha Alex Sloan
One of the biggest issues you will battle in your twenties is self-image.
“At Least I Look Cool” is about social anxiety and being broke in your twenties.
The narration is based on a young lady whose life experiences resonate with many people in their twenties.
In your twenties, even simple activities like a night out with your buddies can make you go broke.
That’s where anxiety comes in.
19. “Anti-Everything” by Lost Kings & Loren Gray
Sometimes, your twenties will make you feel like you’re losing it all.
This is the best song to remind you of the new changes in your life when you feel like detaching yourself from everything and everyone.
The calming melody will uplift you when you’re having one of those days.
20. “I Like Myself (Most Of The Time)” by K. Flay
Again, a theme of self-image dominates K. Flay’s song about being 20 years old.
The twenties will get you trying to fit in or faking it most of the time to look cool.
Reality hits many people at this point, and if you aren’t ready to accept it, anxiety creeps in.
“I Like Myself (Most Of The Time)” captures that message and the endless struggles to accept yourself the way you are.
21. “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa
“Don’t Start Now” is a song about starting a new era without letting anyone hold you back.
The lyrics resonate with the twenty-somethings stuck in their past, troubled relationships, and many things that hold them back.
You are going to face many obstacles in your twenties.
But what matters most is learning to get over them unscathed.
22. “Crash and Burn” by Thomas Rhett
You will face some of your biggest failures in your twenties.
Failed relationships, tough college life, and drug and substance abuse.
The twenties can get as chaotic as they come.
In Thomas Rhett’s case, he’s heartbroken after his relationship falls apart.
Like the singer, heartbreak is one of those failures you will likely face in your twenties.
23. “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift
Growing up brings mixed emotions.
In the midst of the joy and freedom of starting a new chapter also lies deep uncertainties about your life’s path.
Taylor Swift admits not knowing exactly what to feel about adulthood.
On the one hand, she enjoys a newly found freedom.
But on the other, she senses the isolation that comes with maturity.
Fortunately, she’s learning essential lessons from the whole experience.
24. “Daydream” by Tori Kelly
Tori Kelly’s “Daydream” is a perfect reminder to keep our dreams alive no matter how challenging it gets.
It’s normal to have those big childhood dreams in your twenties.
And if you keep them alive, you can achieve them faster than you could ever imagine.
This is also the perfect song to lift you when you’re having one of those days.
25. “Royals” by Lorde
Everybody craves the nicest things that life has to offer.
Luxurious cars, private jets, palatial homes, you name them.
Lorde reminds us that a sumptuous lifestyle is great, but it’s never the key to happiness.
Instead, we should strive to make meaningful connections with friends and loved ones to live our best lives.
This is the perfect anthem for the 20-year-olds who are always obsessing about wealth and other materialistic things.
26. “Working 9-5” by Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton’s song expresses the frustrations of a tedious 9-5 working routine.
That also includes the inequalities and injustices of an average worker.
While the lyrics aren’t necessarily about being 20, they resonate with any young person who will probably be struggling with new responsibilities at the workplace.
Dolly Parton encourages us to hang on and keep pursuing our dreams no matter how hard the going gets.
27. “Wish You Were Sober” by Conan Gray
Conan Gray’s song is about getting young, drunk, and struggling to connect with a romantic partner.
It symbolizes all those experiences we all have in our twenties.
28. “Time to Pretend” by MGMT
Everybody wants to live their twenties to the fullest.
But sometimes, that exposes us to self-destructive behavior like drug and substance abuse.
MGMT urges the listeners to take a slow and cautious approach to life.
The song is a reminder of simple life choices with big consequences.
29. “Two Weeks From Twenty” by Yellowcard
Yellowcard’s song proves that reaching our twenties is a blessing we should never take for granted.
He narrates the sad story of a young man killed before his 20th birthday.
It’s both an anti-war song and a song about being 20.
30. “Twenty Nothing” by Spector
“Twenty Nothing” is an uplifting song about being 20 with a dark subject.
The twenties can be a challenging moment in anyone’s life.
Reaching the milestone also means taking some responsibilities and embracing all the changes that come with it.
Sometimes, that means battling self-image, losing friends you thought would be part of your life forever, and experiencing heartbreaks.
There’s something to learn from the song’s lyrics as adulthood beckons.
Best Songs About Being 20 – Final Thoughts
Songs about being 20 cover every theme, from drug and substance abuse to dreams, romance, and social anxiety.
Turning 20 is a massive change in your life as you transition from a teenager to an adult.
That can be scary.
And exciting.
Create the perfect playlist with the 30 best songs about being 20 as you reflect on the upcoming changes in your life.
You may also like: Songs About Being 18
