Self-isolating? Worrying about the end of the world? Here’s the ultimate coronavirus playlist to keep you sane at home

As businesses around the world continue to shut down and people increasingly isolate themselves in their homes, these may be the perfect songs to get you through the coronavirus pandemic.

Whether you think it’s a frightening threat to the modern world or an overhyped disease people will soon forget about, there is no denying coronavirus panic has taken over. Governments are scrambling to respond to the spread of the disease, with countries like Italy and Canada putting themselves into lockdown.

President Donald Trump has deemed the virus a national emergency in the US, and state governments are encouraging more and more people to isolate themselves at home and practice social distancing. 

It can be hard to keep your sanity through all of this madness and confusion, so here’s the ultimate coronavirus soundtrack to keep your head straight. 

Don’t Stand So Close to Me — The Police

The Police’s 1980 classic has nothing to do with a virus — it’s actually about the temptation felt between a teacher and student — but it provides a mantra for today: “Don’t stand so close to me.” 

California Governor Gavin Newsom has urged restaurants to cut their capacity limits by 50 percent and keep six feet of distance between patrons when they are dining in, and plenty of politicians have promoted the idea of social distancing. If they need a theme song to sell this whole social distancing thing, they should look no further than The Police.

Fever — Peggy Lee

Take a few lyrics out of Peggy Lee’s classic ‘Fever’ and it basically becomes a letter to what we know so far about the coronavirus.

“Everybody's got the fever. That is somethin' you all know. Fever isn't such a new thing. Fever started long time ago,” Lee croons.

It may be a reminder of the actual side effects of the virus, but the music is so cool and smooth, you’ll be snapping your fingers along with it anyway.

It’s the End of the World — R.E.M.

R.E.M.’s ‘It’s the End of the World’ is the perfect song for any international panic, and people seem to run back to it in times of uncertainty. In the last week, the 1987 song has found its way back into the top 100 sales chart on iTunes and it’s been climbing day-by-day. 

No matter how bad your friends or the media or politicians may make things sound, just remember this little line: “It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.”

Meds — Placebo

The song has nothing to do with a literal virus, but its title and Placebo’s band name dictate they must be on any medical-themed playlist. Plus, what good is staying at home while the world shuts down around you if you’re not using the time to take deep dives into the music of bands like Placebo?

“Baby...did you forget to take your meds?” 

Down with the Sickness — Disturbed

Disturbed’s 2000 hit song feels like it was almost made for today. Get down with the sickness, whether that sickness be the actual virus we hear about everyday or the mass hysteria that seems to spread so much more quickly.

Panic — The Smiths

The Smiths asked a question in this 1987 song that any common sense person would be hard-pressed not to ask themselves on a daily basis today: “could life ever be sane again?”

You can’t control the panic hitting the streets, the travel bans, businesses closures, or government restrictions, but you can at least rock out to a Smiths song and probably feel a little better about it all.

“Panic on the streets of London. Panic on the streets of Birmingham. I wonder to myself: Could life ever be sane again?”

Splendid Isolation — Warren Zevon

Being quarantined at home is not all that bad. Warren Zevon’s 1989 love song to the virtues of being alone is just the positive spin you need when you start feeling cabin fever sink in. 

“I’m putting tinfoil up on the windows. Lying down in the dark to dream. I don’t want to see their faces. I don’t want to hear them scream.”

Lost in the Supermarket — The Clash

Been to a supermarket recently? It’s not a whole lot of fun. Panic has sunk its nasty claws into much of the public and their response has been to buy a whole lot of toilet paper and invade en masse every grocery store near them … all while trying to avoid a disease they are afraid they will catch if they come into contact with other people — rational thought isn’t central to mob mentality.

‘Lost in the Supermarket’ is exactly how any normal person should feel walking into a grocery store today. The Clash’s angsty lyrics somehow fit the situation like a glove.

“I’m all lost in the supermarket. I can no longer shop happily.”

Toxicity — System of a Down

The “toxicity of our city” is a lyric just about anyone anywhere can relate to in this moment. This 2001 System of a Down song also has a madcap energy that feels inspired by today’s daily hysteria.

Stayin' Alive — Bee Gees

Any list related to the coronavirus should probably at least attempt to end on a positive note, and what’s more positive than music from the Bee Gees?

Remember, folks, through it all — the mass hysteria, the empty grocery stores, the panicky politicians — we are just “stayin’ alive” and if you do that with the Bee Gees playing in the background, you’ll feel a whole lot cooler doing it. 

Are we missing an essential track? Tell us your choices below.