Not sure about you guys, but March has been a mentally-draining and self-reflective month for me. As a result, the songs I’ve chosen for March 2026 were based on the recent challenges I’ve had to overcome. After returning from Las Vegas, I felt lost and uncertain about my next steps in life. To top it off, I binge-watched season 7 of American Idol this past week because I just got David Archuleta’s Devout (2026) book; he was runner-up for that season. It really opened my eyes to this bubble I’ve mentally placed my favorite contestants in for the past 18 years. I had a certain image for them that I didn’t want to let go of. The songs I’ve chosen are a weird bunch, so please bear with me. With all that said, let’s get on with the music!
10. “Don’t Talk Me Down” by JoJo from Good to Know (2020)
Having read JoJo’s Over the Influence: A Memoir (2024), it made sense for her to write a song like “Don’t Talk Me Down.” It’s an introspective R&B number about letting go of a past lover, shedding that safety net. At the time, JoJo was on a self-love journey after years of neglecting herself and relying on past relationships for comfort. Lyrically, I can’t relate to the relationship aspect of a safety net, but I can relate to the self-doubt and mind tricks that lead up to that safety net. JoJo’s vocals are absolutely stunning and she sings every word like she means it with her whole heart!
9. “Dulce Amor” by David Archuleta from Earthly Delights (2025)
When Archuleta was on American Idol, he was a shy 17-year-old with a musical soul beyond his years. I followed the first two years of his career, especially when he guest-starred on iCarly and Hannah Montana in 2009. However, I lost track of him after that and it wasn’t until years later that he came out as a member of the LGBTQ community. Wanting to be supportive and check out his current sound, I listened to two songs from his Early Delights EP: “Crème Brulée” and “Dulce Amor.” While I wasn’t craving the former, I thought the latter song was decent because of the amazing vocal melodies, especially when he goes into his falsetto. Most importantly, I’m happy to see Archuleta’s growth as a performer and human being; he’s not so little anymore, that’s for sure.
8. “POV” by Ariana Grande from Positions (2020)
Positions isn’t considered one of Grande’s best albums ever, but it does have a few strong points, one of them being the closing track, “POV.” At the time, Grande was in a relationship with a real estate agent named Dalton Gomez and a good chunk of the songs were inspired by her relationship with him. “POV” is an R&B number about learning to love oneself the way their partner sees them. Positions was such a vibe for Grande because she genuinely seemed happy at the time and I was sad to find out she and Gomez split up three years after the album’s release. Still, I think “POV” is one of her best songs because it shows a softer and vulnerable side to her that hits harder than her dane-pop hits like “Problem” and “Into You.”
7. “Doomsday Doggerel” by The Black Crowes from A Pound of Feathers (2026)
While I have my problems with A Pound of Feathers, I think “Doomsday Doggerel” is terrific and that it’s one of the best songs on the album. I’m so glad I waited till I purchased the physical copy to listen to A Pound of Feathers because it made that first listen extra special. The lyrics are about the world’s current political state and musically, it’s like The Black Crowes meets the Ozzy Osbourne era of Black Sabbath. For all the crap I gave Rich Robinson about playing all of the bass and guitar parts on the record, I’m glad he challenged himself as a musician by expanding his musical repertoire in ways I didn’t even know were possible. Fingers crossed The Black Crowes play “Doomsday Doggerel” the next time I see them in concert!
6. “Nothin’ But a Good Time” by Poison from Open Up and Say… Ahh! (1988)
This was one of the first songs I listened to on my flight home from Las Vegas, through the movie, Rock of Ages (2012). As mentioned earlier, I had no idea what my next steps in life were, but on that plane ride home, I was optimistic about the future. Unfortunately, as days went by, my feelings gradually shifted into being optimistically pessimistic. It’s liberating, but also scary having to rely on my savings for the past few months. The plus side is that I’m learning to be selective about my wants and needs, especially since concerts are expensive nowadays. “Nothin’ But a Good Time” embraces the need to get away from slaving on the grind and have some fun once in a while. It’s like, “I don’t have a lot of money, but who cares, let’s party!” Ok, that’s probably not the wisest mentality to live by, but there’s nothing wrong with living in the moment and not worrying about the future.
5. “Angels” by Robbie Williams from Life thru a Lens (1997)
I got into this song by accident through The X Factor UK season 15, where Williams and Louis Tomlinson were mentors for that season. Some dude auditioned with “Angels” and Williams joined him on stage in a celebratory moment. He wasn’t even good; I think he only auditioned for the show to meet Williams, to be honest. While re-watching season 7 of American Idol, however, I was reminded that Archuleta sang “Angels” for the top 8 portion of the competition. He was really good too; he even recorded it for his self-titled debut album that was released in 2008. “Angels” will forever have a hold on me because of its gorgeous melodies and powerful atmosphere.
4. “Rejoice” by Def Leppard, released in 2026
My first thought when I heard “Rejoice” the day it was released on YouTube was, “This is a million times better than anything on Diamond Star Halos (2022)!” I love that it combines elements from Slang (1996) and the self-titled 2015 album because it brings the heaviness of the former to a modern day format. To be honest, after my disappointment with the setlist for Def Leppard’s 2026 Las Vegas residency, I didn’t think any of the band’s songs were going to make the cut for March 2026. However, the more I listen to “Rejoice,” the more I love it, especially since the chorus is insanely catchy. It also works well as a show opener because it has that vibe to get the crowd pumped up for a rock show. Rejoice in the name of rock ‘n’ roll, people!
3. “Come Back to Me” by David Cook from David Cook (2008)
Like Archuleta, I only paid attention to the first two years of Cook’s career after American Idol. In fact, I remember watching a music channel on TV and seeing the music video for “Light On,” which was the first single for his self-titled debut album in 2008. I couldn’t resonate with the lyrics to “Come Back to Me” as a kid, but I resonate with them now as an adult. It’s a beautiful concept of sacrificing one’s happiness in order to set their partner free, giving them the opportunity to find their true calling in life. Cook had one of the most distinct voices on season 7 of American Idol and his ability to transform an ordinary pop song into an indie rock classic made him a force to be reckoned with.
2. “Back from the Dead” by Halestorm from Back from the Dead (2022)
I finally caved in and bought a Halestorm album and fittingly enough, while going through this confusing time in my life, I picked an album called, Back from the Dead. The title track was just what I needed to give me that extra push to fight my demons and rise from the “dead” stronger than ever. Similarly, the album in itself was inspired by lead vocalist Lzzy Hale’s personal growth as a musician and human being during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m still freaked out by this alternative metal and post-grunge vibe Halestorm have going on, however, Hale’s vocals are so breathtaking that I had to own at least one of her albums to listen to whenever I want. I also dig “Brightside,” but the title track is the one that’s been on my mind lately. It has that punch that grabs listeners from the get-go.
1. “I’ll Always Remember You” by Miley Cyrus from Hannah Montana Forever (2010)
March was a big month for Hannah Montana because of the 20th anniversary special that premiered on Disney+ on March 24, 2026. Talk about another one of those things I kept inside a mental bubble. Even before the start of 2026, Hannah Montana was all the rage with media outlets questioning if Cyrus was going to do something special for the show’s 20th anniversary. To be honest, I would’ve been fine without one because I have clips of the show and the music to refer back to if I’m in the mood for nostalgia. Still, it was nice reminiscing on my favorite songs from the show, one of them being “I’ll Always Remember You,” which plays during an episode from the last season when Miley Stewart (played by Cyrus) is looking at her Hannah Montana clothes and preparing to say goodbye to this character she created years ago. Interestingly enough, the song also fits my current struggle with letting go of my favorite American Idol season 7 contestants as they were back then and accepting them for who they are now.
There you have it, people! Those are my favorite songs from March 2026. An emotional and therapeutic post, more so than expected, but it fits for the time being. Thankfully, I’m in a much better place now than I was at the start of March, so I’m ready for April 2026. Bring it on, people!
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Lana
Lana Teramae | Me, Myself and Time 
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