By Greg Endicott

Like millions of Americans, I’m in quarantine. I know lots of people are with their families (a good friend is locked-in with her four boys, husband, and two dogs – better her than me!) But I’m alone, bored, and uncertain about when all of this is going to end. It’s still basically winter here in the Midwest, so the suggestion from my California friends and relatives about getting out for a walk isn’t really an option right now. I am working remotely full time but I’m missing the chats with my co-workers and the constant activity within the college campus where I work. The last time I talked to anyone face-to-face was last week, with the checker at the grocery store, and she didn’t seem too interested in having a heart-to-heart. I’ve been so desperate for entertainment that I’ve started watching beauty Youtubers. I’m now able to create an expert smokey eye that I’m excited to reveal to my co-workers once I get back to the office.

I needed a creative outlet. Some way to artistically describe the emotional roller coaster on which I and so many are riding. I decided music was the best way to tell the story. It is a way to communicate how I felt when this all started, the naivete of thinking working from home would be cool, the loneliness and paranoia that set-in, and the optimism of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

This 100-song playlist is in no way making light of the current health crisis. It simply tells one man’s emotional journey during this unusual time. (And I have to admit, I think I’m pretty clever.) Simply peruse the titles, or give a listen (here on Spotify) to experience the collective feelings of isolation, loneliness, boredom, paranoia, stir craziness, more loneliness, and finally….hope. 

1.    Don’t Stand So Close to Me – The Police

2.    Move Away – Culture Club

3.    Don’t Come Around Here No More – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

4.    Stand Back – Stevie Nicks

5.    Don’t Talk to Strangers – Rick Springfield

6.    Talk to Ya Later – The Tubes

7.    The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats

8.    U Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer

9.    Untouched – The Veronicas

10.  Kiss You (When It’s Dangerous) – Eight Seconds

11.   You Be Illin’ – Run D.M.C

12.  Fear of the World – ABC

13.  Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) – Journey

14.  I Ran – A Flock of Seagulls

15.  Shake the Disease – Depeche Mode

16.  Closing Time – Semisonic

17.  I Think We’re Alone Now – Tiffany

18.  On Our Own – Bobby Brown

19.  Alone – Heart

20.  All By Myself – Eric Carmen

21.  Out on My Own – Romeo Void

22.  In My House – Mary Jane Girls

23.  Isolation – Joy Division

24.  Enjoy the Silence – Depeche Mode

25.  The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel

26.  In Your Room – The Bangles

27.  Get Used to It – Roger Voudouris

28.  I Could Get Used to This – ‘Til Tuesday

29.  Living in a Box – Living in a Box

30.  Restless – Starpoint

31.  Windows – Missing Persons

32.  Dancing with Myself – Billy Idol

33.  My Ever Changing Moods – The Style Council

34.  I Wanna Have Some Fun – Samantha Fox

35.  Call Me- Blondie

36.  Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair) – Sheena Easton

37.  Secret Rendezvous – Karyn White

38.  Call Me – Go West

39.  Don’t Shut Me Out – Kevin Paige

40.  Out of Touch – Hall & Oates

41.  Separate Lives – Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin

42.  Communication – Spandau Ballet

43.  Telecommunication – A Flock of Seagulls

44.  Don’t Lose My Number – Phil Collins

45.  One Less Bell to Answer – The 5thDimension

46.  We Don’t Talk Anymore – Charlie Puth

47.  Hard Habit to Break – Chicago

48.  Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds

49.  No Ordinary Morning – Chicane

50.  Silent Morning – Noel

51.  Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan

52.  Angst in My Pants – Sparks

53.  Forget Me Nots – Patrice Rushen

54.  Start of the Breakdown – Tears for Fears

55.  Voices in My Head – Naked Eyes

56.  I Know There’s Something Going On – Frida

57.  Go Insane – Lindsay Buckingham

58.  Keep It Together – Madonna

59.  Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell

60.  Concentration Breakdown – George Black

61.  Don’t Take My Mind on a Trip – Boy George

62.  Livin’ in Desperate Times – Olivia Newton-John

63.  What Have I Done to Deserve This? – Pet Shop Boys

64.  I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself – Dusty Springfield

65.  I Wanna Be Sedated – The Ramones

66.  Lonely Boy – Andrew Gold

67.  Hey There Lonely Girl – Eddie Holman

68.  Close To You – Maxi Priest

69.  I Miss You – Klymaxx

70.  Can’t Stay Away From You – Gloria Estefan

71.  Missing You – John Waite

72.  A Million Miles Away – The Plimsouls

73.  Gotta Get Thru This – Daniel Bedingfield

74.  Too Much Time On My Hands – Styx

75.  Missing – Everything But the Girl

76.  I Can Dream About You – Dan Hartman

77.  Miss You Much – Janet Jackson

78.  Somewhere Out There – Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram

79.  Miss Me Blind – Culture Club

80.  (They Long To Be) Close To You – The Carpenters

81.  So Far Away – Carole King

82.  Turn Me Loose – Loverboy

83.  Only the Lonely – The Motels

84.  Out Here on My Own – Irene Cara

85.  So Lonely – The Police

86.  Tired of Being Alone – Al Green

87.  I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith

88.  Missing You – Diana Ross

89.  Invisible – Alison Moyet

90.  Attention – Charlie Puth

91.  Think of Me – Madonna

92.  This Is Not America – David Bowie and Pat Metheny

93.  Waiting Game – Swing Out Sister

94.  I’m Still Standing – Elton John

95.  I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

96.  Alive and Kicking – Simple Minds

97.  Things Can Only Get Better – Howard Jones

98.  When Can I See You Again? – Owl City

99.  Looking for You – Kirk Franklin

100. Sweet Freedom – Michael McDonald

Greg Endicott is department coordinator for the University of Notre Dame’s Department of Political Science, and brother to Walnut Creek Magazine contributor Fran Endicott Miller.