Everyone’s been there: It’s 9:30 a.m., and you’re just getting out of bed, T minus five minutes until your class in the Elliott building begins.

As one makes the mad dash across campus, weaving between mobs of slow-walking students and government officials in firmly pressed suits, there’s no time to dawdle, so stopping to grab a coffee or talk with a friend you see is out of the question. Sometimes, the only way to get that extra pep in your step is to listen to a motivating, energy-packed song to push yourself to get to class on time.

Here are The Hatchet staff’s picks for the best hype songs for when you’re running late to class:

“AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM” by Beyoncé (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

Lizzie Jensen | News Podcast Host

When struggling to get out the door, Beyoncé’s “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM” always motivates me to move. The groundbreaking, house music-inspired beat provides the perfect, fast-paced rhythm that always helps me hustle to class.

If running late, it’s imperative you listen to the Kendrick Lamar version to experience him repeat “go stink” over and over, reminding you to get moving. The track is my go-to hype song for all sorts of situations like job interviews, tests, first dates and any other stress-inducing circumstances. It was especially pertinent when I was late to my microeconomics class last semester and was reminded about the discipline by Bey through her lyrical economics reference: “I’m supplyin’ my man, I’m in demand soon as I land.”

“Beach House” by Carly Rae Jepsen

Erika Filter | News Editor

When I’m daydreaming about escaping D.C. but am forced to strut to class, I look no further than “Beach House” by Carly Rae Jepsen. The simple synth beat reliably quickens my pace while giving me a narrative to focus on — instead of worrying about how I’m running late.

In the track, Jepsen sings about the fantasy of a man who can provide a beach house in Malibu, at the cost of hurt feelings. Her lyrical descriptions of being overwhelmed with the shenanigans of her male suitors — who cry about their exes and have their mothers prepare picnics — match my anxious need to get to class on time. Plus, after several odd and sometimes painfully awkward first dates this summer, the pop star’s romantic struggles remind me I’m not alone.

“Oh No!” by MARINA

Charlotte Geyskens | Reporter

When I lack the time to get ready for the day ahead, I turn on “Oh No!” by MARINA, formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds, a pop-fueled, energetic and motivating anthem. The zany, dance-worthy instrumental brings a wave of nostalgia for the best of the last decade’s pop music. Between the fast tempo and the bouncy, technological sound, it’s impossible to feel bored or sluggish while listening. 

Within 12 words, Marina Diamandis perfectly captures the full range of the day-to-day human experience: “I’m gonna live, I’m gonna fly, I’m gonna fail, I’m gonna die.” No matter which scenario you feel on a given day, “Oh No!” hypes up any listener.

“fafo” by Zack Fox

Grace Chinowsky | Senior News Editor

It’s Monday morning. As you walk to class, Google Calendar reminders ping your phone, notifying you of the assignments you failed to complete the day before and the upcoming classes that you haven’t prepared for. It’s a sickening feeling shared by most college students.

In moments like these, I don’t need a wake-up anthem that reminds me of the academic heroism I failed to achieve over the weekend. Instead, I require a track that simply tells me to show up, get to class and deal with it. In situations like these, Zack Fox’s “fafo” is the tune I turn to. As the Atlanta rapper repeats the “F*ck around and find out” chorus over an oh-so-smooth beat, my Monday scaries melt away, and I’m ready to face whatever fresh hell the day offers me.

“Everything is Embarrassing” by Sky Ferreira

Caitlin Kitson | Senior Staff Writer

I know the feeling of waking up before class with existential dread all too well. My morning routine usually goes as follows: check the time on my phone, realize I snoozed my alarm five times already and roll out of bed.

With only a few minutes to mentally prepare for the walk to class, it’s hard to shake the anxiety of trekking through Kogan Plaza and risking running into seemingly everyone I’ve met since my freshman year. To remedy my irrational embarrassment of my peers perceiving me, I listen to the fittingly titled “Everything is Embarrassing” by indie sleaze icon Sky Ferreira.

On the critically acclaimed 2013 track, Ferreira sings about the humiliation of trying to save a failed romance over danceable, ‘80s-inspired production. With lines like “Could have been my anything, now everything’s embarrassing,” Ferreira speaks to both the angst of romantic pursuits and the general awkwardness of being alive.

“Don’t Lose Your Head” from SIX: Live on Opening Night 

Annie O’Brien | Culture Podcast Host

When I am in a rush, only musical theatre can speed me up, and my current favorite anthem comes from “SIX,” an empowering retelling of Henry VIII’s six wives from the perspective of the wives. In the show, Anne Boleyn, Henry’s second and first beheaded wife, sings “Don’t Lose Your Head.”

History traditionally remembers Boleyn as the beguiling temptress who forced Henry VIII to abandon the Catholic Church in favor of Protestantism and was then beheaded for adultery. In reality, Boleyn was a highly educated noblewoman, and Henry VIII’s goons killed her for political reasons.

“Don’t Lose Your Head” infuses Boleyn’s story with humor, humility and sass. Boleyn comes across as incredibly relatable: she’s an unapologetically outspoken woman, which she acknowledges is her strength and curse. While your professor probably won’t chop off your head if you arrive tardy to class, imagining beheading as a consequence for tardiness sure does speed up your gait.

“I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys

Zach Blackburn | Editor in Chief

Director Martin Scorsese is the king of the needle drop. Regardless of the mood, setting or circumstance, Scorsese’s movies have the perfect song for any situation.

Need a song that will energize you even if you’re headed to an exam that feels like certain doom? Crib from Scorsese’s “The Departed,” raise your headphones’ volume to dangerous levels and listen to this fiddle-laden anthem from the Celtic band Dropkick Murphys. Even President Biden recognizes the power of the tune.

Sure, the characters who jammed to the song’s sailor-themed lyrics on their way to a criminal meet-up all ended up dead by the time the film’s credits rolled. But that’s just the price of a jig that rocks too hard.