The Soundtrack to Eating: Soups and Songs That’ll Fill Your Souls and Stomachs

Few things can compare to a delicious bowl of soup, so with that in mind, we’ve compiled some songs that can match the spectrum of emotions felt when eating such a powerful food.

The Soundtrack to Eating is a series in which staff writers write about how food and music are intertwined.

Written by Sandeep Bhakta
Illustrated by Anisha Kamat

In a world where cuisine is both diverse and complex, soup can be an equalizer. While a bowl full of “stuff” can’t substitute for entire cultures, soups from around the globe are a source of comfort. The tastes, smells, and sights of your favorite liquid food can brighten entire days, so we’ve tried to add sound to this list of stimulated senses. In no particular order, we’ve dissected the works of various artists and selected tracks that remind us of our love and appreciation for soup.

Tomato Soup: Rico Nasty and Little Simz

With this dish, the titular tomato is the undeniable star. A fruit of flavor and versatility, the tomato carries these attributes even in soup form. Either zesty and bright or warm and creamy, tomato soup is a dish that is undeniably dynamic. Few tracks can represent the potential punchiness of this soup, but Rico Nasty’s “Rojo” does a great job. The rapper begins her track with a beat that’s simple, fast-paced, and sharp. Her lyrics are imbued with a swagger that culminates into a listening experience that makes one feel powerful. This perfectly balances with a tomato soup that capitalizes on the fruit’s acidity and punch.

In representation of a soup that’s more creamy, however, Little Simz’s track “Selfish” embodies both richness and depth with its sound. The instrumentation combines pianos, stringed instruments, and beats to create an atmosphere that’s smooth and jazzy, but also modern. Little Simz’s flow is effortless and featured singer Cleo Sol delivers sensual and warm vocals. Taken together, the track sounds comforting and serene, similar to how it feels eating a warm bowl of tomato soup on a cold rainy day.

Lobster Bisque: Norah Jones and Adele

Lobster bisque, with its French origins and seafood focus, makes the eater feel fancy. It’s rich and inviting, and widely available at Red Lobster, the most prestigious of seafood establishments. When digging into a bowl of this creamy soup, it’s best to listen to tracks that make you feel more cultured than you really are. For this reason, the track “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones pairs perfectly, as it encapsulates accessible fanciness. The track’s use of a rhythmic and melodic backing piano evokes the image of a calm New England beach. Jones’ soft vocals are jazzy and delicate yet undeniably catchy. Plus, you could very well hear this song playing in a Red Lobster.

Adele’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” is an audio representation for the euphoria of taking the first spoonful of lobster bisque. The lyrics are tender and filled with longing, and with Adele’s vocal delivery, the track becomes emboldened with passion. While the singer may have had a significant other in mind, one could easily make a bowl of lobster bisque the center of this track’s attention.

Minestrone: Glass Animals and Noname

An Italian dish worthy of being served in the hallowed halls of Olive Garden, minestrone is a thick and hearty soup. The hallmark of minestrone is its lack of limitations and ability to incorporate any combination of ingredients. With robust flavors and a medley of vegetables that grow from the ground, this dish is both layered and earthy. Similarly, the track “Pools” from the band Glass Animals seems to emphasize the wild and living aspects of minestrone. With numerous lyrical references to nature, it’s hard to miss the track’s connection to the earth. And by using psychedelic instrumentation, the band creates a musical landscape rich in exotic sounds.

While this song symbolizes the living aspects of a minestrone’s ingredients, Noname’s track “Sunny Duet” is filled with the brightness seen in the soup as a whole. The rapper’s ability to deliver a continuous stream of rhymes packs her track with poetic lyrics and establishes a flow that fills the listener with a bubbling energy. By focusing on love, Noname unironically creates a track filled with heart. Her words reject the idea of constraint, and that’s exactly what you’ll feel when eating a bowl of minestrone soup.

Ramen: FLOW and Ichiko Aoba

Basic Japanese ramen uses wheat noodles in a broth that’s usually savory and hearty. While there’s no universal ramen eating experience, there may be a case for two states of being associated with ramen consumption. First is the excitement that comes with the anticipation of eating ramen, and the second is the food coma that follows. This first stage is represented by the track “COLORS” by the Japanese rock band FLOW. The intro is an orchestra of sound initially set off by a subtle drum roll followed by an eruption of musical instrumentation. The vocal delivery is reminiscent of a contained explosion which matches the enthusiasm one feels when seeing their bowl of ramen leave a restaurant kitchen.

However, once the grandeur has passed and the bowl is finished, a food coma is inevitable. And the track “amuletum” by folk singer Ichiko Aoba is the song to sleep to. The introductory melody is composed of a soothing harp, and Aoba’s vocal composition is like a whisper that lulls one to a deep sleep. Even if you don’t understand Japanese, Aoba’s delivery of her lyrics and melodies produces a peaceful, ethereal atmosphere perfect for resting your tired bones after a bowl of ramen.

While these four soups barely scratch the surface of the expansive soup universe, they’re all bonded by the comfort they bring. If you crave a dish that requires little chewing or just want to remember simpler times, a warm bowl of soup is an amazing thing whether you’re alone or with people. Even if it’s not the answer to all of life’s struggles, a spoonful of soup can be just the thing to recharge your body. And if you can associate your favorite songs to your favorite soups, you might be able to fill both your stomach and your soul.

AESTHETICSAfterglow ATXApril 29, 2020