Music
Music for your soul
a weekly
recommendation
Music is a medium, which allows for freedom of expression and creativity. This certainly creates a massive demand for all kinds of it. Yet, there are still many artists not being praised by the mainstream audience. Are you in need of a specific song just right for your mood? Look no further! In this week's edition of Music for your soul, we'll discuss both the overrated and underrated artists.
Peaceful solitude
Hikariare (moonlight version) is a japanese song, known for its appearence as Haikyuu's 5th opening. It is certainly a very peaceful song. There is no big drop so the listener can relax and just immerse themselves into the music. The almost effortless vocals combined with the soft acoustic guitar sound almost nostalgic. This song creates a sense of completion, comparable to a graduation - this longing for 'the old days' whatever they may be. Whether you've lived 100 years or 10 this piece will surely make you hopeful for the future while reminding you of the past. Imagine a soft, pink butterfly exiting it's cocoon for the first time, learning to fly as the sun illumiantes it in the warm summer evening.
打上花火 (Arrange ver.) almost seems like an ode to Radwimps. This japanese song has a very similar vibe as Hikariare but still manages to make itself feel different. This piece is incredibly motivating, as the chrous swells it's very hard to fight the urge to get up and do something - anything. The listener wants to experience an unfamiliar setting, discover a meadow or see a shooting star. Imagine hundreds of yellow lanterns floating above the water, which stands still as though admiring the view with you.
Abyss is the saddest song on this week's peaceful playlist. Jin's spellbinding vocals and the beautifully produced backing track are exceptionally worth noting. The artist wrote this song for himself, which we can clearly see in the compelling lyrics.
"I hold my breath as I walk into my sea
I face a beautiful yet sadly crying me
Myself in the darkness
I want to find you and tell you
Today, I want to get to know you even more"
The aforementioned 'you' refers to the artist himself, and his want to find his true self buried deep in the sea (which is also him). The lyrics put the song into a completely different context. The longing to know oneself can hit deep for those who took a long time to discover who they are or those who are still trying to. Imagine being frozen at the bottom of the ocean, looking up to see life carry on and continue as if you never existed at all.
Mystery of Love is part of the soundtrack for an Italian coming of age romantic drama "Call Me By Your Name". It chronicles the relationship between 17 year-old Elio and an archology professor living with him, Oliver. The song truly comes to life with the clear yet soft sounds of a mandolin. It has this sense of intimacy and delicacy which is only accentuated by the 'semi-whispering' vocals. Lyrically though, the song describes love and loss - the romance between the characters in the film and how a gnawing emptiness smacks into their initial bliss once summer ends. Imagine the sun shining down on you, a gentle breeze ruffling your hair, the sound of a nearby stream. As you close your eyes you feel a featherlight touch on your upper arm, and the warmth filling you eases all of your worries.
Funky Town
Tangerine has a very soft, hip beat. It's upbeat sound and the many sound effects used give it a very unique feel. If vaporwave were to be a song, Tangerine would certainly be a perfect fit for the role. This isn't very uncommon for the artists Glass Animals though, as most of their pieces have a very relaxed, funky vibe. Imagine driving an old car along an empty highway, pink palm trees on both sides, the radio playing a chill song you bop your head to, your ice cream slowly melting.
Not many other songs can make you feel as badass as Dangerous does. The irregular beat and strained vocals combined with the smug lyrics make the listener feel good. It could be a universal theme for hotshot cartoon villains. Imagine graffiting grey walls on the streets of Tokyo, surrounded by purple neon signs illuminaing your bomber jacket. As the sound of police sirens reaches your ears you jump on your worn down skateboard and ride away.
This more 'disco' example of a funky song is coated in grandeur. Flyers is the opening of the anime Death Parade and while the song may seem cheerful the show is a grim look at death, heaven and the concept of "deserving" to go to hell. The song is a more optimistic perspective of those concepts. The fun trumpets and guitar give the song a casual mood which makes everyone want to dance. Imagine being at a party, loud music booming everywhere, everybody dancing and drinking champagne, while the lights above you bathe you in a rainbow of blinking colours.
Princess♂, this electro-swing song is filled to the brim with bizzare sounds of all kinds. The beat is all over the pace and yet it somehow doesn't destroy the song's appeal. The singer's flow during the rap parts is truly exceptional and the way he smoothly alters between lower and higher ranges is very entertaining and muscially impressive. Imagine being a princess born into wealth, being able to make everyone serve you without even lifting a finger and the mischief you could cause.
Screaming into the void
うっせぇわ is most certainly a piece filled with anger. The mixing of the song provides a nice variety of sounds created so as to not bore the listener. The backing track as well as Mafumafu's vocals perfectly portray fury and the ferocity that comes with it. The emotion in his voice is powerful enough to transfer the rage through his lines to the listener, which is a great skill to have. Imagine sitting alone in an abandoned school, destroying trash cans, burning books and breaking glass. No one's there to stop you as you leave it in ruins.
Unravel is the type of song you listen to when you're either sad, angry or both. It's very gutwrenching just listening to the singer, who manages to swap between whispering and fully screaming in seconds. The drums and electric guitar are especially present during the choruses creating a feeling of loss, distress and anguish. Unravel is also the opening to the anime Tokyo Ghoul. Imagine coming back to your childhood home, only to find it in ruins. The rubble, which destroyed your happy memories, hard, cold and unmovable. It's gone.
Cell Block Tango from the film Chicago is assuredly a bitter song. It tells the story of 6 femme fatales, who murdered their partners as revenge. The way the women portray their version of events is quite compelling. The mood of the song is infectious - it impels the listener to get revenge on someone who hurt them, even if they know that's not the best way of solving problems. Imagine being accosted by an old man in the streets of New York. His insults as you reject his advances only assure your decision. As he corners you into a dark alleyway you take out your knife and with two quick slices he's lying on the floor.
Firework by Katy Perry is a 'happy screaming' type of song. It's happy and upbeat and yet sung with great effort and comparably to an actual firework - very loud. The feel good narrative presented through the lyrics is a nice touch and adds charm to the piece. As Firework is from the year 2016 the nostalgia for many who know it from that time hits like a ton of bricks. Imagine seeing a meteor shower while sitting in a field covered by blooming red roses. As the shooting stars rain upon you you feel energy fill your very being and fireflies light up all around you.
The Cynical Circus
Wilbur Soot's The "Nice Guy" Ballad is a sarcastic look at self-proclaimed 'nice guys'. They usually acts really kindly towards a girl they fancy, unless she rejects them. When that happens they insult her and threaten to end their own life. As that type of behaviour is extremely toxic, Wilbur tries to mimic it in this song, which makes it quite entertaining. His guitar skills and chord progression is also musically pleasing. Personally, I enjoy "not perfect" music, full of little, organic mishaps. Imagine getting stuck in an old Windows computer and having to sort 'nice guy' messages. What a nightmare.
Yummy is an ironic take on Justin Bieber's song of the same name. The artist - Danny makes fun of lyrics such as
"Bona fide stallion
Ain't in no stable, no, you stay on the run"
which he conquers in the last refrain
"You're a crazy f*ckin' horse that's on the run from the police
Crazy horse don't hurt me, please
Beggin' on my knees, baby
(Crazy horse don't hurt me, please)
What law did this horse break?"
Danny also critiques the many shady ways Justin tried to promote his song, such as begging fans to get it to nr 1 on the Billboard charts and asking them to listen to it while they sleep. Imagine eating at an all-you-can-eat buffet with an unlimited supply of sweets at your disposal, as a criminally charged stallion interrups your meal.
In 2018 the actor Will Smith appeared in YouTube Rewind, which many considered unfair. Therefore, in the song Will Smith grunt Jacksfilms sarcastically portrays him as a youtuber through and through. Using the infamous 'Will Smith grunt' as a beat turned out to be a hilarious decision and it assuredly makes the entire piece feel even more like a joke. Imagine standing on top of a mountain, tall enough to notice the oncoming fog. As you gaze upon the beautiful view you feel a presence beside you. You turn around and come face to face with Will Smith - in all his glory.
From God's Perspective, as the title suggests, is a song written from God's perspective. Bo Burnham puts himself in the shoes of God and contrary to popular belief he’s not ridiculing religion, he’s pointing out that being religious doesn’t make you a good person. While the beginning is a depressing look at reality, where instead of uniting people religion breaks them apart. Ultimately however, it ends on a positive note
"You pray so badly for heaven
Knowing any day might be the day that you die
But maybe life on earth could be heaven
Doesn't just the thought of it make it worth a try?
[...]
I'm not gonna give you love just 'cause I know that you want me to
If you want love then the love has gotta come from you"
The gut punching ending makes the listener feel hopeful for the future of the world. Imagine a beam of light shining down upon you, as you reach up to cover your your eyes you hear trumpets. And as soon as it begun it ends.
Lonely in a crowd
One of the earliest Wilbur Soot albums your city gave me asthma's opening song Jubilee Line is truly a depressing one. Don't let the amazing chord progression and backing track brimming with tram sound effects fool you. The lyrics and emotional tone of Wilbur's voice are the magnificent selling point of the piece. The line
"There's a reason
London puts barriers on the rails
There's a reason
London puts barriers on the tube line
There's a reason
They fail"
is an unexpected punch right in the gut. The wording of the song geniuenly made me worry for the author, which is not something many can do. Imagine standing on the tube tracks. The air around you starts to flow and dust flies up into the air. The lights in front of you burn brighter with every passing second. Then all of a sudden - you're gone.
Spring Day by BTS is sad by nature, as it was inspired by a tragedy in South Korean history - the April 2014 sinking of the Sewol ferry, in which 304 teenagers drowned. As the Korean government tried to silence those who expressed anger, the release of this piece subtly helped keep the memory of the disaster alive in the minds of young Koreans and the media in the years after the tragedy. Overall though, the song is about longing and being lost in the past. The beautiful instrumental and vocals certainly help establish the song's ethereality. Imagine floating in dark blue waters with no where to go, snow falling from above. You close your eyes in hopes of a new beginning.
The somber opening of the song already sets the atmosphere for it's run
"Take me to the rooftop
I wanna see the world when I stop breathing
Turning blue"
This melancholic message delicately sung by Billie Eilish creates a sense of denouement and lack of time. As the song progresses the hurry in both the lyrics and vocals of the singer become clearer, as though saying goodbye just to get it over with. With the abrupt ending of the song and the sound of police sirens in the background, the outcome of the artist is morbid but obvious. Imagine standing on the rooftop, rain falling all around you. Your feet move without prompt, and yet you don't regret it. No one will miss you either way.
While death bed by Powfu may not be musically sorrowful, it's aura and lyrics make up for that with heartbreaking sadness. The singer describes his past and seemingly inevitable death, while wistfully wishing to be able to witness his partner's happiness in the future. His good hearted nature trully emerges with the lines
"When I leave this earth, hopin' you'll find someone else
'Cause yeah, we still young, there's so much we haven't done
Getting married, start a family, watch your husband with his son"
This urges the listener to sympathise with him and also regretfully ponder over the sadness that often goes hand-in-hand with our demise. Imagine lying on your bed with your lover. As your hands intertwine you speculate about your future together and suddenly it all feels right.
As I've mentioned before, music is a medium, which allows for freedom of expression and creativity. The way many artists portray themselves through their art is alluring and can often inform the listener more of the actual personality or views they hold. The musical world is extremely big, thus there will always be a song for you to enjoy, no matter what taste you have.
