i came home from a full day of lab late last week,
a mind full of infrasound, flight ladders and soldering.
i decided to check snapchat.
Parachute had an extended story,
which of course i had to watch.
a contest had been announced.
the challenge: making a playlist (so naturally i was ALL ears) of songs you could never live this life without
the stakes: potential for a personal acoustic session (a chance to hear Be Here live) via skype (but also a tangible reason to create another one of my playlists = reward enough).
the details: see social media (or directly below)
needless to say, i started on the task immediately.
within an hour, there were 23 songs on the list, and i was distraught.
how was i supposed to narrow down a list of 23 songs i couldn't live without to only 10?
after some painful removing and rearranging,
i present to you a 10-song playlist, with a 2-song encore:
1. Without You - Parachute (2016)
Explanation This
song has a particularly special place on this playlist (seated at number 1)
because it is the reason for this playlist. (It's their new single. I approve.) Aside from that, it is a song of
love at first site; a song of being so sure of something right away. There’s a
hint of sass (always, always, always a plus), it is light-hearted and so much fun.
Want to dance around your room while listening to Will Anderson say he could never live this life without you? Yeah,
me too. This is my-our, our song (not the
slammin’ screen door, staying out late…you get the point).
Notable Lyrics When they tell you that you can't do that; but
you will and you know you're gonna like it
We
were always gonna get too close; We were always gonna fall in love
Explanation This
was probably the first song I ever heard, as in my mum would play it through
headphones on her tummy when she was pregnant with me. If you’re not satisfied
with that explanation, it’s almost certainly one of the catchiest songs ever,
don’t even lie to yourself.
Notable Part Roughly
2:55 – 3:35. oh, how do I explain it? Maybe as a Taylor Swift style spinnin’-like-a-girl-in-a-brand-new-dress
kind of feeling? Those moments when you let everything melt away and spin in
circles with your arms stretched out to the build up? Does nobody else get that
way at this part?
3. Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood (2013)
Explanation You know, if I could explain the obsession
with the song, I might have been able to overcome said obsession in the past three
or so years. And ask anybody who hangs around me for any amount of time, it
isn’t even just the original version of the song that makes me feel all cosy
inside. Like, I have a playlist that has my five favourite versions of Sweater
Weather on it. I listen to it on repeat sometimes. It’s a problem, I fully acknowledge
that.
Notable Lyric I don’t mind if there’s not much to say; sometimes the silence guides
your mind
4. Clocks - Coldplay (2002)
Explanation I’m
not even sure this song needs justifying, but I will try. Imagine a girl trying
to breath, but everything going on around her is sucking the oxygen out of the
air. She shoves headphones in her ears and all of a sudden, a piano starts playing in a repetitious, yet soothing
melody; something on which to focus all of her remaining energy. It pumps life
back into her surroundings and captivates her in the transition. She finds herself both floating on the clouds
above and putting her feet back on the ground below simultaneously. By the end
of the song, her breathing has steadied and there is a solution to the problem.
Yeah, I don’t know, it has a pretty impressive effect on me though.
Notable Mood an
indescribable calm (see above)
5. Be Here - Parachute (2009)
Explanation Have
you ever listened to a song and knew the artist just…got it? I’ve blogged about
this song (be here: a response),
I’ve clung to this song through some really hard times, and I’ve had multiple
conversations with friends about why this song means so much. Articulating it
is hard, it’s just right.
Notable Lyric She swears that she’s made with a heart that
won’t break
6. Wide Open Spaces - Dixie Chicks (1998)
Explanation As
an introverted earth scientist, I think the main attraction here is the
undeniable duality. Wide Open Spaces.
Sometimes you need wide open personal spaces, sometimes you need wide open
outdoor spaces, and sometimes you need to touch
the earth as the only one for miles
and miles. Also, this song was basically everything I wanted to be as a
child, so there’s that.
Notable Desire independent wanderlust
7. Say When - The Fray (2009)
Explanation It’s
a story told through a collection of stream of consciousness thoughts. It’s
like the moment your breath gets caught before you finally get what you’ve been
dying to hold; like the pause before the beat drops dramatically in a song. And
the arrangement matches the mesmerising lyrics so well. I’m quite fond
of the vast majority of the Fray’s work, but I return to this song often.
Notable Lyrics We’re heading straight for it; might get it
You’re
in the song playing on the background
Maybe
God can be on both sides of the gun
8. Change - Taylor Swift (2008)
Explanation Hope (even though it is a four letter word).
I mean the song starts with and it’s a
sad picture, yet somehow we end up in the midst of a revolution. It’s an
overall good-feeling, I-can-do/overcome-anything song. Plus, it’s freaking
Taylor Swift. Nobody is surprised she ended up on this playlist.
Notable Response She wears a white dress and is taking
control of her world
9. Love Song For A Savior - Jars of Clay (1995)
Explanation I
always picture myself in an open grassy meadow decorated with wildflowers and surrounded
by trees. Jesus and I are dancing around barefooted as the sun’s rays (aka the
Father) warmly smile down into the clearing. It’s a peaceful activity; a place
where no one in the world can disturb the quality of the time.
Notable Lyric As close as a heartbeat or song on her lips
10. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers (1988)
Explanation I
could never live this life without travelling --> Roadtrips
are the most life giving form of travel --> A
roadtrip is not a roadtrip without jamming out with the windows down to 500
Miles --> I could never live this life without 500 Miles
Notable Desire A roadtrip (obviously)
a. Say My Name (Feat. Zyra) - ODESZA (2014)
Explanation The last time I was in
England, I went to an EDM club. I had fun, but I decided electronic music wasn’t
really my thing. Shortly after, this song was the free single on iTunes, and
everything changed (my hardcore study time is now almost exclusively
electronica, and I study a lot). I can listen to this song on repeat and not
get tired of it. It’s good for getting ready; it’s good for studying; it’s good
for everything. And it’s vulnerable, yet overly sure of itself. I love a good
paradox.
Notable Lyric ‘Cause you got my hands tied in my defence; I always fall for
confidence; your compliments look good on me
b. You Really Got Me - The Kinks (1964)
Explanation The 60s, especially the
second half, is (are?) probably my all-time favourite period of music. We have The
Beatles and The Beach Boys and Bob Dylan and The Who and Jefferson Airplane and
Creedence and The Temptations and I could really go on forever (at the least a
very long time). You Really Got Me is an incredibly representative [of the
period] and repetitive song, but it ends and you find yourself wishing it hadn’t,
thus it’s appearance in the encore.
Notable Response Air guitar! Air drums! All of the
air instruments!
so thanks for humouring me.
i clearly spent an excessive amount of time on this playlist and post.
and i feel no shame whatsoever.
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