Meaning of Life / Analysis

I've never really considered myself a hard core music fanatic. Sure, I've been to my fair share of concerts but compare me to say Sophia who obsesses over songs (she's actually is sitting right across from me right now and goes, quote "Is it sad that I can't even work anymore without listening to my music?" my point is proven) I am nothing! Whenever I work, I usually tend to turn the tv on - personal preference, I guess. But because of that I can say I've gotten really good at multitasking;)

So yes, that's how it goes. Or at least that's how it used to be. I mean I'm not insinuating that I'm some robot who connects no emotions to music, because that's not true. But this year, I somehow developed this newfound affinity for music. I guess my time had come, it just clicked.

I won't keep rambling about this because what this post is actually supposed to be about is specific connections I feel towards certain music or songs. So, here are some of my favorite songs at this point in time and why I treasure them:

1. Grace Kelly - Mika

 Do not change yourself for someone who says you aren't good enough. 

"How can I help it? How can I help it?
How can I help what you think?
Hello my baby, hello my baby
Putting my life on the brink

Why don't you like me?
Why don't you like me?
Why don't you like yourself?
Should I bend over?
Should I look older just to be put on your shelf?"

I remember the summer between freshman and sophomore year, Sophia and I in Bulgaria, driving through the country, belting this song out. Every time I listen to it, I go back to that summer and I feel happy. Mika spoke in an interview and said that he wrote this song after another song he wrote was declined. They had told him that in order to feel successful, he had to be mainstream with his first album (Mika is known for his nontraditional lyrics and songs) and then he could do his own thing. He went straight home and wrote the song -- funniest part, he was accepted by another company because of Grace Kelly. Basically, he was unwilling to compromise himself in order to make money. He was not going to sell. However, the best part is that the meaning of this song can be interpreted not only for a career, but also for a relationship, for friendships, for anything. This song makes me feel empowered.

2. Campus - Vampire Weekend

Feigning emotion is always harder, especially when you are trying to repress such strong feelings. 

I wake up, my shoulders cold
I've got to leave here, before I go
I pull my shirt on, walk out the door
Drag my feet along the floor
I pull my shirt on, walk out the door
Drag my feet along the floor

Then I see you, you're walking 'cross the campus
Cruel professor studying romances

How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again?
How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again?

To me, this song symbolizes unrequited love. The speaker ( I assume he is male) and his significant other have just split and he does not know how to recover because his heart is still in the relationship. She is giving him the cold shoulder, hence "my shoulders cold," and he's dragging his feet along the floor because his sprite is down and it seems as if everything is difficult. However, then he sees her walking across campus which believe is the main point, how school is so small and everybody knows everybody, so how can you see someone everyday that you're supposed to be hate and be ok with it. He relates her to a "cruel professor" who's "studying romances" implying she is as cold-hearted as a mean professor, yet she is studying romances meaning she should be romantic. It's a paradox and confuses him even more as to why their relationship ended because her ideas of romance apparently differ greatly from his. Since there is no comma after "pretend", I believe that he really is torn up about the fact that he has to see her everyday on campus and feign as if he is not hurt and still in love with her.

3. Heartbeat - Childish Gambino 

What you want can sometimes differ from what you get, and what you should want. 

I wanted you to know
That I am ready to go, heartbeat
My heartbeat
I wanted you to know
Whenever you are around, can't speak
I can't speak

Every time I hear this song I get shivers. I used to hate rap with a burning passion and had closed my self off from the genre, refusing to give it a shot. Then this year someone introduced me to the genre, specifically this song, and every since I have newfound appreciation, and especially Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino. It also helped that I started watching the tv show "Community" this year and halfway through realized one of the characters, Troy, is Donald Glover. It made me give his music another chance, and I am glad I did. Regardless, I digress; back to the song. I won't go into details, butI will say that this song means a lot to me. Every time I hear it, I think back to that first night I heard it and all that happened that night and the next following months. This song was always played for me, so I never actually knew it until I was on a road trip and listening to a friends iTunes library and this randomly came on. As soon as the first beat began, I froze as the deja vu came over. Between the road trip and the first time I and heard the song many events had happened (not all good) so hearing it again was sort of shocking. Factor in the fact that it was late at night, dark, and storming, which is exactly how the weather was that first night...I'm telling you, it was really bad deja vu. The connections attached to this song are not all positive, however I am positive that I will always love this song, just because it reminds of the time when I felt only good emotions. I also realize I am being very amigos, I apologize. All you need to know is that it is an amazing and powerful song.

4. Tighten Up - The Black Keys

There comes a time when you realize it is time to settle down, but your time may not be the same as everyone else's. 

"When I was young, and moving fast,
nothing slowed me down, slowed me down.

Now I let the others pass,
I've come around, come around.
'Cause I found..."

This song is about a man who used to be wilder in his youth, he was young and moving fast, but now he has changed and "slowed down." However, in his will days he says "I wanted love, I needed love," and now it seems he has found it with this woman. However, she herself is not ready to come down and he keeps telling her "Tighten up on your reigns, you're running wild." It seems he's hopelessly fallen for her, but she is not ready to leave her youth days behind and settle down. The Black Keys were actually one of the first bands I saw live and it is, to this day, the best live performance I've seen. This song reminds that sometimes, no matter how strongly you feel, sometimes the best solution might be to let go.

5. Time To Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman 

In Spirit, I will always be with you. 

Time to say goodbye,
To countries I never
Saw and shared with you,
Nows, yes I shall experience them,
I'll go with you
on ships across seas
Which, I know,
No, no, exist no longer;
With you I shall experience them.

This song reminds me of my mom, and all the times we were in the car belting this out. The combination of Bocelli and Brightman is quite possibly the strongest I've ever heard. The lyrics are even more beautiful in Italian. I thought that this would be an appropriate choice considering the end of high school, everybody joining the real world, and beginning their lives. One of my favorite quotes, said by my GSP seminar leader Luke, is as follows: "I don't believe in goodbyes, only in see you laters." He said that on our last day and right now I feel that it is very fitting. Guys, even though it's time to say goodbye, I honestly believe that this is only a see you later.