My Top 10 Favorite

My Top Ten Favorite
1. Pink Floyd (1973). “Great Gig in the Sky” Dark Side of the Moon. Though having no words, Pink Floyd succeeds in bringing out the deepest of nostalgic emotion using a passionate choir singer. The song starts off in piano, soon followed by a man saying “I am not afraid of dying, anytime will do I don’t mind. Why should I be frightened of dying? There’s no reason for it, we’ve all got to go sometime.” Eventually, a woman’s voice is delivered with raw talent. This was accomplished on her first try. During recording, this song was called “The Religion Song” or “The Mortality Sequence” and it is clear on why. Personally, this song is my favorite due to the pure emotion sent through just by a voice with no words. Even without lyrics, the song is easy to relate to just by giving off a nostalgic and blissful mood.

2. Avenged Sevenfold (2005). “The Wicked End” City of Evil. With allusions to Adam and Eve, “The Wicked” portrays exactly how mankind began the path of corruption. Referencing to sinful ways, Avenged Sevenfold tells their audience how this will ultimately lead to the worlds destruction as we “grow into the numbers of six hundred sixty six.” There are also allusions to the rapture, as signs of the end become real. About three minutes and thirty seconds into the song, it breaks down and forms into spiritual and instrumental singing, which quickly merges into M. Shadows singing in perfect synchronization and emotion that can be felt by anyone listening.

3. The Beatles (1966) “Eleanor Rigby" Revolver The fear of being forgotten is deeply embedded into this song for me. A woman named Eleanor Rigby seemingly has no one who cares for her, symbolic of "all the lonely people" around the world. Even so, the Father of the church still buries her and writes a proper sermon. The song is so beautifully sad, it earned it's place on my favorites list. Yet, I can't help but feel happy listening to this song. While people are being forgotten, I believe I am grateful I have not yet vanished from memory.




4. Brand New (2006) “Limousine” The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me.  While recording their album “The Devil and God Raging Inside Me,” there was a terrible car crash near their recording studio involving a drunk driver who had crashed into a limousine. Katie Flynn, a seven year old girl coming home from being a flower girl at her aunt's wedding, was immediately decapitated. The limousine driver died soon after. There are multiple points of view during the song, the first being from the mother. Her message is simple and clear, as much as she wishes to keep her daughter, she cannot stop death as it creeps into her daughter's body. Wishing to see her daughter married, it is discretely suggested that the drunk driver would be the one to wed her. Except, she would be married to death: “And it’s your day to wed/We found your man/ He’s all American/ And he’ll drive/He’s volunteered with grace to end your life.” The second point of view is from the drunk driver, Martin Heidgen, who is ultimately sorry for what he’s done as shown in my favorite verse: “Your beauty supreme/Yeah you were right about me/But can I get myself out from underneath/This guilt that will crush me.” He truly thinks that even God doesn’t have a place for him. The end of the song could be either Katie or Martin, singing “I love you so much, but do me a favor baby don’t reply/Cause I can dish it out, but I can’t take it.” In the background, it is shown that Katie should “be laughing right now” because she will never have to endure the sorrows of life. The amount of depth of this song really hit me on a personal level, as the deep and pure depressing emotion and tribute to Katie Flynn is moving.

5. Mars Volta (2003) “Roulette Dares (The Haunting Of)” De-Loused in the Commatorium.  Using morbid metaphors and grotesque symbolism, The Mars Volta shows exactly what shooting heroin does to a person. The reason this made my favorite songs list is because of the peculiar way they deliver their song. It takes a long time to figure out what their lyrics mean, since their odd choice of words barely hint towards the actual meaning of the song: “The a.m. trinity fell upon asphyxia-derailed /In the rattles of.../Made its way through the tracks of a snail slouching whisper..” Obviously, the train tracks are a reference to the way veins collapse after heavy use of heroin. The extravagant use of metaphors and symbolism throughout the song paired with the structure of the song keep it on my favorites list.

6. Kanon Wakeshima (2008) “Still Doll” Shinku Dolce. Possibly my favorite song sung by a Japanese singer, Kanon Wakeshima does well with allusions to Alice in Wonderland. Kanon sings, “Mada atashi/Kokoro ga sakete/Nagarederu/Tsukurotta/Sukima ni sasaru/Kioku-tachi” which is translated to “Still/ My heart tears/ And drifts /Stuck in the patched crevices /Are memories.” This uses objectification, as if saying that memories are weighing her down even though her heart was broken long ago. Overall, the song is beautifully sad as Kanon combines her amazing cello with incredible lyrics.

7. From Autumn to Ashes (2003) “Autumn’s Monologue/The Fiction We Live” The Fiction We Live. With a first-person point of view, “Autumn” (sung by Melanie Wills) sings of how her heart is beyond broken, bled out until there was nothing left. Feeling replaced, she wonders “How love could be so thoughtless so cruel” when she tried so hard to love this boy. It is hinted that she is contemplating suicide, and there is no hope when she says “I break into over you/And only you can give the breath of life/But you don’t see me.” Tragically, another song (“The Fiction We Live”) made to pair with “Autumn’s Monologue” is sung from the guy’s point of view. He sings of how he loves her, “you might be just what I need.” He does see her, but he agrees “we only exist in this song.” He wants to fix Autumn, completely understanding how she feels, as his heart is breaking over her sorrow. The song gives a sense that nothing can be done, there is no hope even though they keep trying.

8. The Strokes (2003) “Reptilia” Room on Fire. I can’t get over this song, or The Strokes. It seems like love and hatred are filling this room. At first, he is “impressed by the way” she looks. However, the situation turns as “the room is on fire.” This metaphor is used in order to show the level of anger between the woman and narrator, in some odd passionate rage. He keeps saying “the night’s not over” and that she’s “not trying hard enough,” saying that he’s going to take control of the situation to make the night better. All the while, the melody of the song goes perfectly with the lyrics.

9. Circa Survive (2010) “Spirit of the Stairwell” Blue Sky Noise.
Yet another depressing song, “Spirit of the Stairwell” is a tribute to one of the band members, whose wife tragically kept having miscarriages. Immediately the listener is faced with a sad melodic tune, paired with hums in the background. There is a sense of dispatch between the lovers, and the man ran away. He doesn’t even know if he’ll come back, understanding she might not want him: “I won’t be angry if you have to leave/But I won’t be waiting for that day.” The title of the song “Spirit of the Stairwell” is actually an allusion to the French saying “L’esprit de l’escalier.” It is an expression used to explain the phenomenon of things that you think to say, after the conversation is already long over. Chances are, there will never be another time to express these feelings. They are left to haunt the stairwell, where they were formed. A favorite song, to go with one of my favorite sayings.

10. Acceptance (2005) “So Contagious” Phantoms. This song completely explained my life for the longest time. It definitely marks down as one of my all time favorites, just because of it’s beautiful lyrics and melody. I especially love the lines “Oohhh, when I'm around you I'm predictable/Cause I believe in loving you at first sight/I know it's crazy but I'm hoping to../To take a hold of you.” The song deeply expresses love at first sight, but the nervous feeling of putting yourself out there and taking a shot even though it may “be out of line.”

Short Story (Inspired by "Play Crack the Sky" by Brand New)

    So much regret, it’s all I can feel. Everything that’s happened in the past few months, I should have paid attention to what I was saying. I never really thought about it, honestly. I could have answered that call, I really could have A tsunami of doubt and misery, leaving me completely abandoned. Void of all feelings that weren’t agonizing and tearing me apart. I wouldn’t have found out until later that day, when they found you. Blue as the ocean, still as the sky. It was like that nightmare you had so long ago. You said you felt so frozen, like an icicle. Waves going in and out, but they couldn’t suck your body into the shallows. You saw yourself, the sky moving through your eyes. They looked as if they were made of glass, the most beautiful and horrifying feeling as you realized you weren’t alive. Just rotting away in the sun.

They say your body is a vessel. You guided me safely through the seas, I remember everything being so perfect. Smooth sailing, but it was just an execrable illusion. That’s all my fault. Every word you spoke kept me sailing, but mine put a hole in your body as water rushed through. I can’t see anything through the gale, there is no light to guide me back home.  You never mentioned how bad you felt. You hid it so damn well; I wish I could have just another day. Another day to save you, to say all the right things. In that day, I would take back everything else. The things you never deserved. I’m so damn sorry for what I did to you, and I realized how wrong I was in my sleep.

Now the only thing separating us is your casket. I wish I could crawl inside just to apologize for the wreck that I made out of you. I’d push the water out from your air ridden lungs and breathe into you, trade our lives. Your kiss would  taste like the ocean, I could finally feel comfortable in your stiff arms. I can drown with you. I’ll send myself out to sea, and there I’ll sink. The water is so damn cold, it brings on a numb feeling. At the same time, it feels as if each of my hairs were being ripped as my body is set on fire.  It’s the best feeling, just the thought of being with you in moments. I feel the water replacing air in my lungs, everything is so real. The farther down I went, the closer and closer I got to you. The more I could see you, an apparition in front of me. This time, I swear it isn’t. Everything I said would come true, and we are one. As I touch your cheek, you open your beautiful eyes and smile hello. We’re alone down here, nothing can keep us apart. With that thought, your smile goes to a frown as you shake your head.

I forget now. I don’t remember where I am, just that I’m happy. There’s water everywhere, I’ve never been so warm. Never before this peaceful. Everything begins to fade the more my chest jerks. I suck in, but there’s nothing and you disappeared. I don’t want to die alone, please don’t let me die alone. Maybe I deserve this, but I want you. I just need somebody to tell me why we did it, someone who won’t blame me and in my dying moments I realize how alone you felt. Forsaken, like no one ever wanted you. Then how scared you were when everything turned black and you feel death creep into your body without letting you fight it, but I embrace it. I just let go, praying I’ll see you shortly.

They’ll find me far from where you were. Washed up on the shore, smiling. My body will be frozen, there won’t be a pulse. Then, like some horrific miracle they’ll wake me up and tell me that everything’s over. I just wish that they hadn’t, and once again I’m washed over with this torment.  I should have never said those things, and maybe then you would’ve let me join you. I was so damn close, but you just wouldn’t let me. This is all my fault.

Limousine (MS Bridge) by Brand New [Lyrics]

Kate, it's your ride.

Get your petals out and lay them in the aisle.

Pretend you're God and grow,

And it's your day to wed

We've found your man.

He's drinking up. He’s all-American,

and he'll drive.

He's volunteered with grace to end your life

Go tidy up.

It's sad to hope, but leave your shell to us

You explode, you firefly, you tiny boat with oars,

Feather oars

The world tilts back and pours and pours,

And so, you satellite, you tidal wave,

Your big surprise

And I've one more night to be your mother.

This signal interrupts

Baby's frequency not strong enough

Remade my hands and smile.

We will miss you but in time you'll get settled

And we will write

Your beauty supreme.

Yeah, you were right about me.

But can I get myself out from underneath

This guilt that will crush me?

And in the choir I saw our sad Messiah.
He was bored and tired of my laments.
Said, "I died for you one time, but never again"

Never again, never again, never again
Never again, never again, never again
Never again, never again... (continues in the background)

But I love you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply.
'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

Well I love you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply.
'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

One I love you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply.
'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

Two I love you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply.

'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

Three I love you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply.
'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

Four I love you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply.
'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

Five I love you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply,
'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

Six I love you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply.
'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

Seven loves you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply.
'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

Seven loves you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply.
'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

Seven loves you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply.
'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

Seven loves you so much, but do me a favor baby, don't reply.
'cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it.

[In background:]

(We'll never have to buy adjacent plots of earth
We'll never have to rot together underneath the dirt

I'll never have to lose my baby in the crowd

I should be laughing right now)
[x3]

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Choice Reasoning (Genre/Theme/Background)

Instead of choosing one genre, I decided on two. I just couldn't decide between two of my favorite bands, Pink Floyd (Rock) and Brand New (Alternative.) Both bands I hold very dear to my heart and I couldn't single either of them out. With my choice of genre made, I found it even more difficult to choose a theme for these bands. They both have a dark tone to their songs, but some of the other songs I wanted to write about weren't "dark" at all. So I sat there and thought, then realized why I really love these two. Their music REALLY makes you sit down and think for whatever reason. It could be the lyrics, or how something sounds. Something just draws you in.

The background of my blog was chosen because the picture is my favorite Pink Floyd album art, from The Wall. The lifeless sack of a person on the right is the character Pink (in the film) when he goes through a trial in his mind. The things on the left are the troubles in his past that haunt him, threatening to pull him from reality. I really enjoy the concept of the album and film, and I love how this picture is portrayed.