Euphoria
- Feb 17, 2018
- 11 min read
Music has always been associate with emotions. It is there whenever we feel sad, angry, scared, happy, frustrated, whatever. It whispers whenever we are walking, running, exercising, cooking. doing other household chores, or just plain travelling.
Music is the only common phenomenon that crosses all borders. It doesn't discriminate, instead, it binds us all to one purpose. Music is a major tool in awakening emotion over us. It also stimulate our brain's function to an increased interest in processing musical emotions, hence, music is described as the "language of emotion" all over the globe.
Therefore, I present to you my very own playlist, Euphoria, which, even as many time passed, still managed to ignite my motivation and emotions. This playlist consist of the following:
1. Lauv - Breathe
Another song from LAUV from his album LAUV Ep - Japan Edition speaks volumes about needing space, a pre - break up song wherein you have to get away from someone you love in order to breathe, to find yourself.
Pros: The beat was unparalleled, for me at the least, and the emotions as well as the way he sang the lyrics was the most enticing.
Cons: Some lyrics (we'll melt into the bedroom floor/never knew I'd stay for long) indicates a more explicit meaning behind the world 'love'. Children hearing this might misunderstand that a way to get over someone was to sleep with them, or to love someone is to, well, do the did. It is not like that, however, because you can only trully say that you love someone when you feel like yourself with them. That is the message of the song, to love yourself first.
2. Lauv - Come Back Home
I am not that of a fan, but LAUV just brings out the love in a sort of strange, yet familiar feeling.
Pros: The song's beat is the first thing I loved in this song, followed by the lyrics which speaks of longing after the break up. How one still loves that person, even if he let her go. This song tells us of a man's longing for his lover, even as he tried to forget her, he still begs for that person to return.
The cons? It's hard to think about it. Probably the part where I thought that the guy was such a coward for trying to leave, for trying to get away. Now, he is suffering because of his own cowardice. Because he never truly did understand how much that person meant to him until he was flying away.
3. Sia - Alive
I have always been a fan of Sia. Her songs actually gave me the motivation to work as it always has been ,y background music whenever. This song ignited my feeling of being alive, that we humans have the choice of not giving up, that we can survive because it is in our blood.
Pros: The rhythm was overwhelming, powerful even. Every beat of the drum, every note makes my blood pump. Then there's the chorus of how she scream of being Alive. Her emotions in that part was just *boom*, if you know what I'm saying.
Cpns: The only flaw that I saw was the music video of how the little girl was doing karate. It made me wonder if it's okay for such a tiny being to demonstrate such violence. I know that we are living in a harsh world, but my philosophy had always included children to be protected, so I supposed the rawness in the video surprised me. However, those that are younger who might watch the music video may get the wrong image which includes violence, and a wrong portrayal of being alive.
4. Sia - Elastic Heart
Again, Sia didn't fail to tell me that I am strong, and that we should not give up even in the times of challenges that may include suffering to many levels, This song was used in the official soundtrack of The Hunger Games which displayed a major role in telling the whole story of a girl who sacrificed herself for her family, and that sacrifice was overshadowed with the love that was displayed for the people of the capital, much like what is happening in our society now.
Pros: The rhythm, the emotions, the lyrics conveyed an unparalleled story of breaking out of your own cage even as one tries to tie you to it. The raw feelings that reaches the audience stimulates the recognition of one's power over the other. It tells us that we are strong, that we can do it with grace, and that we humans can be brave even in the face of our own weakness.
Cons: The power of the song might be overwhelming for the audience, especially the little youngsters who might interpret this song as motivation for them to demonstrate violence over someone much older than them. Additionally, the music video is great all in all, but there are some elements (the fighting scene) that, in my opinion, portrayed a negative image on both the girl and the boy. It may imply that girls are powerful than boys, and boys will take advantage of girls.
As citizens of a liberated country, we must acknowledge that females and male,s whatever gender, race, or nationally, are equal in the name of the law, and in the sense that we are all human.
5. Sia - To Be Human ft. Labrinth
This song was used in Wonder Woman, which truly conveyed the meaning of the film. Sia told the story of a girl trying to find her place in the world where, technically, she does not belong. As she explores who she is, and in the same time trying to save mankind, she discovered the wonders of being human, and how we are more than gods.
Pros: This really made me wonder what is feels like to be human, in some varying degree. It ignited the feeling of not giving up, which I needed a lot. This song also somehow stated that there are different kinds of love. A love of a mother to her child that she is willing to let her go to fulfill her destiny even if she won't see her again. A love of a soldier to his country that he is willing to give his life for the sake of ordinary people suffering because of the war. The love of a girl to a guy (as cliche as it sounds) is powerful enough to end a war.
This song really is one of my favorites, not because it talks of love, but because of the images that it fills my head. A human on the ground holding a sword, injured, but still tried to get up because the lives of many is in her hands. An image of war that could have been resolved if pride was not playing a major role in the actions of many.
Cons: The images that is gives you, ironic I know, but the violence is not good for children age 13 and below. They should not be woken by these kinds of images as they may portray said violence to the real world. Also, this song gives you a sense that love is the ultimate weapon, and others may interpret this as 'love is the only important thing in the world', and that will result in major damage such as increased in population, and birth of underage women.
6. P!NK - Raise Your Glass
I know P!nk can be overwhelming sometimes, especially her music videos, but that doesn't mean that she isn't a good artist. Her song, Raise Your Glass, for me convey's the message that we can do it, as she imitated the poster in 1900s with the caption of we can do it (seriously).
Pros: The message of the song was totally needed as it speaks volumes about equality, and belonging to society even if we are some 'dirty, little freaks'. Moreover, the beat was something to dance to, and the lyrics (though some are a little inappropriate) were implying some major message for school bullies, and other ignorant people of the society.
Cons: The music video has some disturbing images that is not really related to the message, or it is, just the portrayal is, you can say, explicit. Other wordings as well may not influence the audience in a positive way as she might expect. There are just parts of the lyrics in which the artist used negative words as compliments and others might use this for inappropriate instances creating misunderstanding.
7. Katy Perry - Part of Me
All women are created equal, that is the man message of the song. We are all equal. What men do, women can do; what women can do, men can also do.
Pros: This talks about how someone can rise up after a calamity (break up), and how we are all equal. The beat was okay, but the lyrics got me good. It implies that we all have that something that we need to treasure and respect. That something must not be taken by any other, even with by the person you love, because it only belongs to you, for you to enhance, improve, and channel to arrive at the better version of yourself.
The music video shows the difficulty of being a soldier. It shows their everyday training, the field exercise, something that most people would back out on, but they didn't. They kept on moving because they are willing to protect people, because that something that I mentioned earlier urges them to.
The lyrics speaks about finding yourself, who you are besides when you are with someone you love. It shows the reality that not all love are perfect, some fall, some are tempted, they are flawed. This shows how one is strong enough to walk out on someone that makes them feel like they are nothing, even if that person is important. What is more important is yourself, your soul, and your dignity.
Cons: I know that the artist have good intentions, but it seems to me that they made love look like that only entity that will drive people into doing things that are, well, not what they usually do, The music video may also imply that it is only guys that cheat, which is not, as we might know. Others may interpret it as such especially when the lyrics described the way she was treated (You chewed me up/ you spit me out/ like I was poison in your mouth/ you took my light/you drain me down/ that was then and this is now).
The lyrics are written with such emotions that some may misunderstand its meaning and be afraid to love and commit. They may also think that going into military in the only way for them to get over the sadness, and the betrayal.
8. Halsey - Sorry
Pros: Halsey is a good artist especially in portraying raw emotions in romantic musics, and break ups. The way she conveyed the song was the best part of her songs. It ignites meaning about love that we don't really understand.
The song may be simple, but that is its appeal. You can easily sing along to its lyrics, and the message was clearly stated. It may talk about break up, and how the singer is letting the other person go, but you can still feel the regret and the pain in every word of the song.
Cons: There are parts of the lyrics, especially the 'unknown lover' part, that may result in others thinking that its okay to be in a relationship with someone you don't really know as long as you ask for their forgiveness right after. It is now like that, however, as entering in a relationship has a vital ingredient of commitment and trust.
Moreover, some people may think that treating people like jewelry is accepted, especially those that is not really literate, as long as you say sorry. Though this song talks about letting go, the explicit way of how she described how she treated the other person before finally realizing that she is hurting him is a problem that may result in others thinking that their lover is treating them that way, even though it is not the case.
9. Sia - Bird Set Free
Another one from Sia which speaks of freedom, a phenomenon that we may be experiencing, but is not fully recognized as a gift.
Pros: The rhythm was unique, and so like the artist. The lyrics accurately described how it feels like to be caged, to be locked up, to not be able to speak up. The song conveys to us the image of a person breaking out of his/her own cage, like a bird set free. Because we are meant to fly high, and no one is allowed to stop us from doing that.
The song also implies the real life difficulty of being chained for someone's entertainment, and not being allowed to do what you want. It talks about how we are able to speak up, even with our current status we can make a change, and how capable we are of fighting back our own demons that is holding us down, or the society that is trying to drag us down to their level.
We are powerful if we recognize it, that is what I learned from this song. No matter your way of rising awareness, as long as you are fighting back, it will contribute greatly to the prosperity of our society.
Cons: Well, the message is good - great even - but for little minds, this may mean fighting back in a different way, a more unconventional way, so to speak. As music plays a major role in igniting various emotions in the human brain, I believe the emotion that uneducated people may get from listening here is violent, as their way of fighting their current status. This may result in major mishaps in their understanding, and the people affected by their actions.
10. Kansas - Carryon My Wayward Son
I will admit, this is the song of my favorite TV show, but, what can I say, I cry every time I listen to this song. Why? Because of the splendor of the lyrics, and the simplicity of the overall theme. It just reminded me to:
Carry on my wayward son,
There'll be peace when you are done,
Lay your weary head to rest.
Don't you cry no more.
Pros: The song was simple in terms of lyrics. The artists didn't beat around the bush, instead, they stated their point clearly. A deeper look in the lyrics helped me arrive in the realization that this song talks about a man's journey, how difficult life can be, how people can do stupid things just to live, and how a person can persevere through all the pain and suffering.
The chorus,
Carry on my wayward son,
There'll be peace when you are done,
Lay your weary head to rest,
Don't you cry no more.
really hit home, as it talks about the reward when you are finished with the journey. That life will no longer feel empty.
Cons: Though, I love the song, I might say that a deeper interpretation with the lyrics caused me to think that it is too simple, or childish. It ignites the question why is life so hard? or why am I suffering? instead of going on with it and knowing that after the journey, everything you have done will have an equivalent reward.
Moreover, the part of the lyrics (and when I claim to be a wise man/ it really means that I don't know) contradicts what is happening today as those who 'claim to be the wise men' governs our society, and it makes you think that what if they really don't know what they are doing?
It is as if we are struggling to communicate a message that needs to be communicated or passed on, and the realization that even if it is passed on, it changes nothing. There is also that lingering doubt that we are not knowledgeable enough, or significant enough to know or to be the voice that will pass on the message.
All in all, euphoria talks about love, and the mystery of being human; how strong we are to overcome doubt, to never give up, and to face the challenges that life may bring. However, to the uneducated mind, misinterpretations may arise, that is why when listening to music or viewing its music video, one may be literate enough to know what is right and what is wrong, as well as to not be easily influenced by some explicit scenes and lyrics arising from the song.
LINK TO MY PLAYLIST:
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