It’s More Than Music To Me
Writing about music is something new to me when taking this class. As a secondary English education major, I was used to more of a formal writing style. The idea I liked most about this class was having a choice about the songs and artists I can write about as well as writing informally. This allowed me to express my feelings towards songs I enjoy and relate to the most. For all writing assignments, I feel I do a good job with mentioning how I can feel what the artist is singing about because I have been through a similar experience. The one thing I think I lacked was being more specific with explaining in more depth about what those experiences were for me.
For the record club assignment, I had no idea what song I should share with the class until the night before. I wanted to choose a song that was new and I can speak about on a personal level. “Unstable” by Justin Bieber and The Kid Laroi was a song that had been on repeat the week I had to present so I decided to go with it. The class actually enjoyed the song and my blog post for it. I was honestly surprised but happy at the same time because this song has a deeper meaning to me.
With the record club blog post I had to respond to honestly it was a bit of a challenge for me. When I had to find a song that was similar to “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey I admittedly thought of Billie Ellish. I think my post for it could use a little more work and structure identifying why these artists and music are similar in vocals.
My album review was probably one of my favorite pieces of writing throughout the whole semester. Since it was the first assignment of the class I had a hard time making sure I did not write like it was a formal essay. Juice Wrld is one of my favorite artists and I genuinely admire his passion for music. The way he is able to let his fans know his struggles sets a good example to let people know it is okay to have bad days. In this revision I want to make sure my voice is there and that the readers notice I love his music.
Lastly, my personal essay assignment was the best idea I had all semester. I picked one of my most listened to playlist and I described how the songs are in correlation with each other. I wrote about three of my most listened to songs on the playlist which are, “Good Days” by Sza, “At My Worst” by Pink Sweats and “Without You” by The Kid Laroi. After submitting the rough draft I was confident in my work and the idea but I lacked expressing why these songs ressemble a time in my life. I went back and revised so the readers can really understand that music has a little power for the different moods and events that occur in my life.
“Unstable” by Justin Bieber featured The Kid LAROI
This song is in Justin Bieber’s new album called “Justice” that was just released about a week ago. Growing up, I was never a fan of Justin Beiber. I never understood what people were so great about his music. As his music continues to evolve I started to like it more. The songs he was featured in were the singles he would drop randomly. This album was hyped up before it was released and I am a HUGE The Kid LAROI fan. During the pandemic is when I found out who The Kid LARIO and I now listen to his album probably one time everyday because it is that good.
The reason why I picked this song is because I am a fan of both these artists and I relate to the lyrics. I usually listen to and lean towards songs that have meaning to me, it is just more enjoyable to vibe to and it does not matter what my mood is. During the pandemic I had a hard time with myself mentally because I had to adjust to living life at home rather than being out all the time, distracting myself from reality and my problems. This song makes me feel and understand that it is okay to have moments where you are unaware of who you are. “Unstable” allows me to know that other people like celebrities face similar struggles like me.
Justin Bieber’s addresses in this song about his mental health and how his wife Haley got him through those struggles. The tone in his vocals sounds passionate when he sings; “Sometimes I think I overthink / And I start to feel anxiety / There were times I couldn’t even breathe / But you never once abandoned me.” That line is the first line in the beginning verse of the song. The tempo of the song is one of the slower ones on this album which I think as to do with the meaning behind it. The dynamics in this song sound louder leading up to The Kid LARIO solo in the song. The vocals between both artists are very different. The pitch in Kid LARIO’s voice is deeper and raspier which makes the song sound steely. When Justin is singing the harmony is mainly the piano playing with the combination of the echo of what he sings. I envision a movie or music video which portrays a cinematic effect in my head while listening to the song. Eventually, the chorus then repeats at the end of the song which is when a guitar beat starts to play which is the only beat in the whole song. The guitar allows the melody to become louder. This can symbolize and emphasize the idea that Justin is thankful for what he has been through and it is okay to get him from others.
Lana Del Rey and Billie Ellish: Similarities and Differences
Muniba shared the song “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey for her record club. First, I love this song and the way you addressed it in your post was well thought out. I like how the song has a very mellow vibe but the instrument’s loudness makes me want to move my head while listening. This song and Lana Del Rey herself give me Billie Eilish feels because I think they have similar music style and voice.
The song “Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish is what I think of when I listen to Young and Beautiful. Both these artists sing with a passion in their voice and their vocals are incredible. All I know is that if these two artists made a song together it would be insanely good. “Ocean Eyes” is a very humble and warm kind of song. When I say this I mean the song is meant to be sad but the melody and instruments make up for the sadness the song is supposed to give off just like Lana Del Rey does. Listen to the beat in the first verse of the song; it sounds like a drum which gives off an upbeat feel to the song. The chorus of the song is when the beat changes, they add more drums which make up more than a single beat from the beginning. Just like in “Young and Beautiful” the beat starts with the piano then as the song continues to add other instruments which allows the song to pick up pace.
The meaning behind both these songs have to do with love. In “Ocean Eyes” Billie Ellish sings directly to the person she loves at the time. In “Young and Beautiful” Lana Del Rey vocalizes her questions about if the person she loves will love her for who she is. Both these songs hit close to home to me because I was also at a point where I questioned if a significant other cared about me like the way I did for them. Both these artists are unique in their own ways and are incredible musicians but they do have so many similarities in style, tone and meaning of their music.
If all of you have a chance to listen to Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish, let me know if you think these artists sound almost identical in style and vocals. I think they really do and I love it because these artists are remarkable singers and songwriters. I feel when an artist can turn the meaning of a sad song in a way for the fans to still move their head or dance while listening shows what they can do with their talent.
Legends Never Die
On December 8th 2019, the late rapper and songwriter Juice Wrld passed away from an overdose when he was traveling on tour. Juice Wrld was a legend to many and still to this day. His music style and lyrics resemble his life which inspires many of his fans to speak out about what they are going through. He has produced six albums and his songs are always about heartbreak, love, struggles in life or drugs. After his passing, Juice Wrld’s producers released his most recent album called “Legends Never Die” in 2020. This album consists of twenty two songs and five music videos. Each song in this album expresses what Juice was going through at the time. The melody of each song that he sings gives his fans the truth about who he was. When he sings his audience can hear the passion through his vocals. Depending on what Juice’s songs are about he changes from singing to rapping. This album is not a goodbye for Juice Wrld, it allows his fans to continue to live on his name and music after his death.
Juice Wrld starts off his album with an intro called “Anxiety” this sets the tone and mood for the rest of the songs. He speaks not even sings about his love for god and music stating; “I don’t know, music is just a beautiful thing, like I love myself so much, as far as the way I make music.” This line shows his fans his passion for music, he raps about his life because he loves himself. He deals with his issues like anxiety by writing music about it, this is inspiring. Any singer, songwriter or artist who is vocalizing their inner feelings and emotions throughout their music engages his fans to want to listen more. As one of his fans, mental health is extremely important to me. When hearing him speak about how he uses music to help him deal with his struggles, I can understand where he is coming from because I also use things I enjoy to help deal with anxiety.
After the intro he writes a song called “Righteous” that has a guitar playing underneath Juice’s vocals. In the beginning of the song, he sings very softly while the guitar plays. The sickest beat in the song is when the beat drops and the speed of the song begins to pick up. Juice Wrld is known as doing both rapping and singing but, in this song, it sounds more passionate because he is only singing. The chorus he is feeling grateful when he sings; “all white Gucci suit, I’m feelin righteous / Yeah, I know that the truth is hard to digest.” Even though he is making reference to his style, he still is real with his fans that sometimes life is hard and things do not turn out the way he wanted. This song is a different style compared to the others in the album because the background of the guitar engages the fan to understand he is sad.
The song “Smile” that is featuring The Weekend in this album was originally titled “Sad.” The beat of this song is more electric and has more sounds than instruments. The Weekend has a verse where he vocalizes his feelings about a significant other and the sacrifices he has made for them. What is interesting about Juice Wrld’s verse is that he is foreshadowing his death when he sings; “devil on my shoulder telling me I’ll die soon.” Did Juice Wrld know he was going to die, was he hinting at his fans? In this verse he is singing the lyrics to the song in a way that tells his fans he was hurting. To me I think the back beat sounds like an alto because of the playing of the drums, which makes me nod my head to the beat every time I listen. The pitch in Juice Wrlds voice sounds deeper and louder when he sings the chorus of the song; “I’d do anything in my power to see you just smile.” The album continues to show Juice Wrld’s true feelings, what he was going through and this allows his fans to understand he never wanted to go through his tough times alone. “Wishing Well” is one of the most powerful songs on this album. Juice Wrld sings about his drug addiction and after he wrote this song he passed away from a drug overdose in 2019. Wishing Well is one of my favorite songs on this album because it is a song I can easily vibe to. This song has a guitar in the background just like in the song “Smile.” The beat drops after a few lines of the song and it sounds like someone is beat boxing. If you listen closely you can hear clapping like how one of his fans would be when listening to this song. The clapping makes me want to clap along and pretend like I am playing the drums as I hear it. It ends the album in a very unique way that I still do not understand how he or the producers did it.
Juice Wrld ended his album just like he started it with him speaking. “Juice Wrld Speaks from Heaven (Outro)” The beginning of this song is like classical music with the orchestra playing. I have no idea if this is pre recorded or if the producers found a way to edit it to get him to say this but Juice says he’s facetime from heaven. Did he know he was going to die? Was this a call for help? Maybe this has a connection to do with all the songs in this album having to do with his struggles and it was a cry for help. It left me in shock and it made me think a lot about the album in a deeper way.
Vibin
Every day I listen to music and I am constantly adding, discovering, and changing my playlist I have on my phone. Whatever I am doing or wherever I am going, I will always put one of my playlists to match the setting and mood I am in. This means my music taste changes within the genre, which is not a bad thing because I am that friend people come to when they need new music or a playlist to listen to. One of my favorite and most recent playlists I have created is called vibin––with a sunflower and butterfly emoji attached to it. This playlist was created for me when I need calm, chill, and relaxing music to listen to that also relates to me for when I am in my feels. I named it vibin because I listen when I am just going with the flow doing my own thing and need songs to listen to that address how I feel so I know that I am not the only one who goes through things in life. That is the majority of the time with me.
Anyways, the genres on this playlist are from r&b to pop music. Since these genres are very different, that means that artist featured include pop stars like Billie Ellish to r&b singers like Sza. Despite the differences with the artists and genres, there are similarities with the songs. As a fan and listener, I can hear the passion in their vocals, lyrics, and desire for the fans to feel what they are going through. This is what this whole playlist is about for me, I can make a connection with the songs and relate to them with myself, the life I am living, and what I have been through. This essay is going to break down a few of the songs that are in my vibin playlist. I am going to address how it relates to me, why it is in this playlist and how it connects to other songs featured in “vibin.”
One of my favorite songs on this playlist is “Good Days” by Sza. I just became familiar with her music at the beginning of the pandemic, ever since then I have listened to numerous of her songs and albums. Right from the start of “Good Days,” the song sounds calming. There is some sort of string instrument playing, maybe a guitar, violin, or even a harp. Then the other sounds playing in the backbeat of these instruments sound like an ocean or beach noises; if you listen closely it sounds similar to a seagull. Sza finally starts to use her amazing and soft voice to express the meaning of the song. Not in just the lyrics but, when she sings with a passion, it makes her fans know what she has been through. The meaning behind this song is relatable to not just me but many of her fans. She sings about her wasted times on the wrong person and having trouble moving on from them and forward with her life.
As I sit and do my schoolwork listening to this song I think about how it relates to me. I have had my fair share of good and bad days with a significant other, friend or family member. This song makes me understand that it is okay to not be okay. There have been times in my life where I have left that my time is being wasted by people who do not care about me like I do for them. I know now that life is too short to dwell on those people and to move on even if it is hard just as Sza would say. You would think I would get sidetracked but it doesn’t make me more focused. I think I become so in touch with the lyrics that I try to distract myself with doing my homework and have some breaks in between where I nod my head to the beat, like many other songs displayed while listening to vibin.
Another one of my favorite songs on this playlist is “At My Worst” by Pink Sweats featuring Kehlani. Both these artists are r&b singers and songwriters who came together to create this amazing, mellow and meaningful song. The song begins with a slow backbeat of a guitar and the sound of snapping of fingers. This beat continues throughout the whole song while adding a piano during the chorus. Pink Sweats and Kehlani have very similar vocals in this song, they both sound soft and quiet which addresses a deeper meaning to fans when listening. Pink Sweats mentioning this being his favorite song he has written, he vocalizing his struggles with love when singing; “I need somebody who can love me at my worst / No, I’m not perfect, but I hope you see my worth / ‘Cause it’s only you, nobody new, I put you first.” This song expresses the idea that everyone has their imperfections that are considered to doubt who they are and how they see themselves. Pink Sweats allows his fans to know that not only does this song relate to relationships but families and friends too.
This song is in my vibin playlist because the mellow vibe and soft beat it has allows me to feel calm when I listen. The meaning behind the song can relate to me in many ways because people in my life are supposed to be there and love me when I am at my worst or doing my best. In order to be happy in life, it starts with being happy with yourself. Yes, people need to be there for you when you are at your worst but be there for yourself first.
Pink Sweats does a good job of sounding passionate in his voice which makes me as a fan appreciate the song more because it has or is going through something I went through. Most of the songs featured on this playlist are songs that are heartfelt to me and enjoyable to listen to when I am feeling down or need music to calm me down when I am stressed.
I am always adding new music to this playlist. Recently The Kid Laroi dropped a remix to his song “Without You” featuring Miley Cyrus. This song before the remix was already amazing with the lyrics, and vocals The Kid Laroi has. Both artists have very unique voices that bounce off each other throughout the song. The song begins with an acoustic guitar playing then instead of The Kid Laroi starting the song like the original Miley takes over. Miley Cyrus has a deep and steely voice like The Kid Laroi which suits her well in this song. After Miley sings, The Kid Laroi sings the next melody of the song; “You cut out a piece of me, and now I bleed internally, Left here without you, without you, And it hurts for me to think about what life could possibly be like Without you.” The song is about The Kid Laroi’s relationship where his girlfriend has had enough and walked out on him. He communicates his feelings of heartbreak and despair to his former partner. Though the relationship for him was toxic, The Kid Laroi can’t bear the thought of being without his lover. This song hits differently if you as a listener can relate to what he is feeling, singing, and his tone of voice. His voice is very raspy which makes the listener know how passionate he is with the meaning of the song and his music himself. I feel as if the song was upbeat and was not so much acoustic the meaning of the song would have been taken away from the fast pace beat most pop and rap songs have.
This song I think has a meaning that almost everyone can interpret in their way based on something or an experience they have been through. My first boyfriend I dated for over two years and we broke up over a year ago. When he left, I had to find myself again because I relied on him for my happiness and support. It was a very hard and emotional time for me in my life but, I realized I can get through it and I can be happy by myself and for myself. This song demonstrates how it is okay to be sad over a significant other, everyone has been there once. I added this remix to my playlist because I like that Miley Cryus is in it and she adds the same feel and voice The Kid Laori likes the song has meaning to her as well.
My music style usually is demonstrated through the kind of moods I am in. I wanted to take the time to break down a few of my favorite songs in vibin because it is my most frequently played playlist because all of them relate to a time in my life. When I can feel the sadness or feelings the artist has in their voice when they sing, it makes me as a listener enjoy the song on a deeper level. I think having a connection to a song beats dancing to it which is what this playlist is about. I love how I can feel what the artist is feeling. It allows me to cope with my problems and emotions. Everyone should find a song that relates to them and find a song that has zero meaning and listen to both. I bet, the song that is symbolic to you will be the one you enjoy more.
Thank You
I want to thank all the artists who write music with a passion. I believe in order to be a successful singer and songwriter they need to write music that is relative to their life. This is what graitates fans to want to listen more. I appreciate artists like Justin Bieber, The Kid Laroi and Juice Wrld creating music about their struggles because as a fan I am not alone with my own problems that are similar to theirs.
I also would like to thank those who have made life a little challenging for me because I was able to experience hardships which enabled me to look at life differently and connect to music on a deeper level. For those people who were there for me, thanks for not giving up on me.
I want to give a shout out to Professor Tougaw, this class was not what I expected but I enjoyed every moment of it. The semester allowed me to look at music in a different light. Now, when I vibe to music I can recognize the backbeat, harmony and really understand the meaning of songs without thinking about it, which I think is enjoyable.
Lastly, to all my classmates, good luck with finals and the rest of your journey. You all are granted to see and accomplish big things in life. Keep doing you.
