Playlist of My Life

I like to think that no matter what happens, music will always be a part of my life. It’s too deeply entwined with my soul to ever be forgotten or removed. If I ever had a choice of giving up my sight or my hearing, I would give up my sight. As difficult as it’ll be, I’d rather miss a sunset than miss out on the trills of Chopin. Even though I am not taking piano lessons any longer or singing in a choir currently, I still can’t give it up. I play the piano often (the once hated lessons are coming through at last haha) and sing whenever I feel like it. I was given a voice; why not use it? I probably drive all my friends crazy with my obsession with music and fashion. Because whatever I happen to love, I feel an urge to share with them all, attempting to make them love it as much. Of course they never do. Hahaha they’re probably just waiting for me to move onto the next best thing so that I can leave them the fuck alone about it. I guess they’re lucky that I found a new outlet huh?

I have many playlists with odd names that only I seem to understand. They are categorized by mood and changed often because my moods change like quicksilver. I have what Landon calls musical ADD because, unless I truly love a song, I cannot listen to the same song in the car for its entirety. I have to change it.I think because most of the music on the radio is redundant and you can only listen to the same beat over and over again. However, when I find a truly good song I can listen to it for about a week straight. And then, as you’ve guessed it, move onto something new. To most people, a musical rut is not updating music for about a month or maybe a year. For me, a musical rut is not updating weekly at the very least. I have massive music input binges every Tuesday when new music comes out. And when I can’t, I get antsy. It’s my way of life and I’ve accepted that. Too bad if everyone else can’t.

I have just discovered a new band. Well discovered might be a bad word since I can’t exactly take any credit for its existence. Regardless, I started listening to Jack’s Mannequin yesterday and I must say that it’s like love at first sound. The lead singer recently went through leukemia and the music reflects his emotional turmoil and hope during that time. The music truly moved me with its rolling melodies and heartfelt lyrics. The fact that he has the strength to get through cancer and the talent to fully express what he went through is just amazing. My words alone are not enough to convey just how rare and amazing this band is.  And let it be known, that if they touch no one else, they have moved at least one person.

“Swim” by Jack’s Mannequin

You gotta swim
Swim for your life
Swim for the music
That saves you
When you’re not so sure you’ll survive
You gotta swim
Swim when it hurts
The whole world is watching
You haven’t come this far
To fall off the earth

The currents will pull you
Away from your love
Just keep your head above

I found a tidal wave
Begging to tear down the door
Memories like bullets
They fired at me from a gun
Cracking me open now
I swim to brighter days
Despite the absence of sun
Choking on salt water
I’m not giving in
You gotta swim

You gotta swim
For nights that won’t end
Swim for your family
Your lovers your sisters
Your brothers your friends
You gotta swim
For wars without cause
Swim for these lost politicians
Who don’t see their greed is a flaw

The currents will pull us
Away from our love
Just keep your head above

I found a tidal wave
Begging to tear down the door
Memories like bullets
They fired at me from a gun
Cracking me open now
I swim to brighter days
In spite of the absence of sun
Choking on salt water
I’m not giving in
I’m not giving in
Swim

You gotta swim
Swim in the dark
There’s an ocean to drift in
Feel the tide shifting away from this war
Yeah you gotta swim
Don’t let yourself sink
Just follow the horizon
I promise you it’s not as far as you think

Currents will drag us away from our love
Just keep your head above
Just keep your head above
Swim
Just keep your head above
Swim
Just keep your head above
Swim