I Think, Therefore I Listen: 10 Songs About Life

Aiden Teplitzky Dobens ’17 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Life is complicated. There are a multitude of questions that we want answers to: What’s the point? Do we really exist? What happens after we die? Why does any man voluntarily purchase a fedora?

These inquires have existed forever, and millions of musicians have tried to communicate their ideas through their songs. Here, we’ve put together a modern playlist of songs concerning life. But enough from us. Enjoy.

1. “Blue Spotted Tail” – Fleet Foxes

All the best art begins with questioning, and that’s exactly where we start in this list. Robin Pecknold, lead singer of Fleet Foxes, asks all the right questions in his usual poetic manner. “Blue Spotted Tail” fuels our desire to search for answers to these questions, and the following songs will try to do exactly that.

2. “Only Ones Who Know” – Arctic Monkeys

Here, we are first introduced to love as an answer. Many artists write about love as an escape from the perils of life, and lead singer Alex Turner introduces the idea of love in the modern era compellingly: “They’ve made it far too easy to believe, that true romance can’t be achieved these days.” His ability to stretch out every syllable in this song lets the listener really contemplate every word.

3. “This Modern Love” – Bloc Party

Talking about love in the modern era, Bloc Party have created this gem of a song. Love in modern times is difficult to attain and hold on to, and this song exemplifies exactly that. The build up in this song leads to the exhausted resolution: “Throw your arms around me.”

4. “Hannah Hunt” – Vampire Weekend

This song is a journey. It is literally about two people on a trip, but it’s more than that. The song emits a sense of searching, a yearning to understand. Another brilliant example of a slow-build, “Hannah Hunt” leaves you contemplating love and how people interact.

5. “Whistle For The Choir” – The Fratellis

Immediately, “Whistle For The Choir” pulls you in with its intimate feel. Again, it’s talking about a girl, and the sheer emotion packed into this song is what makes it so brilliant. The late confession “Well if you’re crazy, I don’t care you amaze me” reflects the complicated nature of love and the almost addictive melody keeps you hooked until the final note.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFFuSRn_GSk

6. “Afterlife” – Arcade Fire

“Afterlife” is a damn masterpiece of a song. The parallel between loss of love and death itself is beautifully executed in 6 minutes. The underlying synth beat is present from first note to last, and this song will leave you contemplating life, loss, death, and love.

7. “Constant Conversations” – Passion Pit

As always is the case with Passion Pit, a seemingly cheery song is underscored by complicated themes. At its core this song is about a destructive personality, something lead singer Michael Angelakos (an Emerson College Alum) is quite familiar with. It is a profound song that has an emotional effect on most people who listen.

8. “Who Knows, Who Cares” – Local Natives

After all this talk about love, death, and life, Local Natives ask a tough question: Who cares? This song is chock full of contradictions, or perhaps resolutions to prior problems. Exactly what it means doesn’t entirely matter, this song is full of emotion and questioning which drags you along for the ride.

9. “Apocalypse Dreams” – Tame Impala

It seems unfair to compile 10 songs about life without a Tame Impala track, so here we have one. “Apocalypse Dreams” is a multi dimensional song that starts off hopeful “This could be the day that we push through” but ultimately asks “Will I ever get there? Does it even matter?”

10. “Fireworks” – Animal Collective

It’s near impossible to properly end a playlist of 10 songs about life, but “Fireworks” does a pretty good job. I could write a meaningless paragraph on exactly what makes this track so gorgeous, but I’d rather you strap on your seatbelt and let this song take you for a ride. It’s brilliant, compelling, daringly honest, and will leave you with the same questions as before, but with a weird sense of resolution.