by Lucy Armstrong
Music has a way of making you feel and think in different ways, and because of this, many people listen to the same artists, genre, and songs over and over. Most people tend to stay within the bounds of their comfort and choose not to venture into the “Great Unknown” of the music world. Realizing this fact, I decided to use my fellow classmates as resources to find the music few listen to and broaden their horizons. Here are some of their responses:
POP – Cindy Courageux, a senior, recommended the song “Young, Dumb, & Broke” by Khalid. The song comes from his American Teen album and the genre of music is pop. Cindy says “The song mostly relates to teenagers in high school. It explains a lot about how life in high school was. There were different groups and who was nominated to be something. It’s a really upbeat song that I would love to listen to repeatedly.” Also describing the artist, Cindy says: “His style is more modern but old school. His lyrics describe how his life was in high school. Mostly as a teen. Some of his best songs are Location, Young Broke & Dumb, and Coaster.”
If you are interested in listening to the song follow this link:
RAP/METAL – Asad Jan, a junior, recommended the song “Young” by Hollywood Undead. The song comes from their Swan Songs album and is in the Rock & Rap & Metal genres. Asad says “This song is a nice upbeat song and shows how we were born in a world as it all falls apart and it makes me realize that I am young and that I should fight and die for what I believe in. This song isn’t the one to dance to but it has a fast beat which makes it great to listen too.” Also describing the band, Asad says; “Hollywood Undead is an American Rock & Rap band that formed about around 2005. Their lyrics are mostly speaking of partying and picking up chicks and the way to live your life the way you want to and not how anybody else tells you to live your life. One of their best songs in my opinion is tied between, “S.C.A.V.A” & “Believe” which “S.C.A.V.A” is about not turning to the dark side to find the good in yourself, and “Believe” is saying how a former bad person found the good in him to turn his life around.”
Search for their videos on YouTube.
ROCK – Chase Newman, a junior, recommended the rock band AC/DC and their album Back in Black. Chase says “You know their songs, you know the voices, but do you know why they are a great band? Not only have AC/DC brought out one of the greatest rock songs of all time (“Thunderstruck” from the 1990 album The Razor’s Edge) but they delivered one of the highest selling albums of all time in Back in Black. While some people can’t understand the heavy Geordie accent of Brian Johnson, the lyrics he delivers are heavy with double entendres and raw power. Some of their best songs are “Thunderstruck”, “Highway to Hell”, “Back in Black”, and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”. Not only is their studio work great, but their concerts are electrifying with Angus Young duck-walking everywhere but the band as a whole is a very tight-knit band. That’s why AC/DC is a great band.
If you are interested in listening to this artist follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/acdcVEVO
BLUES/FOLK – Alexander Nguyen, a sophomore, recommended the song “Jealous Sun” by Parker Millsap. The song comes from the The Very Last Day album and is under the Blues / Folk, Contemporary Folk genre. Alexander says “Parker Millsap wrote about how the sun steals his girlfriend every day while he stays home. It represents how our daily lives are dictated by schedules and routines. He just wants to go through the motions of life and spend time with his girlfriend. Songwriting level: Legendary”.
If you are interested in listening to the song follow this link:
ALTERNATIVE – Alexander also recommended the artist Jaymes Young and his EP: Habits of My Heart. The album falls under the Alternative genre. Alexander says “His lyrics have a deep meaning. His songs are usually sad and stems from pain. He writes lyrics that project pain in an unique imagery.”
If you are interested in listening to this artist follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/JaymesYoung
ALTERNATIVE – An anonymous person recommended the song “You” by Coasts. The song comes from their Coasts album and is in the Alternative genre. They say “This song is a great song to dance to because it’s very upbeat. This song and band are not well known since they are a new band. I love this song a lot because it’s very catchy to sing along to.” Also describing the artist they say “The band’s style of music are mostly alternative rock and indie pop. Most of their songs are upbeat and some of their best songs are “Modern Love”, “Take Me Back Home”, “Heart Starts Beating”, “Paradise”, “See How”, “A Rush Of Blood and Oceans.”
If you are interested in listening to the song follow this link:
POP-PUNK – Connor Rinehart, a junior, recommended the rock artist Fall Out Boy and their album American Beauty/American Psycho. Connor says “Fall Out Boy creates a unique unison of Rock and Electronic–presenting a beat that’s extremely easy to rock out to. Some of their best songs are “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark”, “Immortals”, “Centuries”, and “Novocaine”. There are some more awesome songs, but you can’t list them all.”
If you are interested in listening to this artist follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/FallOutBoyVEVO
R&B – Emily Rosario, a junior, recommended the R&B artist Frank Ocean and their album Blonde. Emily says “One of the very few albums where every single song is a stand alone. His album as a whole is a compilation of urban hip hop, new electronic sound and spoken word. The album is definitely one that has great recognition amongst our generation and is one that is highly relatable and tasteful to modern day youth culture.”
If you are interested in listening to this artist follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqf-kTp9ERV5T1rPayno7LA
ROCK – Juan Castro, a sophomore, recommended the rock artist Gun’s n Roses and their album Appetite for Destruction. Juan says “They are [an] old rock band that are still playing today. They play from heavy rock to more soothing rock. Some of their best songs are “Welcome to the Jungle”, “Sweet Child O’ Mine”(best one), “Patience”, “Knocks on Heavens Door”, “Paradise City”, “Civil War”, “You Could Be Mine”, “Don’t Cry” and “November Rain”.
If you are interested in listening to this artist follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/GunsNRosesVEVO
INDIE – Meleena Mohammed, a sophomore recommended the alternative, indie and regular rock artist: Florence + The Machine and their album Lungs. She says “Some of their songs sound dreamy and others are more rock influenced. Some of their best and most popular songs are “Dog Days Are Over,” “Shake It Out” and “Ship to Wreck”. The lyrics I like a lot, and I feel like anybody could enjoy their music.”
If you are interested in listening to this artist follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/FlorenceMachineVEVO