As I promised in my previous post, I will write about the importance of music during finals. Since my winter session is OVER, I can now say that I would not have survived without music. I was basically kept alive, or in certain stages of “alive” with the help of my beloved soundtracks, playlists, oldies and newcomers. I will concoct a list of suggestions for all music lovers. Note that I said “music lovers”, not slaves of noise pollution, as is a vast part of my country’s population.
1. Back In Black – ACDC
This song is epic, truly the sound of the glorious 80s, and it has served me well this winter. I practically over-dosed on it after I found out I passed the first exam, the toughest one in my opinion. And even if I had not blown my neighbour’s brains with it, just consider the song for a moment. The lyrics are pure ACDC wonder, addictive to say the least, and the rhythm…orgasmic for the years and the soul. I absolutely lose control when I listen to that song, hell, I LIVE that song. And it is perfect for anyone who has steam that needs to be released after something traumatic that has also been overcome, such as, let’s say, a god-damned EXAM.
2. You Shook Me All Night Long – ACDC
Just my favourite song from ACDC. Kinky to the b-b-b-bone, wild, with probably an unequaled rhythm and vibe. You can feel the passion from the first moment, you cannot remain still while it rocks through you. I am addicted to the strong sexual message in old-school songs, because it is just so wonderfully built, unlike today’s music, when you mostly have tasteless sex puns. No, I am talking about the unbridled natural energy, love, and lust expressed beautifully, freely, using the best kind of music as a background. Ah yes, definitely shake me all night long…
3. You Can’t Always Get What You Want – Rolling Stones
The anthem of my finals, be they in Winter or Summer. The eternal truth behind school, life, and everything that has ever existed in the human realm. The story behind this song is amazing, and the message is positively godlike, much more positive than the title would suggest, yet wrapped in this aura of melancholy and mystery. On repeat between exams. And just think, this song was featured in House MD (basically my religion). It must be gloriously marvelous!
4. Carry On My Wayward Son – Kansas
Wow! The memories this song brings…I was on the verge of breaking up with my ex (which happened, obviously), and I was listening to this song over and over, tears running down my face, and I was singing madly, banging my head to the rhythm, still crying. Why I did it? No idea, but this song helped. I love this song because it reminds me of the battle I fought during those rough times, and a little of him, of whom I have only pleasant memories. Also, it has such a strong and sweet message, it almost begs you to keep your head up, no matter the situation. It was also on repeat during the finals and it will always have a special place in my heart.
5. Alsatia – Galneryus
Now, I don’t know if you know this song, but chances are you don’t. I had never even heard of this band before seeing the awesome Mnemosyne anime series. A great series, I recommend it to all anime lovers, but especially to ones with mature tastes, like me. Violence, gore, nudity, but also an amazing story, filled with drama, humour, sadness and sexiness. Great finals material, I watched it on the first day of “study holiday” and I was left dumbstruck for days. I plan to review the 6 episodes and I will comment thoroughly on this anime. This song, Alsatia, is the opening and it’s perfect, setting the mood for greatness, but also agitating something deep inside the listener. Sick rhythm (sick, in a good way, obviously). Try it out!
6. Cat People (Putting Out The Fire) – David Bowie
My favourite David Bowie song, and it was part of the Inglorious Basterds soundtrack, only one of the best scenes in that breath-taking work of art. Endless appreciation for both the movie and the song, but as I discussed them both in previous posts (dig for the info if you want it), I shall move on simply by saying that this song activates such a deep sense of battle and of power within me, it cannot be forgotten or ignored. The intensity is out of this world.
7. I See You – From the soundtrack of my beloved AVATAR
Oh my God, this song is gorgeous. I have it on both my cell phones as ring tones, I listen to it like mad and oh, the role it has in my precious Avatar! It basically describes the magic, the love, the union and the sadness of the story. The song alone lets me visualize all that is Pandora, and it also echoes in my immortally romantic heart, making me think of my sweet precious BF, of how we’ve seen the movie twice together and how he held me when I cried my eyes out during it.
8. Pussy – Rammstein
Yes!! Yes, it came out in 2009! The long-awaited new Rammstein album. I had been crazy with need for my favourite German band, and one of the best of all time, in my humble opinion (BTW, I do not consider my opinion humble, I just like saying it like that). And how did “Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da” come into my life? With the cosmically spectacular single “Pussy”. And yes, it does not refer to a kitty cat. Haha! I adore that song, I think that for one month I’ve listened to it about 200 times, and it’s still on weekly. And oh my God, the video! Have you seen the first video in history which also doubles as a porno? I was addicted to it, thoroughly and fully addicted to it. I am not a video fan in general, but this one…well, you need to see it, to feel it. And considering the fact that I despise MTV and all it represents (for ex: stupid shows that have NOTHING to do with music, shows about spoiled, lifeless rich girls with an average IQ of 50, an obvious preference for the fake, the lame and the stupid, etc etc), I find this video, which was, after all, released on a porn site, to be a statement on numerous levels. And by the way, I think this is the best Rammstein album yet. Every song is more than I could have ever thought they would be. Another excellent song, usable during finals but mostly in every-day life is the superb Fruhling in Paris. That song brought me to tears.
9. Anything (I mean, ANYTHING) by Lady Gaga
Do not hate on her! I absolutely adore her. I did not at first, basically because her first singles didn’t attract my attention fast enough. But after Bad Romance, I was gaga for her and my opinion regarding her previous works changed as well. The talent within her bursts and yes, the kinkiness and the extreme and the fabulously frightening use of fashion are all there, but think about it. Pop music SHOULD NOT BE about silly little girls who want to grow up and screw another lame pop singer. I am not a fan of Pop, considering my general preferences, but Gaga is the cool kind of Pop. She has taken the definition to a whole new level, through the bizarre, the out of this world, the electronic but also, the very, very beautiful and soulful songs. This kind of music pumps energy into you, and not only of the superficial, happy kind. Listen to what is beyond the lyrics and listen to what she has to say and at least appreciate how much she adores her fans. It ’s not a cliche. On the other hand, thinking that she is weird or “too sexual” just cos she’s a woman is THE biggest cliche of them all. I hate misogynistic “music critics” who judge her because a woman is not expected to be so open and so utterly free in her way of expressing herself.
10. Last but not least, I will add a song I’ve just recently discovered since becoming a True Blood addict (the series, but I would definitely try the drink as well, A negative, please!). I am talking about the already well-known and adored “Bad Things” by Jace Everett, used as an opening for the HBO series, a work of art all by itself. It is a song suitable for finals because I started watching True Blood right before the last exam and the song has basically transported me to Louisiana even during the actual test. I almost found myself humming “I wanna do real bad things with youuuu…”.
Well, this is pretty much it. Of course, this list is short, compact and diverse. I am far from completing the conglomerate of music one needs for mental and emotional peace during finals. But I have tried to include most genres and moods, some new, some famous, some obscure, all worth while, I assure you. Music tells so much about the people who make it, but I think more is said about the listeners. The fans who immerse themselves in the beat, in the lyrics, in the hidden feelings behind the instruments, who ride the guitar strings and pulse with the drums. I think the music we listen to is a diary we cannot erase. We can change it, cross words over, write over them, but in truth, there will always be a clear proof of our evolution. Music is the voice of the world, it unites us like love. Music is, in many ways, love. Enjoy, my beloved readers! And look-up those songs, I think you’ll enjoy them!
