Audio Feedback With Leah Clifford

Leah Clifford, ‘21

SONGS OF THE MONTH BY GENRE

Classical/Instrumental:

2 Arabesques, L. 66: No. 1 in E Major - Claude Debussy

This song. Wow. It’s four minutes and thirty-three seconds of piano beauty. This piece balances lightness with intensity in the most incredible way. It’s so smooth and beautiful, incorporating the airy sounds of scales and individual notes with the heavier, more dramatic chords. A fun fact about myself: I am in love with pieces that end the same way they begin (especially classical ones) and this song does that perfectly. It feels almost like a journey in that it starts with a sort of diaphanous melody, transitions into a vigorous and melancholy chord progression, and returns you to the melody you began with. Debussy brings listeners full circle in a very satisfying way. Also, it is a great song to do homework to.

Rock:

Luna- The Smashing Pumpkins

Okay, honestly, if I could recommend the entirety of the Siamese Dream album here I would (but for the record, if you’re going to listen to this, I would tack Mayonaise and Cherub Rock onto your queue as well). While most of the Smashing Pumpkins’ discography is very intense-electric-guitar-scream oriented, this song feels like a bit of a softer (yet just as angsty) love song as compared to their others. I don’t know if “love song” is a fitting description, since it’s more of a tribute to an ex-lover and the moon. Billy Corgan himself says, “(The song) is for the moon. It can never be for the one you love.” I think that quote encapsulates the soft beauty of this piece. It was also most likely written about Courtney Love, which I think is very cool. 

Rap/R&B:

Sunday- Earl Sweatshirt ft. Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean should rename himself King Midas because seriously every song he touches is gold. His verse in this is an incredible addition to an incredible song. While the beat is amazing (and according to Earl Sweatshirt, the best he thinks he made), the lyrics possess a raw honesty and emotional vulnerability that make this song an absolute ten out of ten. Unsurprisingly, it’s one of Earl’s most popular songs, because it contains universal discussions of drug use and relationships and altercations with Chris Brown. Just kidding-- the Chris Brown part is just Frank Ocean. The song is haunting, gorgeous, and touching. 

Pop:

The Spins- Mac Miller

To preface this I am using “Pop” as a very loose term because I still am unsure what defines music as Pop music. If it’s just “popular music,” I think this song makes the cut. And reasonably so-- this is one of those songs that you can’t stop yourself from dancing to when it’s on. It’s off his album KIDS, the title being one that sets the tone for this piece incredibly. It ends with Mac shouting that he just graduated high school, tying together a piece that communicates ideas of teenage-hood and growing up and simultaneously still being young and having dreams and hopes and all of that fuzzy-feeling-heartwarming stuff. This song is like musical serotonin. Definitely listen if you ever need a reminder of why being a teenager is so awesome.  Or just if you’re looking for a good time.

Indie/Alternative:

Andromeda- Weyes Blood

This song is literal poetry. I’ll let the lyrics speak for themselves: “Andromeda's a big, wide open galaxy/ Nothing in it for me except a heart that's lazy/ Running from my own life now/ I'm really turning some time/ Looking up to the sky for something I may never find.” Like wow! And that’s not to mention Weyes Blood has a voice like literal honey-- so much strength and yet so smooth and saccharine it’s breathtaking. This song feels like floating on a cloud. Or sinking into a pillow. It’s hard not to fall in love with!

Personal Favorite of the Month:

Breathe (In the Air) - Pink Floyd

I’ll be upfront here and say this is possibly my favorite song of all time. And also my favorite band of all time. If any reader of this column takes one thing away from it it should be this: listen to Dark Side of the Moon. It’s the best album ever made. This song incorporates airy guitar playing and keyboard and synth and slow percussion and beautiful universal lyrics-- what more can you want from the music you’re listening to? It discusses reconciling mortality and living life. My personal theory about this album is that it is representative of the arc of one’s life and that this piece (being the second song on the record) is about youth and first experiences-- like one’s first breath--how life is just a series of experiences and interactions. Breathe is my personal favorite of every month, honestly.