Willow: The Most Calming Folk Song Ever

Exam season just finished, and yet, somehow I am more stressed than ever. Especially now as we are getting our grades back and warning letters are being sent out. It really doesn’t help lessen the stress students feel regularly. To stop myself from spiraling down a dark hole, considering how I am far from the grades I want to have, I listen to a lot more calming and folksy music. Though folk music gets a bad reputation, there are some songs that really help mellow a person out, and is pretty to listen to as well. A personal favorite artist of mine is Jasmine Thompson.

Jasmine Thompson is known for her emotional and being full of feeling. Her voice sounds pure and even for a 17 year old, she sings with years of experience and talent. Her mother is Chinese and her father is English, and she grew up living in a low-income household in Central London. She turned to music in rough times, as her father fell to alcoholism, splitting the marriage. Although her parents were not musical, her brother helped her discover her sound and how to play piano and bass. She even ended up attending a performing arts high school. Since then, she’s made a name for herself on YouTube at only 13 years old. Jasmine has worked with high-profile artists such as Meghan Trainor, Julia Michaels, and more. Other people also praised her vocal talents, such as Aviici and Passenger. Nowadays, she sings covers and her own material and has loyal following. In 2013, she had released her first EP, titled “Under the Willow Tree.” This song has some great sounds and lyrics that just feel like a nice warm hug. You can listen to the song below.

“Willow” is my favorite song of hers, as she has a great airy, sharp, and angelic quality to her voice in this song. She accents and articulates her lyrics, which gives it a more clear and folksy sound. The song is in the tempo of a 3/4 waltz, and she wrote the song based on a fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson named, “Under the Willow Tree.” The song has her and the piano with synthesizers and some sort of drum shaker. However, the real star are her vocals. Somehow, she manages to be light and breezy while she spins this tale of a man and a women and a willow. The song being in a 3/4 waltz, mixed with her heavenly vocals, with the synthesizers, create a mystical and vivid image of this fairytale.

The lyrics are also a huge component of the song. The song discusses a man and his wife’s journey, people hypothesize, to having a child. The lyrics of the first verse below describe how they “plant a seed” which is the seed of a child.

He and his wife, once lived happily
Planted a seed, that grew through the reeds

The story continues with them “craving” names into the child, otherwise known as naming a child. It also mentions how if the husband had said something out loud, they would have been able to rekindle the love. This could be about comforting the wife about the baby miscarrying.

Mr. & Mrs., dreamed of a willow
Carving their names, into their willow
If he had spoken, love would return
Spoken inside, too soft to be heard

The next verse discusses how the there should be hope the sun always comes and they will be able to find their “willow,” aka child.

Somewhere the timing will all come together
The mishaps will turn into sunny Decembers
The lovers will be able to find their willow

The repeated verse of “Summers and winters, through snowy Decembers/Sat by the water close to the embers/Missing out the lives that they once had before” explains how they gave up their personal lives for this child. The chorus “I wouldn’t leave you/I would hold you/When the last day comes/What if you need me/Won’t you hold me/On the last day, our last day,” describes how their love for their child and for one another will never fade away.

The song transports you away from your petty issues and stressful situations. It also spins a tale of a married couples parenthood journey. It lets you slip into a world of whimsy and a heavenly soothing voice serenading you. You really should check her other music out on YouTube. Jasmine Thompson is an amazing vocalist and songwriter.

My Daily Feel-Good Jams

My playlist is a compilation of music I like, in a way that I feel flows the best. There’s various different types of genres and styles. I feel like these are the songs I could never grow tired of even after listening to them over and over again. They make me feel more cheerful after a rainy day, make me pumped to face the day’s challenges, and they help me to focus, or not focus, depending on the day. They are essential to me, and can be described as a small window into me and my life. Without these songs, I would probably not function as well. They go from songs I listen to in the morning, to afternoon, to the evening, to keep me going through a long day of classes. All the songs I have honestly found through sheer dumb luck, or through Pandora’s algorithm of related music. If you want to check out the artist(s) or the album, the hyperlink will direct you to their pages or their music. You can check the full playlist here (if you wish to listen as you read) or at the bottom of the page. I hope you enjoy the new/old music!

1- Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson – In Between Dreams

This song is a nice segue into my personal playlist, as it starts of nice and sweet. This song I found in my “Easy Listening Radio” in Pandora, and it is very easy to listen to. It’s a soft, simple song that is relaxing and easy. As a soft rock song, it soothes the soul with its intimacy, as this article states, as it is purely him and his guitar, and a few backup vocals/instruments. The song , while getting you to feel refreshed and ready for the day with the melody, is also a lovely, lazy song about having a nice day in bed with its lyrics and tune. Although, it is ideal for couples, the song can resonate with anyone who feels like not getting out of bed and just relaxing. This song always helps me calm down and feel better about anything.

2- Not For The Better by Us the Duo – Just Love

This is another love song, however, it can still relate to anyone who knows the struggle of an overbearing friend or family. Its a great affirmer of being unsure about yourself and finding yourself with respect to other people. They are a very fun couple, with a folksy pop sound, that is very catchy and easy to start grooving to. It helps me just accept myself and how much I have changed in the short amount of time I’ve been alive and how people have shaped me into myself. The melody is slow and steady yet as it picks up it is a great follow-up to Johnson’s smooth, morning-snooze jam. Somehow, it had shown up in my “Broadway Showtunes Radio” on Pandora, but now listening to how they tell stories, and their voices are so expressive, it makes much more sense.

3- Gold Dust by Galantis – Gold Dust (Single)

The next song in my playlist is an electro-pop/progressive style of music, that starts of well and smooth, and even pretty. It starts to pick up getting into those synthetic beats that make you sway and feel reenergized for either the rest of the day or for any event. It has a slight beat drop, which is nice to continue that “morning” vibe, while steadily moving on to more midday and afternoon “hype” song. I found this song while listening to “Dance Cardio Radio,” as their other music is pretty upbeat and fast.

4- Rockin’ Robin by The Jackson 5 – 1972

Oh, the Jackson 5. What could be a better song for high noon, walking, or strutting along to this song, between campuses and classes? Its a fun song that always puts a smile on my face. This song of course, could be found in the “Oldies Radio,” as it a gosh darn classic, and you are lying to yourself if you at least don’t know the group, even though the song is highly recognized as well. Back when the Jacksons where a family group and half-prepubescent, was when they had the most fun, I feel. Although they may have felt pressures backstage, they owned the audience and the stage they were on. They had so much fun performing this piece. And who wouldn’t? It is a clean wholesome, fun rock and roll bop that gets you humming and tapping along.

5- I’m So Sorry by Imagine Dragons – Smoke + Mirrors

This is where we move from the soft sound of the morning really fades away, as I want to stay pumped and focused during the long, stretching hours in the middle of the day. The song itself is rumored to be an actual apology to front man Dan Reynold’s family, for taking so much time to create his music. Its an emotional and hard-hitting song, that really makes you want to get up and face your fears, whether that be an exam in your next class, or apologizing for a wrong. I just feel I can face anything with this song blasting in my headphones. This was a song found in “Today’s Hits,” when it had first been released.

6- Man Like That by Gin Wigmore – Man Like That (Single)

Now, this song, I absolutely adore. I found it somehow, someway in the “Dance Cardio Radio.” It is an absolute power song and she has such control and rasp, harkening back to singers like Amy Winehouse. In the song she catches her man cheating, and asks for her wedding ring back, and basically warns the other women, that he is a serial cheater:

But the pretty lil’ thing lying there beside you
Better take off my wedding ring
Hey, girl, do you really wanna do this
You don’t know what you’re stepping in
He’s got more where that came from
You’re not so special in the end

And then she goes on to say she’s going to mess up his place and kick his door down!?! I know there are many songs that discuss revenge on cheaters, but none really do it as Gin can, with a mix of grace and utter rage. This song helps me get over myself and thank god I don’t have to worry about that sort of betrayal, but its also nice to know she has the other woman’s back as well, warning her of the cheater. Its the perfect song to end the afternoon on a high.

7- Death Of A Bachelor by Panic! At the Disco – Death of Bachelor

Panic! At the Disco had always been on various of my radios, however, it wasn’t until I got to high school I really got into them, probably because in those dark ages, they seemed to make the most sense to me. All their music is absolutely amazing, and they cover various genres. Death of A Bachelor is more down-low, and pays respects to Urie’s love of Sinatra and sounds like it can fit into that big band era, albeit a few synth beats that round out the background. It is a good way to start winding down towards the evening, a smooth, yet upbeat song. The song has gorgeous vocals and melody to boot, it really is no wonder why I feel this is my favorite song from Panic! And as Urie says, the song is a good way to say “goodbye” to the old you, as it is the “death” of a person. So, at the end of the day, you shed the you of that day, to “die” and be “reborn anew” the next morning, if you want to get technical. But the message of changing yourself and looking back objectively can help many people.

8- Trndsttr (Feat. M. Maggie) (Lucian Remix) by Black Coast– Trndsttr (Lucian Remix) (Single)

This song goes back into the electro-pop genre, so it makes sense I listened to this and “Gold Dust” in the same station. The song has many repetitive sounds and beats, but somehow it still works, and its still catchy. It is a bit heavy on the synth and sound effects, but it creates a nice ethereal feel to the overall song. It moves relatively slower than some other of the songs on the list, albeit still has a good, groovy beat. However, it helps slowly calm me down after a long day, and reminds me I am a trendsetter and you can be one too.

9- Love Potion No.9 by The Searchers – Meet The Searchers

This is another oldies song, that I usually listen to while doing the normal nighttime routine. I would be brushing my teeth and just be dancing along to this song. Its such a nice chill song. The song itself discusses how a man wanted to get a love potion from a witch, who ended up scamming the poor man, who incidentally kissed everyone he saw. It’s a very cutesy song, and doesn’t have much meaning. The Searchers covered the song from the Clovers, but I prefer them, as I feel their voices just meld together more, and the arrangement was smoother. This is the song that I can pretend I’m the tricky witch, the poor fool, or the women it was all for, and it really is a lot of fun to boost my mood, just acting out this whole situation.

10- City of Stars by Gavin James– City of Stars (Single)

Finally, we come to the end of the day. This song is actually from a great movie musical, La La Land, except, it is another cover. Its a beautifully done arrangement, and James’s voice is the perfect melodic, angelic sound to fall into a rich, deep slumber. It is a stripped down version and makes it feel more intimate and personal. I feel perfectly at peace and safe listening to this song, especially coming from the city, and being stuck in a dorm where the city lights are far away. This song helps me remember and feel more comfortable anywhere I go. It is the perfect end to a stressful day.

These songs help me get by on a day to day basis. And the beautiful thing is, I don’t have to listen to them everyday! I can pick and choose based on how I feel a certain day. That’s the best part about music, it is always there and you can choose what you listen to. Through this playlist, you can see how I mainly get my energy and my drive from. Which is to say, music. Even as I type this, I have something playing in my ear. Although it may not completely register, I still have something to direct unwanted thoughts and smother them, which is what I feel music and other media outlets do. They allow you to shut off parts of your brain and thought process you don’t need to help relax, focus, etc. I find these songs do the best job. I need to listen to at least one of these a day. I hope you find a song too, everyone should have at least one song that can lift them up from the darkest corners of their own mind, as aftercall, we are often our own worst enemies.

Check out all the music here:

Rutgers Club DM: A Sea of Sweaty Bodies

In the beginning of the month, I attended a “welcome days” event for all new students, called Club DM. It was sponsored by Major Events and Programs, and hosted by the Dance Marathon group. Tickets were $10, which is smart, considering there is a huge number of freshmen who love to party and get that quintessential college experience. I, of course, being a good Nepali daughter, wanted to party, but without alcohol, which many other people can relate too, either by religion, race, or plain old strict parents. So, Club DM was the perfect compromise for people like us, and of course the traditional party-goers either pre-gamed, or went out afterwards, seeking to continue the party. My friend and I paid the $10 at the door for a night of nonstop dance. However, was it worth it? I’m still not entirely sure, and for another question, why is the “club” or “college experience” such a big deal with young people of every generation?

The only difference between a real club and Club DM, honestly, is the absence of alcohol and drugs being sold on the premise, at least that’s what I believe, because as I said, I am a good Nepali child and have never been to any sort of party before. I personally, I have never seen the point of going to any sort of college event. However, I decided to go to Club DM, because at some point, you just succumb to the “herd mentality”. The herd mentality, as defined by the article, is “a natural desire to be part of the ‘in crowd’ could damage our ability to make the right decisions.” Even someone like me, who was raised as a good Asian child, and likes to think of herself as someone who stands apart from the crowd, I still fall victim to this mentality.

And so do so many other people like me. Club DM was a perfect way to appease our curiosity of college life, without being overtly wild. It also was well put together, with an overtly energetic MC and alright DJs, although I wouldn’t say I am the best judge of DJs. The MC had high energy throughout the night, and really tried to be interactive with us. Of course that made the night more fun, but sometimes we just wanted to relax, and he would keep telling to get down, and then up, and then up and down and again and again or jump and keep jumping. After hours on hours of standing up and dancing, we were all tired and drenched in sweat. The videos below showcase some of the MC’s crazy energy.

The actual music was pretty entertaining. Of course there was standard Electro-Pop music being played, which isn’t bad for the masses who just want to party, however although I love a good “Freaks” and “Lone Digger” but I also have various areas of interest other than simple electronic pop. It lacked in a lot of music I find more entertaining, but to be fair it was meant to replicate any normal club, of course minus substances. It was a great time if you enjoy dancing to synthetic beats and noise. The DJ mixed Hispanic music into the playlist and well, that caused many to hoot and holler. BUT what I honestly enjoyed the most was just the feeling of the pounding bass line and overwhelming thudding of the stereos. I love to be “transported” by a media, either a good novel, good music, and a good movie or show. And the whole environment, of pounding drum beats, jumping feet, overloads your system, allowing you to just BE. The videos below allow you to experience it somewhat.

The one thing I absolutely hated however, was the fact there was so many people. And we all know how teenagers are. Let’s just be frank, they are horny and think they are all that. Unfortunate, I know. But it’s the way of life for my age group. We like to “escape” and have fun. At least in our own words. In the words of Seth Schwartz:

“Risky behaviors are a form of identity exploration for some emerging adults who are looking to experiment with possible life paths and relationships, but these behaviors are often a mode of escape for young people who are unable to compete in an increasingly difficult and complex world.“

Today’s younger generations, the millennials and the Gen Z (you can learn more about them here) have an inherent need to escape our dismal reality. And that’s what a good party does. So, yes, there were people grinding on one another, enough to start a fire. I got smacked in the face with multiple ponytails and hair dripping in sweat. One of my other friends even got someone’s sweat into their eyes. EW! There were people trying to get onto the stage, and pushing towards to the front so the camera man can get their sweat dripped faces on the “Big Screen.” People were mosh-pitting, or at least trying to. Girls and boys alike were on top of each others shoulders, dancing, swinging around sweat-soaked shirts (see below video). There was so much body parts on body parts, and overall, it was a huge stew of disgusting teenage hormones, sweat, and hair. Lots and lots of hair…in my face…because I’m directly at hair height, or underarm height…BODY ODOR GALORE. Ahhh, fun times. People just letting loose and letting go of themselves into the music.

My first and most likely only live concert was not all bad. The music was fun, and it was a great escape from high school, parents, and old Asian rules, but a good balance, as it didn’t offer any substances. The MC however, made my legs numb by the end of night, with all the jumping and whatnot. The music wasn’t terrible, but for my experience, it was a lot of fun and I liked most of the music the DJ played. It was a huge sea of human bodies mixing and moving, losing themselves in the music. Especially when towards the end, we went back to “classics” like good old, “Party In the USA.” Which of course, made people go crazy. Club DM was a lot of fun, but I was dead tired the next day, and I had lost my voice almost completely. It was a great college experience, and way to “shed” our old high school selves and just live in the moment.

Pray for Panic! A Deep Dive into Urie’s Mind

“Panic! At the Disco,” has been a very thought provoking band since their inception in 2004. Since then, they have gathered a cult following of young females who obsess over the band’s frontrunner, Brendon Urie. In the beginning, there was also Ryan Ross (guitar), Spencer Smith (drums), and Brent Wilson (bassist). Slowly, for various reasons, they began to quit the band one by one. In 2015, Urie became the only official member. However, Brendon has been able to keep the band’s name alive and fresh, with new songs, and the hidden storyline of certain songs, especially as he pours his whole self into the music, and almost each track in his 2018 album. Urie gives us a peek into the mind of a musician dealing with serious issues.

Panic! At the Disco was hailed as one of the emo pop greats of the 2000s. Throughout the times, their music has ranged from various genres, such as electronica, rock, dance, punk, and indie/emo pop. With Urie being the last surviving member, the band and its sound rests on his shoulders. And boy, does he deliver! The newest album, “Pray for the Wicked,” keeps with the Panic! creedo of a mix of different musical styles, in a way that somehow always works and still delivers a message.

Image result for panic at the disco pray for the wicked

The first song in the album, Pray for the Wicked, starts off with a bang, almost literally. The track is called, “(Fuck a) Silver Lining” and has a catchy, fast-paced, upbeat tune, and relatively simple lyrics. However, it fits into this album’s deeper meaning of Urie’s issues with the superstardom lifestyle. The album begins with this notion that nothing is ever enough, and that people should reach past the silver lining, and could be interpreted as Urie’s never ending thirst for satisfaction. The lyrics “It’s just cherries, cherries. Everything is cherries on top” refers to how in stardom, anything and everything you do adds to your fame, whether it be bad or good.

The second song in the album is “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” is wildly considered to be the prequel to a trilogy of a hidden storyline throughout Panic!’s inception. “Say Amen” is said to explain the mythology of the story. An extremely catchy song, with a music video to match, it is easily the favorite out of the whole album, also inserting the title of the album in the lyrics, “I pray for the wicked on the weekend“. The lyrics tell Brendon’s story of being bored with the people he hangs around with, and he has been waiting for someone to come and take him away, but no one came, and that everyone around him has changed. That relates to how as he grew, people changed their personalities and he wishes he could just disappear with true friends, until he finally says he “can’t change into a person I don’t wanna be.” The, “mama say another amen,” harkens back to his childhood hero, and his time as a Mormon. The story plot itself envisions a young successful man waiting for his date and then under attack by armed men, to fend them all off, only to succumb to betrayal by his date, and in the last scene we see her take a certain key- also discussed as a news report in the video-and then you hear the sound of a heartbeat, that lead many fans to believe it then goes into “This is Gospel,” where the heartbeats are heard in the beginning of the story. Fans believe “The Emperor’s New Clothes” is the last in the trilogy, at least for now. And we fans can’t wait for the next installment. To check out the story line so far, watch the playlist below:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn2UCOlAVUq1mrL3kt_o8t8eTwWh5eZZ9

Following “Say Amen,” “Hey Look Ma, I made it” also features Urie mentioning his mother in his music. Either done consciously as a thank you note to his mother, or a stylistic choice, most of the music on this album has references to his mother. This song’s music video was trippy, with the use of a puppet to depict Brendon’s rise and fall in the industry. This is a very emotional track, as we literally hear and see his tumultuous journey. He discusses how he was used by his label to create sellable songs, fake and true friends, and he again references his history as a Mormon, with “/In the garden of evil/I’m gonna be the greatest/In a golden cathedral/I’ll be praying for the faithless/And if you lose, boo hoo.” The video itself shows the puppet slowly diving into drugs, partying, sex, and alcohol, visibly looking more beaten up and unwell, and the angry side of him while he was drunk and high, where he fights the paparazzi, who make it into a story. In the end, he gathers himself and rises once more, but in the end he still was tossed aside in a pile of puppets, supposedly by the label or society. This track was a real look into his life, mental health, and the music industry, and still managed to have a happy upbeat and catchy tune.

This next song turns the tune right around, being more hopeful and looking ahead. It’s titled “High Hopes” and follows how he keeps shooting for the stars, and how even in his darkest days, he kept looking forward. This track, more than the others, is a love letter to his mother, as she is mentioned helping to raise him up, and tell him to keep going and hold his head high and “Burn your biographies/Rewrite your history.” It is a fitting follow-up to the heavy, “Hey Look Ma, I made it.” It also helps that Urie’s vocals really shine through and is a great song to hype you up before a big exam or presentation or almost any huge event.

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“Roaring 20s” starts to turn back into Urie’s dark days, as it literally discusses his twenties, and the drugs he took during those times. This song especially calls out the industry, with lyrics such as, “Broadway is black like a sinkhole//Strange situations, I get anxious/Maybe I’ll smile a bit, maybe the opposite/But pray that they don’t call me thankless//Oscars and Emmy’s and Grammy’s/Everyone here is a trophy.” He denounces Broadway and Award Shows, and how he has to act around fans, even though he feels uncomfortable, but still wants them to like him. The song itself is reminiscent of “Death of A Bachelor,” in the sense of Brendon’s unique talent of creating era-stylized music and really captures the spirit of the 1920s.

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Moving on, the next song, “Dancing’s Not a Crime,” is a bit of a departure from the album, as it is a very dancy tune. However, some theorize it was meant for his wife, Sarah Orzechowski. That is due to the suggestive lyrics of ,”Dancing, dancing, dancing’s not a crime/Unless you do it without me,” essentially saying that if this person dances without him, they are committing a crime. Following this song is “One of the Drunks” which delves back into the world of alcohol and is more serious and on a lower note, both musically and emotionally, and mentions religion as he references the Holy Spirit. From there, “The Overpass,” “King of the Clouds,” and “Old Fashioned,” all discuss the escape he craves, induced by either sex, drugs, or drinking, in that order. They also all showcase different aspects of his vocal range, with a vast range going from high to low, then somewhat of a fast paced lyrical rap, and then a more modern, synth based beat.

Finally, the last song is a love letter to LA, a ballad for his dear town. It discusses how he felt when he was in LA and how there are “stars are on the ground” literally talking about the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also mentions the power of LA and how you can feel the riches around you, and how everyone there is also a dreamer like himself. This song was a good end to this rollercoaster of an album, with him spilling his soul out into a single album. As a fan of Panic!, I absolutely love this album and feel honored he chose to share his story. I hope he keeps creating great music in the name of Panic! At the Disco.

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