My dear friend Jeremy once proposed a challenge wherein you compile a playlist of ten songs that would tell the person listening to them more about you. This would not be a playlist of your favorite songs (although some of them might be), but songs that you feel connected to that tell a story about you. Today, I’m going to go over my first 10-song “Know Me Better” playlist.
Tori Amos – A Sorta’ Fairytale
And I’m So Sad
Like a good book I can’t put this
Day back
A sorta’ fairytale with you
I miss having days that felt this way. Been a long time. 2020 was a rough year.
The Mountain Goats – This Year
I am gonna’ make it
Through this year
If it kills me
Wish this was something I was saying just about 2020 and not my ongoing mantra.
The National – Graceless
Through the glass again
Just come and find me
God loves everybody
Don’t remind me
Losing faith is sometimes more satisfying that finding it.
Audioslave – Be Yourself
Someone falls to pieces sleeping all alone
Another kills the pain
Someone tries to hid himself
Down inside his selfish brain
I mean, it is genuinely all that you can do. RIP, Chris Cornell.
Robbie Fulks – On a Real Good Day
On a real good day I’m the world’s best friend
You’d be mine too if you caught me just then
And though I’m not happy I can pretend
On a real good day
I feel this. This is just a description of me. Just, the absolute best, if you catch me on the right day. Proficient at pretending to be happy. If it was “1 song to know you better,” this would be it.
The Uncluded – Teleprompters
You need to get out more
Never I am nailed to the wall
I am snail under pressure
You need to get out more
Ok
It makes me sad that Kimya Dawsom and Aesop Rock had such a falling out, because The Uncluded is legitimately some of the best work either of them did.
Rebecca Sugar – Love Like You
I always thought I might be bad
Now I’m sure that it’s true, ’cause
I think you’re so good
And I’m nothing like you
Look at you go
I just adore you!
I wish that I knew
What makes you think I’m so special
More mopey depression stuff, because that’s how I do.
Aesop Rock – Rings
Used to draw
Hard to admit that I used to draw
…
Used to paint
Hard to admin that I used to paint
Feeling ability atrophy is one of the worst possible feelings.
Mathematical Pony – Time Adventure
If there was some amazing force outside of time
To take us back to where we were
And hang each moment up like pictures on a wall
Inside a billion tiny frames so that we can see them all
All all… it would look like
Will happen – Happening – Happened
“Time is an illusion that helps things make sense” is such a strong opening that expresses something that, to me, is very recognizable.
Billie Eilish – come out and play
Wake up and smell the coffee
Is your cup half full or empty?
Leaving on a hopeful note. Very different from the Offspring song of the same name, come out and play