Renewal
Here we are, Kittens. A brand new decade!
I try to not stress about resolutions because a fresh start is when and what you make of it. However, it is nice to feel motivated to embrace change and to feel a sense of renewal. Here are some of my favorite songs that do just that.
click through to the playlist!
I started the playlist off with “Little Acorns” by the White Stripes because the spoken intro is a story about a woman who learned to tackle her problems in small pieces the way a squirrel carries acorns one at a time. The song then breaks into an aggressive guitar riff with Meg’s powerful hit of her drums and Jack telling us to “be like the squirrel, girl.” It gives me the feeling that I can truly handle anything, no matter how difficult. We switch gears to one of my favorite songs of 2019, “A Lot is Gonna Change” by Weyes Blood, a beautiful and emotional song about growing older and more weary of the world around us but still trying to move forward.
Up next is Solange’s “Don’t Wish Me Well”. With change can come criticism, which is what Solange speaks about on this track. “They say I changed, but a pity if I stayed the same” is a great line from this song that I often think about. We go a bit more upbeat with the following song, “I Wanna Get Better” by Bleachers. This song is the equivalent of finally seeing the light in a dark tunnel. It’s exciting, this realization of actually wanting to be positive and hopeful for the world. Screaming along to the chorus “I wanna get better!” is great therapy, by the way.
“A Better Son/Daughter” by Rilo Kiley is one of my most personal choices for this playlist. It was the first song I ever heard in a small record store when I was 12, and the lyrics have been there for me in so many ways ever since. It’s like a beautiful message that I always try to revisit. The beginning of the song depicts honest imagery of depression and dark times, and the song ends with how you’ll be able to get past it. I never not end up in tears by the end. “Your ship may be coming in, you’re weak but not giving in.” Something to always remember.
Next is Tame Impala’s “It Might Be Time”, a song about the constant overthinking battle of missing your old self. I suffer from nostalgia overload and longing for the way things used to be, but it might be time to face it, like Kevin Parker sings, and just embrace who you are in this moment, even if you are “behind” in life or not where you envision yourself being. Following it is “Look At Me Now” by Caroline Polachek, a song about how we can’t predict where we’ll be in years to come, and how it often isn’t what you may have pictured for yourself. My favorite line? “Will you be a shipwreck or a star, falling for a boy who doesn’t play guitar?” Message incredibly well received, Caroline.
“Keep Running” by Tei Shi is a song about not wasting anymore time and just making that leap, in her case, a relationship, but can be interpreted in other ways. “Don’t Miss It” by James Blake is actually kind of a dark song but there is something uplifting that occurs at the end. In a similar way like “A Better Son/Daughter”, he mentions how painful depression can be and how easy it is we can remove ourselves from life, however you may do so. It can be in isolation, it can be the avoiding of “coming to life”, like James puts it. But then... you’d miss it. Don’t miss it.
I wrapped things up with fun and disco-y “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa.
Ditch the bad energy, whatever it may be for you, put yourself first, and dance along to this jam as a reminder.
That’s all for January’s #meowlist, Kittens! Have a great, positive and happy start to your new year!