Mixtape

(Alternatively titled: Playlist, Part II)

I wasn't quite sure where to go with this post today. Honestly, the past couple of weeks have been so overwhelming that I hadn't put much thought into blogging until yesterday. Still, I wanted to try to give you all something, so I decided that another look into that playlist I mentioned a few posts ago. You know, the one filled with songs that remind me of my time at Belhaven, aptly titled "#collegelife" (complete with unnecessary hashtag because why not?)

Most of these just remind me of certain times that I've had, so I can't quite hope that you'll relate to them in the same way. Still, I hope that you enjoy the songs for what they are. Who knows, perhaps you'll be able to have your own good times with these songs, or maybe you already have!

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Hey Brother - Avicii

I had only a vague awareness that this song was popular when I first heard it, which was not on the radio, believe it or not. One Sunday morning on the way to church, Erica had had one of Kerry's mix CDs playing, and this song came on... and the rest is history. This song is always playing in my head lately, even if there are other songs in the forefront. It's a simple song with a great message that should be adhered to more often: people should reach out to each other in times of need. We need to show that people are capable of helping and loving each other without hesitation, especially in an society like ours – where we are encouraged to be independent and try merely to focus on bettering ourselves.

There's a Bible verse that comes to mind in talking about this that is one of the most, if not the most, basic rule of Christianity besides the Ten Commandments: "And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27, ESV). We should have more faith, trust, and love for our brothers and sisters in Christ because they are the people we are to come together with in worship of our Lord. We can't exactly come together if we let petty issues get in the way of the reason we're coming together in the first place, can we? If we strengthen our bonds with our neighbors, we are given the ability to strengthen our bond with God.

I'm sure there are entire sermons dedicated to this topic, but I am nowhere near qualified nor knowledgeable enough to give one... So in short, love each other and lend a helping hand every once in a while, yeah?

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Counting Stars - OneRepublic

This is another song that I found out was quite popular after I heard it on one of Kerry's mix tapes. (Seriously, if you guys want good mix tapes, you may as well go to Kerry.) This song has a lot in common with "Hey Brother" in that it's super-catchy and has a good message. The lead singer explained this song's meaning a while back, mentioning that it is about his and his wife's fiscal struggles when they were first married. He had once told her that one day, he wouldn't have to worry about counting dollars anymore because once his music took off, they would be only counting stars.

Hearing a modern pop song give such a positive message in an industry filled with songs about sex, wasting money, drugs, and other mindless topics is refreshing. The song speaks of having all these possibilities of what the speaker wishes he could do instead of doing the things that society expects him to do and feeling unsettled. He also says in the bridge that money easily used, or "burned" is merely ephemeral, and the lessons learned after using all of the money that today's people are so dependent on are more important. 

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Your Bones - Of Monsters and Men

Michael played this song on one of many long nights we've spent in the creative writers' lounge here at Belhaven. It's been a while since I listened to this band since I haven't opened my iTunes in so long, but listening to it again tonight... I feel a solemnness deep in my heart. I get two really diverse meanings out of it. One one hand, it could be a Native American tribe dealing with the hardships of the coming spring and paying respects to their fallen comrades (which would explain the beats and drum progressions of the song). On the other hand, it could be a Viking funeral, setting a burning boat to sea with the body on it to drift and burn until it sinks. I'm really not sure.

Either way, this couple of lines stick in me: "Said goodbye to you, my friend, as the fire spread / All that's left are your bones that will soon sink like stones." While quite depressing, illustrating the idea of death being so permanent that people eventually forget you is something that not many people are willing to touch on. It's not exactly true in terms of the eternal life we're given by following God, but still. Good on you, OMaM.

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Now that I've given some spotlights to a few of my favorite songs right now, I want to share two things.

First, a list of songs that I listened to in my media messages class that you guys should definitely check out:

• Dark Blue - Jack's Mannequin
• C-Minor - Mewithoutyou
• Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons
• Known and Loved - Joel Ansett
• Neon Bible - Arcade Fire

Second... I WAS FEATURED IN A MOVIE!

Not a legitimate, multi-million-dollar budget film, but a short film for a film festival hosted by the guys' dorms. My friend Emily – a multi-talented, super-smart fellow English major with a major in creative writing as well – made a film that I'd love to share with you all! It's called Name Tag, and I hope on behalf of all of us that you viewers enjoy. It has a stellar soundtrack, if I do say so myself, so I recommend all of these songs (found in the credits) to you. Until next time...

- Sara