Category Archives: Music/Concerts

Music/Concerts

Songs meanings of ‘0.1 flaws and all.’ album by wave to earth

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By: Christine Yang

Wave to earth is a three-member band, Daniel Kim (singer-songwriter), Dong Kyu Shin (drummer), and John Cha (bassist) based in Seoul, South Korea. They want their band’s aspiration to “become the new wave” and expand their universe across the world. The band’s songs consist of indie pop with a lo-fi sound rooted in jazz drumming. The album ‘0.1 flaws and all.’ was released on April 20, 2023, with 14 songs (12 lyrical songs and 2 instrumental) on the album.

Lyrical Songs:

“bad”:

The song “bad” is about being with someone you love, and how the days will never be bad when you see/be with them. Which basically means their presence lightens your day or mood, and how in love you are towards them. 

“sunny days”:

“sunny days” is an expression of appreciating the joy and warmth that love can bring into someone’s life.

“peach eyes”:

“peach eyes” is an expression of the sweet bond between two people, showing how love brings light, comfort, and motivation. The song also symbolizes the partner’s “peach-colored eyes”, which are also the representations of beauty and warmth of the person/love.

“evening glow”:

The song “evening glow” is about a person’s flaws and how they feel “broken” or “unloveable”, and trying to find healing and acceptance while struggling.

“pink”:

“pink” is a poetic way of exploring the short lasting nature of life and love. Also, seeing the person you love in nature sceneries.

“calla”:

“calla” is about spending time with someone you love no matter the conditions, and hoping it’s not just you daydreaming about it. It’s also about how strong love and hope are, and staying strong while facing difficulties/misfortune.

“love.”:

The song “love.” is about the human connection, emphasizing the individual desires that are wanted to be brought into relationships, friendship, community, etc.

But Daniel Kim’s definition of the song “love.” is about his band members, expressing the emotions that the whole band felt during times they spent together. But also memorializing the growth that each individual member went through, and how far they came in life.

“homesick”:

“homesick” is about the feeling of an unfamiliar place and wanting to be at home due to the familiar comfort.

“dried flower”:

The song “dried flower” is about the person you used to love that doesn’t hold a special place or meaning to you anymore, and how you don’t want to get back with them because it won’t be the same.

“sunburn”:

“sunburn” is about dealing with “pain” (struggles), no matter if you try to get “rid” of them the pain won’t go away, and trying to seek freedom from it.

“nouvelle vague”:

“nouvelle vague” talks about the struggle of growth, and wanting to stay/memorize the past instead of moving forward in life. This is due to the desire of not wanting to move forward in life is because of unfamiliarities or just fearing you’ll lose yourself as you go further.

“so real”:

“so real” is about emotional imprisonment and deep isolation, while yearning for freedom, understandment, and connections. Also, having to know the challenges that will be faced in achieving those goals. 

Instrumentals:

“pink horizon”

“akira”

Local, Music/Concerts

Local bands: Rock Melon

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By: Persephone Pond

Rock Melon is a local band based in Highland Park, Saint Paul. This surf-pop-indie band consists of six talented students from around the Highland Park area. This article will go over a few need-to-know facts about the band before listening to their music.

Before going over the music the band has released as of late, it’s important to know the talent behind music. Here’s a quick introduction to the band.

Zack Nelson (he/him) is a senior at HPSH and the founder of the band. He plays both the guitar and bass. Elzie Bieganek (she/her) is one of the two talented vocalists of Rock Melon, currently attending SPA as a junior. Erin Moore (she/her) is a junior at HPSH, and the second vocalist of Rock Melon. Ryan Mitchell (he/him) and Izzy Montgomery (she/her) both play guitar, and Syan Blackwood (they/them) plays the drums for the band.

Now, the music itself this small band produces showcases a wide range of talent in terms of instrumentals, vocals, and production. All music is recorded by the band, and released on all streaming platforms.

Their latest releases include three singles from their upcoming album. The three tracks are “First Love’s Name”, “Eucalyptus”, and “The Architect”. All of these songs were written by the band members, and feature riveting vocals and soothing instrumentals.

The band plays live music around the Saint Paul/Minneapolis area, so keep an eye out for their next gig. Small venues around the metro area often support other small local bands as well. Attending live concerts is an easy, low commitment way to support these young artists.

To support this growing band, give them a follow on Instagram @rockmelonband. Stream their music on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube music, and more!

Music/Concerts

Song meanings of the EP ‘Superclean, Vol.II’ by The Marías

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By: Christine Yang

The Marías is a psychedelic-soul lovechild of Puerto Rican-bred band with María Zardoya, Josh Conway, Jesse Perlman, and Edward James. The EP ‘Superclean, Vol II’ was released on September 28, 2018, with six songs on it. The EP is a blend between alternative and indie (Latin indie).

“Ruthless”:

“Ruthless” can be about someone who’s in love with somebody that they haven’t seen in awhile, but still have affections towards them and want to have a relationship with them. 

“Cariño”:

“Cariño” can be interpreted as a song to appreciate a romantic lover, and how you find peace just being with them. Or it can be about someone you love and how you’re telling them they’re special in many different ways.

“ABQ”:

The song “ABQ” can be interpreted as about anxiety, how you feel this constant feeling that you’re never alone and crave that loneliness or time with yourself.

On a personal level, it’s about María Zardoya’s struggle with anxiety of not wanting to let anyone down, and having so much pressure to get things done (songs related) to please the audience, but also be on track with her band members too.     

“Loverboy”:

“Loverboy” is about a partner being unfaithful towards you, and how you can’t really process or accept that fact, but also can’t bear to hear a word from their mouth.

“Over the Moon”:

“Over the Moon” is an idiomatic expression that means a state of extreme happiness. It’s also viewed as a bittersweet love song about the struggles of an uncertain but passionate relationship.

“Clueless”:

“Clueless” is about a relationship that failed due to not being able to handle it anymore (due to lack of emotional awareness, miscommunication, and growing apart). Also, being confused about their words/actions, and having moments of being able to feel free, but being reminded of them.   

Overall, I would give ‘Superclean, Vol II’ a 10/10.

Music/Concerts

Top 5 Burger King songs

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By: Ian Larson

Burger King has made many songs over the years, but not all of them can be the best. This will be the top 5 Burger King songs from least good to most good in my opinion.

The least good song on this list is “BK’s Fiery Menu”. This song is advertising Burger King’s fiery menu. What I love about this song is that it puts a unique spin on the usual Burger King ad. The music in the background is changed with things like horns. Other than that, the whole song has good rhymes and is a fantastic way to advertise their fiery menu.

The next song on the list is “Double ‘Em Up”. This song is supposed to show off Burger King’s deal of 2 meals for $5.99 each. The good thing about this song is that it’s very simple and catchy. This is a classic Burger King song that shows off every part of the 2 meal deal.

The third best song is “Share, or Don’t”. Similar to the last song this is advertising a different deal for a Whopper Jr. duo for 5 dollars. It points out that you can share with a friend or eat it yourself without telling them. This is said in a funny and unexpected way by them whispering “They’ll never know”. This is a great way to advertise this new deal.

Now, the song that’s not quite the best, but so close is “Eat Like a King”. This song is showing how cheap a meal at Burger King is. What I like about it is that it has the same classic feeling of a Burger King song but the way it stops to say “Wait that can’t be right” actually works to not ruin the song and fits in quite well.

The best Burger King song is “Whopper Whopper”. This is the most well known Burger King song, which is just meant to advertise the Whopper. What makes this song better than the rest is that they aren’t trying to make it fit in with all the other ads because it’s the first ad of this style. The background and vocals are actually made to go together instead of trying to fit new vocals with the background. This makes everything in the song flow super well while still showing off the product that they’re trying to sell.

Music/Concerts

Review and meaning of ‘CHROMAKOPIA’ album by Tyler, The Creator

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By: Christine Yang

Tyler, The Creator is a rapper and producer distinguished above all other singular qualities by his gravelly voice and an irascible disposition befitting a collision-shop owner. Recently Tyler, The Creator released an album on October 28, 2024, called ‘CHROMAKOPIA’ with 14 songs on it. The album is a blend of hip-hop, rap, soul, and R&B.  

“St. Chroma” (feat. Daniel Caesar) :

“St. Chroma” is about a captivating narrative of Tyler’s personal growth of where he’s at right now, while also revealing a vulnerable side that seeks validation and connection.

This first track has a march sound at the beginning, soon after the opening, Tyler’s voice seems to emerge from the shadows. Later on in the track there’s a transition into the bridge which introduces a completely new dimension with soaring gospel-inspired vocals, contrasting beautifully with the earlier, more ominous tone. Overall, I give this track a 8.5/10. 

“Rah Tah Tah” :

“Rah Tah Tah” is centered around themes of self-confidence and personal boundaries. But it also emphasizes Tyler’s assertiveness in handling conflicts, wanting privacy from the media, and for people in his life to meet certain standards. This track describes Tyler as a figure who is unapologetically himself, navigating fame with confidence and caution while remaining distinct in his approach to life and relationships.

This track has a burst of chaotic energy and showcases Tyler’s signature style of distorted, and aggressive beats. Tlyer’s flow throughout the track is fast and humorous, which gives this up-beating feel to it. I rate this track a 10/10.

“Noid” :

The track “Noid” is about Tyler’s anxieties about home invasions, being hyper aware of people around him, and having a constant feeling of being watched by the media/people in general. Basically, the track is about Tyler being scared for his privacy knowing he’s a well-known music artist, but wishing that wasn’t a problem to people like him (celebrities).

This track has an electrifying and echoing feel, which gives the effect of voices of the anxieties in Tyler’s head. There’s also drums almost throughout the track to make it more up-beat sounding. At the end of the track it slowly gets aggressive sounding (music). I rate this track a 7.5/10.

“Darling, I” (feat. Teezo Touchdown) :

“Darling, I” is about the complexities of love, commitment, and personal freedom. This track touches on themes of aging and self-awareness, with Tyler acknowledging his imperfections and fighting with the idea that the person he loved will never be enough to fulfill all of his needs or expectations in life.

The track includes smooth vocal effects and has a romantic vibe. Even though having a “happy” beat, the lyrics tell the meaning/story that Tyler wants to get across but they’re really repetitive. I give this track a 7.5/10.

“Hey Jane”:

The track “Hey Jane” is about the emotional and psychological challenges of an unexpected pregnancy, between two perspectives (both partners—Tyler and Jane—). “Hey Jane” is an expressive narrative about the weight of choices, the fears of losing freedom, and the struggle to support one another through a big centered moment. 

“Hey Jane” has a slow tempo and minimalistic beats, which creates an intimate space for the dialogue between two characters. This track’s music isn’t “crazy”/overdone which I really like since I can really focus on the lyrics, and not be so overwhelmed. Overall, I rate this track a 10/10.

“I Killed You” :

“I Killed You” is about the deeper struggles of identity, societal pressures, and self-worth within the Black community. This track reflects Tyler’s personal struggles with following beauty standards while also paying tribute to the resilience of Black culture. Through the metaphors and introspective lyrics, the track talks about the broader conversation about Black beauty, heritage, and empowerment.

At the beginning, and close to the end of the track, it has this acoustic guitar feel, and also in the beginning while the acoustic guitar was playing it later transitions into drums. The track has an upbeat but also calming feel to it. I give this track a 9.5/10.

“Judge Judy” :

“Judge Judy” is about living to your fullest and being our truest selves knowing we don’t live forever, and not to judge others’ decisions especially not knowing their personal problems or reasons they did what they did. But on a personal level, it’s about a person that Tyler personally met, named Judy. They became really close since they were being really transparent, and about a year later Judy unfortunately died before Tyler received a letter/message that she wrote for him. The letter/message was about thanking Tyler for everything, and hoping Tyler lives his life without regrets.

In the track, Tyler’s soft vocals guide us through a narrative that feels intimate and personal, inviting us to connect with his experiences and emotions. The track is really catchy, kind of repetitive, and sort of “dreamy”. I will give it a 8.5/10.

“Sticky” (feat. GloRILLA, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne) :

“Sticky” is a way for Tyler to express his unfiltered thoughts on societal expectations, personal achievements, and sexual freedom. This track underscores the importance of owning one’s identity and navigating life with unapologetic confidence.

This track has this catchy whistle, has a dynamic fusion of styles between rap and experimental sounds (also styles to match the featured artists). The track gives off a cheer and band vibe, with the stomps and chanting. I rate this a 10/10.

“Take Your Mask Off” (feat. Daniel Caesar & LaToiya Williams) :

The track is to address themes of identity, authenticity, and the societal pressures that compel individuals to hide our true selves, but still telling to embrace yourself regardless of those negative pressures. 

“Take Your Mask Off” is gentle but harsh (in a good way), the lyrics and beats/music has this flowy sense. Which allows this strong message (lyrics) to get across the track, and easily be understood. I will give this track a 10/10.   

“Tomorrow” :

“Tomorrow” is the struggle of navigating the tension between Tyler’s personal desires and the societal pressures to start a family and conform to traditional expectations. The track is a deeply introspective exploration of aging, responsibility, and fear of the future.

At the beginning it has an acoustic guitar entrance to the first verse, which is soft and quiet. But throughout the track it still has the acoustic guitar and not “crazy” beats. I give this a 9/10.  

“Thought I Was Dead” (feat. ScHoolboy Q & Santigold) :

The track is about Tyler expressing his desire for privacy, disappointed with those who misunderstood or exploited his persona, and his determination to remain true to himself while being in the middle of the public, also knowing the public is critical with others’ actions. “Thought I Was Dead” is the reflection of Tyler’s journey as an artist but also as a person.

The track has a marching band rhythm, energetic entrance which is an entrance for Tyler’s sharp and tense rap. I rate it a 10/10. 

“Like Him” (feat. Lola Young) :

“Like Him” is about Tyler looking like his father that was absent in his life (not knowing himself), but thinking his father didn’t want to be in his life even though Tyler’s mother just cut his father out due to issues that his father had. The track is basically a message about his struggle of not having a father figure in his life, and also hating that he resembles his father too.

The track gives a kind of retro feel at the middle of the track, but Tyler’s vocals are really soft. At the end, it’s powerful (voice and music) to capitalize his message for his mother. I give it a 10/10. 

“Balloon” (feat. Doechii) :

The track is about the exploration of self-identity, independence, and the complexities of personal relationships. Ultimately, “Balloon” serves as an anthem of empowerment, encouraging listeners to embrace their true selves without hesitation due to society.

“Balloon” has this circus sound to it, and has an aggressive sound close to the end. But throughout the track is smooth (sound wise), even though the track is smooth there are parts in the track that are “loud”, which adds dynamic. I will rate this track a 7/10.

“I Hope You Find Your Way Home” :

This track is about the journey/exploration toward self-discovery and belonging, the track serves as both a reflection on Tyler’s personal evolution and a heartfelt message to others (listeners) navigating their paths.

“I Hope You Find Your Way Home” gives off early 2000s music (at the end) or a “choir” sound (mostly at the beginning). The track involves sounds like growls and barks. I give this track 7.8/10.

Overall, I give this album a 9/10. I really recommend this album or just Tyler, The Creator in general if you really enjoy listening to Childish Gambino, Steve Lacy, Frank Ocean, and Kendrick Lamar.

Music/Concerts

‘Internet Hometown Hero’ music review

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By: Persephone Pond

‘Internet Hometown Hero’ is an EP (extended play) written and produced by a small indie-pop artist MICO. Released on October 25th, the album includes 8 tracks, 3 of which were singles that were released on earlier dates. This article will tell you what you need to know about this album and artist.

MICO is an indie artist based in Toronto, Canada. He started making music early in his life, but blew up after releasing his debut single, “Who Do You Love” in the summer of 2019. He released his debut EP, ‘21st Century Heartbreak’ in 2020, and has released 4 EPs since, including ‘Internet Hometown Hero’.

With around 1.8 million streams since its release, ‘Internet Hometown Hero’ is MICO’s most successful EP yet. The tracks (in order) are: “TV”, “The one to fall”, “Idontwannaknowyou!”, “glhf<3”, “HOMESICK”, “Senses”, “Tears in your eyes”, and “What you’re not”.

3 tracks were released as singles before the full EP release. “glhf<3”, “HOMESICK”, and “Senses” were released in the order listed, having their releases staggered through September and early October to gain traction for the full EP . “Senses” is currently the top streamed song from the EP.

Though MICO tends to write songs about his own heartbreak, this EP is slightly different. The songs reflect on unrequited love from both perspectives in a relationship, giving a deep understanding of how empathy is important and how to look at a situation through someone else’s eyes. This message is consistent though many of the tracks.

Personally, I can’t pick my favorite track from the EP. Every song is a perfect mix of slow, emotional lyricism and faster, upbeat components. No matter what pace of music you’re looking for, this EP has it.

Overall, this EP showcases MICO’s incredible songwriting talent, singing range, and emotional power. I would highly recommend giving MICO a listen on any streaming platform.

Music/Concerts

“Thick of it” by KSI

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By: Samson Belihu

KSI, a famous British rapper, released a song called “Thick of It” in early October 2024 connecting it to his life. It got a lot of attention for its catchy rhythm and people created their own videos with the song acting out how the song goes especially the part that goes “From the screen, to the ring, to the pen, to the king…”.

Let’s break down how that line probably connects to KSI’s life.

“From the screen”: Likely referring to when he started out as a YouTuber and he gained much fame through his video.

“To the ring”: Here, KSI is talking about his venture into boxing, where he participated in high-profile matches, including going against his fellow YouTubers and celebrities.

“To the pen”: This part is when he’s talking about how he wanted to be a musician, and that’s exactly what he became. He wrote songs that he personally was able to express himself through his lyrics.

“To the King”: This symbolizes how he has succeeded in many fields as a “king” of the industry.

The song “Thick of It” is a hit, but not for the reason he wanted it to be. A lot of people find it as a funny song, and social media has transformed it to how they felt, from a life story, to a catchy humorous song.

Many people have added their own twist to their songs. This includes a 1950’s version, 90’s Rap song version, Rock song, pop version, Kanye West version, and many more doing whatever they can to add their own pizzazz into the song.

In my opinion, I find the original song very catchy, and also a bit humorous only because of the way social media has shaped the song. KSI is very talented when it comes to many things, but when you publish songs on social media you have almost no control over how it’ll transform into an amazing song or just like this song, pretty catchy with the twist of it being funny.

Music/Concerts, Travel/Food

The 5 worst Burger King ad songs

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By: Ian Larson

Burger King has made many songs for their ads that have been quite successful in making BK Popular. A surprising amount of people actually enjoy these songs even though they are ads. At the end of the day, some BK songs are just not as good as the others and I will be listing them in order of what I think is least bad to most bad.

This first song is called “Lunch Linner Dinner”. This song is meant to advertise the “Duo”. The thing where they say lunch linner dinner just didn’t really make a lot of sense and wasn’t very funny so I’m not really sure why they felt it was necessary. Other than that the song flows pretty well.

The next song is “Bring on the Flavor”. This song is advertising the “Royal Crispy Wraps”. The main thing that is wrong with this song is that they added too many syllables to one of the lines and it just made it seem really off and out of place.

Next is “You Rule”. This is the first BK song and just advertises BK in general. The only problem with this song is that it just doesn’t really seem right for Burger King. Making it be a rap song in my opinion doesn’t really make sense with how the company presents itself.

Second to last on the list is “Flame Grilled Layers”. This song is meant to advertise the “Burger King Melts”. My big problem with this song is that the singing somehow sounds AI generated. The singing also doesn’t match up quite right with the music in the background.

The worst BK song is “The New Fiery Menu Only at Burger King”. This song is meant to advertise the “Fiery Menu” at Burger King that has spicy foods, but the problem with the ad is the singers. It just seems like they got some random people who don’t know how to sing or make good lyrics.

Music/Concerts

‘The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We’ album by Mitski – Background information

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By: Christine Yang

Information about the album:

The album ‘The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We’ was made by the artist Mitski. The album was released on September 15, 2023, which was her comeback and recent album after releasing an album called ‘Laurel Hell’ in 2022. ‘The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We’ has eleven songs in the album. One of the songs in the album was one of the biggest hits after the release, and the song was “My Love Mine All Mine” with 560 million Spotify streams.

Songs:

“Bug Like an Angel”:

The process of the track, “Bug Like an Angel” has mainly four chords throughout it (chords: d flat major, a flat major, e flat major, b flat major) because the song is about addiction, and Mitski wanted to show it in a musical way that addiction is basically a cycle that you’re just kind of stuck in, it being repetitive over and over which doesn’t end, so the intention behind having the same chords repeating hopefully leads the listener to think what it’s about. Mitski also wanted a little twist/change by having the vocals in the middle of what we think is the chord progression; she wanted that twist to give a feeling of being off balance because the song is about addiction which isn’t a balanced state.

She started creating the song by having a descriptions so it’s easy to paint a picture in the listener’s head; she wanted the picture of someone drinking something out of a glass and which there’s stuff left. While they are drinking out of it, they realized there’s a bug stuck at the bottom of the glass, and because it’s stuck it looks like there’s an angel in the sky. She chose the angel reference so it can set the tone since later on in the song she says something about God and devils, which is supposed to give the listener the option to take two main meanings (positive or negative, pessimistic or optimistic) away depending on what they want out of the song.

After the the description Mitski wanted the protagonist to say something about themselves as an introduction, later on in the song there’s a choir part coming out of nowhere to be the first big emotional moment saying the word “family” with a whole choir out of nowhere, to evoke that sort of intensity with a choir as well. Then it goes back to the corporation and then the second verse, which is a spot to bring another character in and have the protagonist, who we know, point them out saying like, “Hey what’s the matter? You’re looking like a sticker stuck on a floor somewhere”. Which basically means like the person doesn’t look like they’re having a good time, like they look sad, despondent, and that phrase basically brings back to Mitski thinking stickers were so important to her when she was a kid, and how sad it’ll be if some kid’s precious sticker was stuck on a floor and couldn’t get it off. Basically, this brings up how the protagonist faces challenges which make them suffer, and that’s where the “God and devil” reference shows up, saying “is the suffering from God or the devil”, in the third verse. And that’s how the song “Bug Like an Angel” was created.      

“Buffalo Replaced”:

“Buffalo Replaced” is a track that was supposed to give an idea of how the album, ‘The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We’, is like. The track specifically— Mitski and her producer, Patrick Highland, was really inspired by ‘The Velvet Underground’. While the inspiration was added at the beginning of the song, Patrick also added keyboard sounds at the end too, which added something beautiful at the end, in Mitski’s opinion.

“Buffalo Replaced” might be about being dependent/leeching onto someone, and having struggles without the person that you rely on. 

“Heaven”:

“Heaven” is meant to exemplify the little time someone has with the person they love, and to cherish that time and leave the issues of the world outside the room to enjoy the beautiful love they share, Mitski has stated.

“Heaven” was an old song, but the beginning of the song sounded different than how it is now, because the older version didn’t have the swing that it does currently. Mitski was fine with that version; it just didn’t feel like it stood out as much alongside the other songs she wrote that have the same rhythm, so it sat for awhile until she and Patrick tried to figure out how to make it sound on a record.

The first demo version they did actually was right after they recorded “Be The Cowboy” in Philadelphia. That demo version had more of a Patsy Cline swing to it, which is closer to what it is now. The problem was that the track didn’t really have an album that it fit into or in the ‘Laurel Hell’ album so it sat some more, but eventually made the album ‘The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We’.

Since the track was such a romantic song, they wanted to do it with a whole orchestra and a sweeping Old Hollywood sound. They found an orchestrator, Drew Erickson, who did works with popular artists. Erickson orchestrated for “Heaven”, and then Mitski’s team recorded the orchestration part.

“I Don’t Like My Mind”:

The lyrics in ‘” Don’t Like My Mind” are literal and self explanatory, which the listeners can get the grip of what the song is about. The song could be about trying to distract yourself from negative thoughts and using stuff to cope with those things; it can also mean you not wanting to be alone with your thoughts due to negativity.

The production process for the demo was made right after she and her team recorded “Be The Cowboy”, and was also recorded in Philadelphia. The track in the song ended up being easy to make because it was similar and the end result was similar to the demo they made way back then. So, her team just kept the guitar track from the demo.

“The Deal”:

The song started by misinterpreting a Maria Mitchell poem, “How Charming is Divine Philosophy”. The poem is basically about how you discover more about the world and you while going on a midnight walk by yourself. One line in the poem, “There’s a deal to be learned on a midnight walk, when you take it all alone” Mitski misread it as, “There’s a deal to be made on a midnight walk when you take it all along” and before she realized the error she made, she thought it was an interesting thought: like what kind of deal can you make on a midnight walk?

The song “The Deal” can mean wanting your life to be like someone else or your expectations of yourself, and being willing to give or do anything for your ideals.

“When Memories Snow”:

Mitski got the idea of the music for “When Memories Snow” by playing the piano and experimenting with chords inspired by a show instrument, Japanese Shō (doesn’t follow the Western traditional music rules), which can be heard at the end of the song. The song has two parts inspired by Western movie soundtracks and British invasion rock. The song also pushed Mitski out of her comfort zone because most of her songs are quiet/soft which is an easy range for her.

“When Memories Snow” could be about putting the past behind you and focusing on making new paths/memories, and how the past will always be there to either drag or lift you up.

“My Love Mine All Mine”:

“My Love Mine All Mine” is about how to love is the best thing Mitski ever did, and how beautiful it is. According to a quote from Mitski, this song is better than any song she wrote, material possession she gained, or achievement. Mitski also wishes that after she dies, that the song leaves behind this beautiful love in the world.

Mitski’s first moment of the creation of the song started when she was carrying groceries and singing “my love, my oh my”, which she used that part and recorded everything, that’s how the song “My Love Mine All Mine” started/was created.

“The Frost”:

For the song “The Frost”, the producer, Patrick, and Mitski knew that they both wanted to draw from ‘Americana’ from classic country, folk, and old time music. This made them think they needed a band that was versed in those genres much more, and they were able to successfully find one. They even got Brooke Wagoner on the piano, who also did piano on Mitski’s album ‘Laurel Hell’ from 2022. Mitski and Patrick knew that they wanted the song to be live or have an acoustic feeling to it, so they had to rehearse with the whole band for a day then recorded all the songs they did together the next day.

The song can mean being left behind or falling out with someone, and that the friendship/relationship being put behind or forgotten, also not being able to move on from that person. 

“Star”:

“Star” was also an old song, but it started when Mitski went to her friend’s house, playing her acoustic guitar and just started messing around with the track. In the beginning it sounded different from what the track is now currently, the first demos her and her producer made were trying to do a “carpenter thing”, and the demo kind of had the type of swing they looked for.

But the demo felt a bit too happy so they tried a different version that was the same chords but sort of more of like “slow core” or “red house painters thing”, which also didn’t work either and they eventually figured out what’s not working is that there were so many chords per phrase.

They switched to adding a drone just the sustained tonic in the start of the song, and that ended up sounding really good so they built off of that so it started simple with just a sustain, and they decided to keep building off of it, and they took inspiration from Scott Walker at the end of the day.

Both, Mitski and her producer, wanted to add a little subtle orchestration to keep building on it, so they had their orchestrator, Drew Erickson, compose for strings that’s just very subtle, and they also took some parts of the orchestration to support the song instead of taking the spotlight.

The song “Star”, describes two people who are no longer in love, but continues to care about each other partly in memory of the love they had.

“I’m Your Man”:

The process of making this song included Mitski writing it on an acoustic guitar. When she wrote the first half of the song she thought the song was short after listening to it so she had to figure out a way to lengthen it, but the problem was that she didn’t want to add other parts (ex. chorus, bridge, etc). Even though she didn’t want the song to change she decided to add choral voices, which required her getting a choir that sang “yo ho”, that was inspired by pirates and gave her a more masculine feeling that basically led to the intention behind the song. That process also gave the name of the song, “I’m Your Man”.

The song is coming from the perspective of a man in Mitski’s head, basically it’s like the voice of a patriarch in your head because “we” all live in and were raised in a patriarchy. The “masculine voices” in your head depends on, not depending on what gender you are, but in a way of interacting with male figures in your life, and all the messaging you’ve received from the culture and the patriarchy around you. And so the song is to give a voice to that “masculine voice” in Mitski’s head to either help her bring into peace with it or free it up a little bit. This also was inspired by the story of the Buddha and how the Buddha was disturbed while being in peace, but how the Buddha was still kind to their “enemy”.

Mitski wanted to try something similar by just letting the patriarch mind to basically say whatever or doing whatever, which is where the song came from and what the song means too. 

“I Love Me After You”:

During the process of “I Love Me After You”, Mitski made a mistake of recording herself of just playing it on an acoustic guitar and singing along. After she listened to the demo over and over, she tried to figure out how the end result track should be, but she struggled of how it should sound.

After she brought it to Patrick, Mitski just wanted the song to just be acoustic guitar and voice since she was so familiar with it which also made her like the song like that. But she knew deep down that the track had potential and how she was just getting in her way, so eventually Patrick convinced her to do the version that it is today. He wanted the song to be like you’re crawling through something slow motion. In terms of making it, they made it faster and slower to get that feeling to see how it can get to that image.

“I Love Me After You” can be about finding freedom from moving on from a failed relationship. 

Music/Concerts, News

Liam Payne tribute

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By: Priya Anderson & Ruby Anderson

Screenshot of Zayn Malik’s Instagram tribute

From an English town in West Midlands, England, and born on August 29th, 1993, Liam Payne was an English singer-songwriter, and father. Best known as a member of One Direction, Payne’s life is a testament to the power of superstardom, and the beauty of talent.

One Direction, which is one of the best selling boy bands of all time, needs no introduction. The story of how it came to be is a classic amongst Gen Z. Liam Payne was the first member to audition on ‘The X Factor’, a British talent show. He was also the first to advance through the first round, but was cut at the ‘boot camp stage’. Simon Cowell, who would manage and form 1D, brought Liam back. Liam was cut again, but Cowell saw something in him, and encouraged him to come back in ‘2 years’.

2010 was the year it all changed. After returning to their show, Liam was paired with 4 strangers: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. They gained popularity extremely fast. Placing 3rd place on the show, they were signed to Simon Cowell’a ’Syco Entertainment’. From there, history was made. From songs like, “What Makes You Beautiful”, “Live While Were Young’, “Best Song Ever”, and countless other hits, 1D was sent into the stratosphere, and never really came down.

At a very young age, Payne was touring all over the world. Anywhere from North America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe, Payne was living the superstar’s dream. But this type of fame at a young age would take a toll on anyone. Payne struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues for many years up to his untimely death. After 1D separated in 2015, Payne always maintained his hope for a reunion. The group’s success was so monumental, so intense, all the members continued to have a special relationship with one another, even after falling out.

Payne released his first hit single in 2017, “Strip That Down”, which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Payne then released a subsequent album, ‘Bedroom Floor’, and a planned second studio album was in the works for 2023-2024. Payne delved into themes like sexuality, and explored the R&B style he would be known for. Payne was also an extraordinary writer, co-writing almost 30 songs for 1D, and many other artists. Also skilled in coming up with melodies, Payne’s rich voice was perfect for capturing the right tune.

With his singing talent, Payne utilized his fame for good, and was a philanthropist for many organizations. He supported BBC’s children in need fundraising efforts, Comic Relief, UNICEF, and was an ambassador of sustainable development. During COVID, Payne helped fund over 60,000 meals in the Trussell Trust. Prior to his death, Payne donated thousands of pounds to various GoFundMe pages.

Many things could be said about Liam Payne and fame in general, but what is known is the need for people to take mental health and substance abuse seriously. On October 16th, 2024, Liam Payne died after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires. He was 31. This has raised concern about the music industry, media, and adolescent fame. Shortly after his death, fans and friends paid tribute to him. Fans gathered outside of the hotel the day he died, lighting candles and mourning the loss of the pop star. Fan memorials took place all over the world, such as in Mexico, UK cities, and NYC.

All members of 1D wrote eulogies about their friend, and posted them on social media alongside pictures with Liam. One of the most poignant quotes was from Zayn Malik, a band member who was close with Liam. Zayn stated, “I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time…”. Several other celebrities also paid tribute, including Simon Cowell. Liam’s death was a tragic accident, and a circumstance of immense fame. Not much is known about his death, and what’s best now is to appreciate his life and legacy. When 1D finally reunites, Liam’s place will always be cherished in the hearts of many.