And I’d love a rec for your favorite song – this week or year or decade.
I’ve been putting together these birthday playlists for a few years now and a lot of my favorite songs and artists have come from them because wow you all have good taste in music. I listen to them constantly when I travel in the winter, and it’s a really nice, comforting thing when I’m far from home to know every song on there is important to someone.
And as ever thank you all so much. It’s been a weird busy year and I am so thankful for the kind words and support from all of you, whether it’s about art and other creative projects or my boat life or ‘help what do i buy new parents’. I love you all! so much! Thank you!
Literally anything by Vienna Teng, but also especially Landsailor and Level Up. Also Pencil Sketch which has never been released on an Album
Also anything by Emma Blackery, but also especially Agenda
genres are OUTDATED. i sort my music by thottiness, jammability, rebelliousness, theatricality, and depression.
the emo trinity’s average song stats
mcr
fob
patd
as you can see, no one really touches patd for thottiness, but mcr is the only viable choice for an apocalypse anthem. fob is the most well-rounded of the three, but given that they have neither depression, thottiness, nor rebelliousness above an 8 they can occasionally fall shallow philosophically speaking.
‘but where is gayness on this chart?’ you ask, like a moron. rebellion, theatre, thothood, jamming, and depression are the five component parts of every gay worth their salt. next question.
There’s a song that’s been proven
to reduce anxiety by 65%. It’s called
Weightless by Macaroni Union, and it
was specifically designed to slow your
heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and
lower cortisol levels. It’s so effective
that it’s dangerous to drive while
listening to it because it
can make you drowsy. SourceSource 2Source 3
Sound therapists and Manchester band Marconi Union compiled the song. Scientists played it to 40 women and found it to be more effective at helping them relax than songs by Enya, Mozart and Coldplay.
Weightless works by using specific rhythms, tones, frequencies and intervals to relax the listener. A continuous rhythm of 60 BPM causes the brainwaves and heart rate to synchronise with the rhythm: a process known as ‘entrainment’. Low underlying bass tones relax the listener and a low whooshing sound with a trance-like quality takes the listener into an even deeper state of calm.
Dr David Lewis, one of the UK’s leading stress specialists said: “‘Weightless’ induced the greatest relaxation – higher than any of the other music tested. Brain imaging studies have shown that music works at a very deep level within the brain, stimulating not only those regions responsible for processing sound but also ones associated with emotions.”
The study – commissioned by bubble bath and shower gel firm Radox Spa – found the song was even more relaxing than a massage, walk or cup of tea. So relaxing is the tune, apparently, that people are being Rex advised against listening to it while driving.
The top 10 most relaxing tunes were: 1. Marconi Union – Weightless 2. Airstream – Electra 3. DJ Shah – Mellomaniac (Chill Out Mix) 4. Enya – Watermark 5. Coldplay – Strawberry Swing 6. Barcelona – Please Don’t Go 7. All Saints – Pure Shores 8. AdelevSomeone Like You 9. Mozart – Canzonetta Sull’aria 10. Cafe Del Mar – We Can Fly
One of the comments suggests pairing it with Rainymood.
When I was literally unable to sleep at all, my senior at work gave me this song to listen to!
My wife uses this song when she’s having near-meltdown levels of anxiety right before bed and it helps her relax and shed some of that stress enough for her to attempt to lie down and sleep.
No but really. There’s actually a whole album of “Weightless part 1″ Weightless part 2″ etc (6 in total) that basically just flows from one part to the next. The first time I played through it (with headphones, it’s best if you aren’t being distracted by other ambient sounds), it relaxed me so much I literally could not stand up for a few minutes after it finished. My legs forgot how to do the standing thing. Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3d8apQ32ZVRDPFtllVTKGR?si=QFExapVXTCaag4KGPGCD-w
Ampleforth/Lay Me Low by The Albion Band (this was written in the ‘70s, but The Albion Band, and this album in particular, is made up of a bunch of old Fairport Convention members with vocals from people like Martin Carthy and Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span, and you really don’t get more Traditional English Folk than that)
Babylon Is Fallen by Sacred Harp (1640s – this is the only half-decent version I could find, as previously I’ve only heard it sung around a fire by drunk English civil war reenactors)
Over the Hills and Far Away by John Tams (late 1600s, sometimes something goes hard because of the feelings it stirs in your breast, and not because it actually goes hard)
Bonus Macedonian song: Sto Mi et Milo – Kitka (a great group if you’re interested in Eastern European music)
Thank you for this post. This is amazing.
It also helped me find the video for the herding call that brought all the cows to the singer. Link here.
Bellowhead do a version of The Parson’s Farewell that goes even harder than Bear’s, if that’s possible. (It is possible because Bellowhead.)
I’m glad that someone mentioned Bellowhead’s version of The Parson’s Farewell because honestly when I first watched Black Sails and heard that version I thought ‘well it’s good but it’s not as good as Bellowhead’.
I could easily disappear down a Youtube hole and never return with this subject but here’s some of mine:
Lady of the Woods – Jamie Smith’s Mabon (because this list needed more welsh folk music. Also this is a serious earworm, just to warn you now)
Cobblers Hornpipe – Eliza Carthy and the Wayward Band (I always love watching Eliza play and the way her and Saul Rose play off each other is really fun to watch)
Silbury Hill – Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin (now known as Edgelarks)
Gentleman Jack – O’Hooley & Tidow (because the world needs more songs about Anne Lister and I love them)
Lady of the Rose/High Street Rose – Seth Lakeman (two for the price of one here as it’s a live video and he used to do this as an encore which almost killed me)
All of Bellowhead’s instrumentals are also brilliant but particularly Frog’s Legs and Dragon’s Teeth, which I exhausted myself a few times trying to dance to at gigs.
A lot of my favorites are already on here. As for those that aren’t yet:
Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up (RPG Battle Arrangement)
Some stupid thing I arranged a long time ago.
i love this so much
This is the pinnacle. If this track came on when I went to fight a boss in some indie game, I would throw the controller, the TV, and the entire console out the window in a heartbeat and I wouldn’t even be mad about it, that would just be the natural progression of events.
The Killers – Mr Brightside Fall Out Boy – thnks fr th mmrs Good Charlotte – The Anthem Paramore – Misery Business Boys Like Girls – The Great Escape Green Day – American Idiot Green Day – 21 Guns The Killers – Somebody Told Me Good Charlotte – Dance Floor Anthem Good Charlotte – Boys And Girls Boys Like Girls – Love Drunk Yellowcard – Ocean Avenue Panic! At The Disco – This Is Gospel Agata Kristi – Opium Spitalfield – Secrets In Mirrors Good Charlotte – My Bloody Valentine My Chemical Romance – Teenagers My Chemical Romance – Helena Decyfer Down – Fading Pillar – Reckless Youth Decyfer Down – Fight Like This My Chemical Romance – I’m Not Ok (I Promise) Jeffree Star – Prisoner Halestorm – I Miss The Misery Demon Hunter – I Will Fail You Demon Hunter – Not Ready To Die Demon Hunter – The Tide Began To Rise Demon Hunter – Carry Me Down Demon Hunter – One Thousand Apologies Decyfer Down – Crash Becoming The Archetype – Dichotomy Demon Hunter – Storm The Gates Of Hell OOMPH! – Labyrinth (german version) Grendel – Void Malign Aesthetic Perfection – Spit It Out Aesthetic Perfection – Arsenic On The Rocks Inner Party System – New Poetry OOMPH! – Augen Auf Blind Guardian – Welcome To Dying Marilyn Manson – If I Was Your Vampire Marilyn Manson – This Is The New Shit (golden age of grotesque) Marilyn Manson – The Beautiful People Marilyn Manson – (s)AINT Marilyn Manson – Disposable Teens
This is the music I listened to in my room, on headphones, away from the family because of their hyper-conservatism. Yup, even the “christian” bands. I was nearly not allowed to go to the Skillet/Decyfer Down/Disciple concert. (Comatose, 2009) First “metal” concert; yes i know hush; and tbh it’s still one of the better memories of my youth. I’ll do a “swirly goth music” version of this maybe, and potentially a third if I can find my old power metal bands.
MUSIC & LYRICS meme: Write the first ten songs that come up on shuffle. No skipping, no cheating. Quote your favorite lyric from each song and tag ten people. Considering myself tagged by @volari who has excellent taste in music.
Emma Blackery, Dirt: Now, you’re up in my face, getting irate You were so sweet, what changed? Yes, things go sour after they pass their sell-by date (ooh) The sun is casting rays, so let me serve some shade Using my name for fame, and yet you say you’re self-made honey
And when I count to three You’d best be on your knees Don’t you try coming for me Cause I’m the bitch who keeps her receipts (Hey!)
Vienna Teng, Landsailor: Landsailor Deepwinter strawberry Endless summer, ever spring A vast preserve Aisle after aisle in reach Every commoner made a king
Earthbreaker Noble and prized Feed me beyond my means Hello worldmaker, Never denied Build all my wildest dreams But there’s a storm outside your door And I’m a child no more
Dianne Reeves, I Remember I remember a weight like lead crashing down on my hope Thunder in my head I remember the pain, the spasm, the sense of loss Falling into a chasm And the blinds drawn shut The record playing over and over Until dawn, until the grooves had worn thin On that one song
Zazie, J’envoie Valser (trans from French) I’m letting go forever Of the fake gold love proofs Since you’re holding me real tight That’s where my treasure is That’s you, you that’s worth gold
Vienna Teng, Flyweight Love And now The years surprise us How all our times apart Have become our vows
Took a flight far across the globe Found a calling sweet as a lover Through the wilderness you find in me You are in love with all the world And in the evening I arise When the sun creeps on your covers Here I am, Here you are Breathing a hello My flyweight love, flyweight love
Bob And Alaska, Yet Another Dig Fuck your purse, fuck your edit, fuck your Reddit Yeah, I said it cause I meant it, Two-Face Harvey Dent shit Turn this shit up ‘til your fucking ears bleed And if you ask me to stop? “I’d like to keep it on please!”
Ludo, In Space Back on earth You’re waking up soon Stretching in The morning light No celestial body Could compare to you
Michael Arden, Run Away With Me Get the car packed and throw me the key. Run away with me!
I’m not trying to make you a wife here, I’m not trying to tie you down. I’m just saying there might be a life here – A new one as soon as we run, Just as soon as we run. Run away, run away with me
Demon Hunter, Carry Me Down Let all the fear inside you drown Tear out the blade and lay it down Save sorrow for the souls in doubt Bleed every care out
Will you carry me down the aisle that final day? With your tears and cold hands shaking from the weight? When you lower me down beneath that sky of grey Let the rain fall down and wash away your pain-
Dark Sarah ft JP Leppäluoto, Dance With The Dragon [Dark Sarah] I think we’re done now [Dragon] You think so? [Dark Sarah] I have to go! [Dragon] You’re not going anywhere!
[Dark Sarah & Dragon] Take my all, I surrender, surrender! Look at me and the way I ask for forgiveness, kindness and help! Take my all, I surrender, surrender! You (I) will die another day, another day
Yay! Thanks so much for doing this. You were actually tagged in the original post as one of the folks I’d hoped would respond. I put together a playlist of your songs so I could give them all a listen, including here for anyone else to enjoy as well.
And thanks for your kind words on my taste in music, I’m tickled you think so *bashfully kicks a rock*
It was fun! Also funny that I had to keep opening new playlists for the shuffle because I repeat songs so often oops~ and also for some reason “all songs” didn’t wanna work in desktop this morning >.>’’’’’
They made it into a ringtone because it was old enough to be public domain, and Nokia (I think?) didn’t want to have to pay royalties.
… I like the full version.
are you SHITTING ME. This is one of those posts that makes you question your worldview a little bit, tbh
okay, not quite. not quite. but the truth is better.
the original tune is not this. the original tune is, however, public domain, so they’re not wrong. it’s francisco tárrega’s gran vals – check 0:12.
but THIS, what he’s playing, is the Valse Irritation d’après Nokia, also known as the ringtone waltz, written by Marc-André Hamelin, who is a terrific canadian pianist and who wrote this as a snap reaction to having people’s fucking cellphones go off at concerts.
House Of Crows 