Sean Wang Week 14 - Start a Riot
Sean Wang Week 14 - Start a Riot
On Spotify, there are two types of users. There are those that make playlists for every mood, and there are those that throw all their favourite songs into a cluttered compilation that they call a playlist. Being a member of the latter category, I always find it intriguing to scroll through my playlist and reminisce about the times that were.
In 8th grade, I greatly disliked anime. That being said, I thought anime soundtracks were more phenomenal than any classical song I had ever learned; thus, I decided to learn how to play "No Game No Life" on piano, my first of many anime covers. Although J-pop is not my most listened to genre these days, hearing an anime song still makes my heart feel heavier, weighed down by the knowledge that those youthful years will never be reclaimed.
In 9th grade, near the beginning of the school year, the school suddenly closed during first period due to a water leak in the Rotunda ceiling. I distinctly remember this being the time where I went to my friend's house in elation, listening to a newfound branch of music so near and dear to my heart today: rap. I remember fanboying over Eminem's lyrical genius in his diss track "Killshot", thinking that rap music could not get any better than that. Boy, was I wrong (Deeta please don't get mad at me).
It was also around this time that I was first exposed to the widely misinterpreted world of K-pop. There I was, sitting in the bleachers of the spirit week rally, when I heard the catchy tones of TWICE's "FANCY", a song that I would come to adore for a month or two until I moved onto newer finds. However, my distaste of Korean boy bands was still present; it would stay that way until quarantine came about in 2020.
In 10th grade, I became incredibly demotivated. Staying at home for school was nice, don't get me wrong. Yet, there was always a nagging at the back of my head, a feeling that told me I could be accomplishing so much more. I became bored with everything I did, including the music that I had once loved. Dejected, I turned to my first song of the metal genre: "KILL4ME" by Marilyn Manson. Unaware of the taboo notions that surrounded him, I delved into his discography, looking for some form of escape in his cheese-grater vocals. Kind of unrelated, but I actually love his music now. Metal actually slaps so hard (if you learn to appreciate it).
This year, I learned to slow down. I learned that the fast pace of life that my peers followed so dearly was not meant for everyone. I learned that sometimes, it was perfectly fine to let the tears fall. As a result, I began indulging in the melancholic songs that I had detested for years and years. It was... an experience.
Looking back, I vividly remember the emotions invoked by every track, ranging from sorrow, to joy, to anger, and to even what some would consider love. And I cannot decide for the life of me whether or not to feel happy for the memories that happened, or sad for the passing of those that were.
All I do know is this:
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Hi Sean,
ReplyDeleteI was just admiring the language you used throughout your blog post and how it seemed to perfectly represent your thoughts about rap, J-Pop, and different genres in general, when the ending suddenly caught me very off guard and brought me to a time when I had to suffer the pain of hearing the Spotify lady say those words as I had to wait for the 30-second ad to finish just to be followed by another ad since I couldn't "tap now" as I listened to music from the shower (family plan has saved me). Anyway, regarding your notion about the two different types of Spotify users, I would like to share that I am an interesting mix of both. Sometimes, I have the sudden urge to make my Spotify profile look "aesthetic," with original but catchy playlist names and captivating images, while other times, my playlist consists of the six songs I am enjoying in that time frame. It's funny to me because in the sense that you were hesitant to try these new genres, I unhesitantly add varied types of music into that one playlist.
I cycle through music, at one point I was obsessed with BTS. Listening to them now is slightly off putting. I find a lot of the k-pop music that I liked before cringy and artificial. After k-pop I transitioned into a phase of sad pop songs and then into j-pop. Right now, I don't have a music preference, but I am revisiting my j-pop phase. The first time I listened to "Torches" by Aimer after ten months was a strange feeling to say the least. It's like I was back in tenth grade—back to the time where I felt aimless and wasted my life dwelling on myself. The song itself is innately hopeful. Its melody is uplifting but it has a quality of desire—a palpitating desire for something better as if reaching out and seeking something of its own. I felt that way too—I felt desperate, and I wanted something. It's not like the same feeling arose when I heard the song, but I cried—cried for how far I've come and for the person that I was in tenth grade.
ReplyDeleteHey Sean, I can definitely say my music taste has changed a lot over the years, especially very recently. I had an awakening in 7th and 8th grade when I started listening to my mom's favorite music, which consisted of Def Leppard, Green Day and Blink-182. I was obsessed (and still am to be perfectly honest), but over quarantine, my music taste shifted into more mellow alt, like Cage the Elephant, WILLOW, and Weezer. Currently, I've been getting into more of my dad's favorite music, nu-metal, like Rage Against the Machine and System of a Down. I had heard of Marilyn Manson but I was intrigued when you said he was metal, and I listened to that song, and it is a very different kind of metal than what I'm used to; way lighter lol. I can definitely see a pattern between my changing music taste and my changing emotion; funny how that works. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Sean,
ReplyDeleteI personally cannot relate to not having premium. Actually Roman and Kyle made fun of me for a very long time. I can still hear those ads ringing in my ear as I read the last part of your blog. Anyways, I too am part of the cluttered playlist category. My main playlist that I listen to is 29 hours and 29 minutes long. It's filled with a lot of nostalgia music, video game music, anime songs, K-pop, melancholic music, etc. As I listen to this playlist over and over again, I remember the circumstances that surround the songs. For example, there are some songs that I have in my playlist because one of my best friends who I don't talk to very much anymore recommended it to me. Some are because I had a Hamilton phase in middle school. And others remind me of listening to 96.5 on the radio while driving to school in elementary.
Hi Sean,
ReplyDeleteI had just told Yi Kuan that I had never read a more relatable blog post than his, but I may have to retract that after reading yours. My music tastes have also changed quite a bit from time to time, especially this year. I started sophomore year listening to anime music, then found myself back into soft rock, moved onto Bollywood music, and now I'm enjoying some indie rock as I'm writing this very comment. I think that one's music taste always has room to evolve, and I'm glad to find someone who loves exploring different genres as much as me!
Sincerely,
Krish
Hi Sean,
ReplyDeleteThat was a beautiful execution of a twist ending. I was drawn in by your implication of something deep and meaningful, and then your "advertisement" sprang out of nowhere. It is a perfect reflection of my frustration over Youtube ads and was hilarious. The chronic set-up of the blog was a good choice and the writing was superb. I congratulate you on a great piece of writing. It seems that APEng has taught you a lot. As for the difficulty in finding motivation and positivity in school, it helps to have a great support network of friends that you can easily contact. Talking with them really helps to boost spirit and I find that a round of friendly debate can act well in chasing away fatigue (as long as you don't act too hardheaded).
Sincerely,
Raymond Yu
Hey Sean,
ReplyDeleteI am proud in my ability to name practically every one of the playlists you described in your post. Coincidentally, I seem to have travelled a very similar path as you in terms of music, although my order was slightly different. I was first, as all young kids were, obsessed with pop. However, entering middle school, I began my massive J-Pop phase. Following that, I gained a liking for K-Pop over the summer after being marinated in the K-Pop sauce by my siblings. Finally, as the years developed, I developed my slow liking for rap. I'm not sure if you know this, but you are the inspiring factor of my fancy for rap. It is quite interesting to look down my massive "archive playlist" of sorts, Good Moosic Onegai, and seeing the evolution of my music taste. Let's compare sizes--my playlist is 800 songs/46 hours 23 minutes long.
Hi Sean,
ReplyDeleteIt seems so controversial, but I rarely use spotify. And if I do, I just search up a playlist and play it. Nothing else. In fact, I don't use social media that often other than to text my friends. I know most people use social media, including Instagram, but I never really decided I would post things on there.
Sincerely,
Vivan Waghela
Hey Sean!
ReplyDeleteI like the Carti X Simpsons cover you can never go wrong with some Die Lit. As for your lack of taste in 9th grade, I will let it slide because I think you've developed a lot of personality in your music now. I personally have never had bad taste (or maybe I'm just saying that because I have a music god complex) but I definitely think growth is a big part of developing a music taste. I also believe music taste is incredibly subjective but that is a whole different topic I could rant about for hours. I personally started off my music journey with Tyler the Creator and unfortunatley Ski Mask (a tragic era this was the one time I can agree I had bad taste). But I stuck to Tyler which led me to discovering Rex and Kanye. That then split into branches (Rex led to Frank Ocean, Daniel Ceaser, Anderson Paak; Kanye led to Kendrick, J Cole, Cudi). Tyler himself led to artists like Jaden, Teezo, MF Doom, ASAP, Vince, and so many more. To me it is all about the journey you take to get to the music you listen to. It is just as cool to understand the path you took to discover new styles/artists as it is to appreciate where you are currently in your musical journey. Thanks for sharing king AND SEND ME UR PLAYLISTS I WANNA HEAR:)