Saturday, April 2, 2016

Goosebumps: The perfect remedy for emotional numbness Hye Jee Kim

I think the word goosebumps has a bad rep. I blame R.L. Stine. But somedays, for me it's days that the world has made me emotionally numb (ie the day before my Physics final), you just want to listen to songs to prove to yourself that your feelings are still somewhat functional. Proceed with cation, there will be many many many many many many many Broadway songs. Also, this playlist is mainly mine, so some of the reasons these songs give me goosebumps have to do with memories associated with them. Drumroll please, here comes my remedy for emotional numbness:..... The goosebumps playlist!!

I'm On My Way- Phil Collins: So this song is from the movie Brother Bear. And if you've seen Brother Bear, you know well that this movie will make you feel all of the emotions. Every. Single. One. This song, with it's upbeat tempo and optimistic lyrics, will make you feel undeniably happy. Since I've seen Brother Bear, it also makes me undeniably sad. And the bridge gives me goosebumps. Yay.

Helpless-Hamilton: Wow. I'm into Hamilton. I'm so unique. Anyway this song falls right into the happy line, keeping up with the tone Phil has so nicely set for us. Upbeat song, happy lyrics about Eliza Schuyler and Alexander Hamilton falling in love. But, like the previous song, sadness comes with context, because you know that (Spoiler but not really because it's literal history) Hamilton is going to cheat on her, which will break her heart. And vocal talents give me goosebumps. Yay.

Stay Alive (Reprise)- Hamilton: Suprise, another Hamilton song. this song chronologically comes after (not directly after but still) Helpless, so it makes sense to put it here. Also, now that I've proven to myself I can be happy, I will plunge into dispair to prove that my cynicism hasn't completely dried up my tear ducts. In this song, (spoiler) Philip dies, leaving Alexander and Eliza to be grieve. All three deliver such compact emotion in their voices, you can't help but sob while clutching a pillow. I don't recommend you listen to it in public. And the line "Alexander, did you know?" gives me goosebumps. Yay,

All I Ask of You- Ramin Karimloo: So this is a song from The Phantom of the Opera. But it matters which Phantom you listen to. You must listen to Ramin Karimloo's version. The rest are perfectly fine, very good singers. But only with Ramin Karimloo will you get the emotional rawness that you need to pity and cry over a murdering composer. And his voice gives me goosebumps. Yay.

American Pie- Don Mclean: This seems like an abrupt transition, but to me it makes perfect sense. Both are associated with memories from the summer of seventh/eighth grade. Anyway, although I deplore Don Mclean for being charged with domestic violence, I love this song. It's just too d*mn beautiful/enigmatic. I've never quite understood the song, but I know all the lyrics, and it comes with hard core Duke TIP nostalgia. After making myself sadder than a skunk who finds out he smells like flowers which make all of the other skunks hate him, I think I deserve to go back to happy. And the chorus never fails to give me goosebumps. Yay.

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