Relient K - At Least We Made it This Far

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Relient K is one of my favorite artists. They have that perfect Alternative Rock sound that's great to sing and jam to. Most of their albums are pretty similar in style, but the album The Bird and the Bee Sides has a more acoustic style to it with a bigger focus on acoustic guitar and piano instrumentation. If you enjoy the song I chose today, you may like the rest of the album as well. Some other great tracks are "There Was Another Time in My Life", "Up and Up", and "You'll Always Be My Best Friend".

For today, I chose "At Least We Made it This far". It was one of the first songs I heard by Relient K and was probably the song that convinced me to listen to all their albums. This song is really perfect for one of those times in your life where you've worked really hard to accomplish something, but you haven't reached your goal just yet. It's a great reminder that you're almost there, and it will be worth it in the end. The song's upbeat sound and happy melody are very motivating. Another instance where the song lyrics work well is for a road trip. The words mention that despite being tired of the road, at least you've made it this far and the skies have never looked so clear. On some of the road trips I've been on, I've enjoyed listening to this song while looking up through the sunroof of the car and admiring the blue skies. It truly brightens my mood helps keep me excited not just for the destination, but the journey itself. Though I believe the original meaning behind the song has to do with a relationship, I think it can be applied to those situations that I mentioned and be just as great a song!

I relate this song to fall not only because of its acoustic sound, but also because of its road trip vibes. Each season brings a time for vacation, and while fall doesn't have any official breaks in the school calendar, many people like to take a trip anyways. The weather is cooler, the skies are bluer, and the trees are brighter—why wouldn't you want to take a drive!

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REMINDER: In honor of the start of October, this week will be all fall-themed songs. More specifically, I will be choosing songs that I most associate with the season of autumn. These songs will be added to their own Spotify playlist called Songs of Autumn, as well as the pre-existing A Song a Day playlist. Below is the link to the new playlist.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Ih1oLJC1hfq7wCWJObmSz

Train - Feels Good At First

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I believe Train is most famous for their song "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" and "Drive By". Both of those songs are from the album California 37. The song I chose today is also from that album and is, in my opinion, just as good. Instead of the usual upbeat alternative rock style Train is known for, the song "Feels Good At First" takes a more acoustic route. The gentle strumming of the guitar accompanies the melancholy lyrics perfectly. Besides the song's acoustic sound that I associate with fall, the lyrics also relate to autumn because they describe each season of the year in the two choruses:

Oh, every spring there's a honey bee that stings
So things can change
Oh, every fire get too close and it reminds you
Things can change in love
But it sure feels good at first

Ooh, every autumn colors come, that you've forgotten
So things can change
Ooh every frost some live on and some are lost
So things can change in love
But it sure feels good at first

While the lyrics are a bit sad, as it deals with heartbreak, the melody is very pleasant and it instead cheers me up while I listen. Sometimes I think a chill, mellow song can really make your day by taking your mind off the busyness of life and encouraging you to sit back and take a break. I hope this song does that for you today. Happy fall!

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Coldplay - Yellow

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I must say it was extremely difficult trying to choose which Coldplay song to post for today. Somehow I arrived at the song "Yellow". I hate to choose such a well-known Coldplay song (I like to pick songs that the majority of people don't know), but this song really is one of the best Coldplay songs. I can't quite understand the reason it is the favorite of so many Coldplay fans; there's just something special about it. Maybe it's the even tempo and catchy drum beat that the song opens with. Or maybe it's the imagery in the lyrics that lets the listener create a work of art in their minds. Regardless of the reason, it is definitely worth listening to. If you haven't heard it until now, you can expect to be singing the word yellow for the next few days. That part tends to stick (how could it not?).

If this is your first time listening to the band Coldplay, then I'd like to thank you for giving them a chance and recommend that you explore their other albums. Each album has its own sound and style, so try to sample all of them before you decide if you like or dislike Coldplay. I have found that their music is best for listening to in all situations. If you're stressed, it's calming. If you need motivation, it's motivational. If you need to go to sleep, it's relaxing. If you need to do work, it helps you focus. Coldplay really is unique and I believe everyone should give them a chance. They are so much more than just "Viva La Vida".

A little story to go with the song: During the spring of last year, I traveled with my family to an area where the tree pollen season was at its peak. There was pollen on the cars, pollen on the grass, pollen on our shoes... and it was all yellow. So of course, the first day we arrived I played the song "Yellow" for my family and we all agreed it couldn't be more perfect. For the rest of the week, every time we'd encounter the powdery substance, one of us would start to sing the song. I'm not sure what inspired the band to write the song "Yellow", but I can't help but wonder if maybe he wrote it in the springtime. Perhaps one day, Chris Martin walked outside his house "and it was all yellow".

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