Perfect Playlist - Charlie Blondell

There a few things I enjoy more than listening to music. Maybe in the car, maybe while mowing the lawn, maybe even when making a sandwich (never at the same time as homework, because all focus must be on the school subject matter). When I wish to really, deeply think about the world and its strengths and weaknesses (mostly weaknesses), music gives me this bridge to an imaginary sauna, where the warm steam is the harmonies and beats of artists who actually attempt to convey an important message, which is somewhat unheard of in a lot today's music, unless you're interested in fat bills and fast cars. The following is the perfect play list to simply lay in your bed and listen to every lyric, thoughtfully and decisively.

1) Imagine - John Lennon
Being one of the most popular Beatles/John Lennon songs, it's hard to find people who haven't heard this masterpiece. Condemning the tendencies of people around the world, Lennon attempts to disregard the world's countless ways that we separate ourselves, may that be race or religion. Through this song, he tries to get the listener to look at the world as one, beautiful Earth, as it should be, instead of states, nations, and continents divided. It's the perfect song to open ones mind.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yRhq-yO1KN8

2) The Art of Peer Pressure - Kendrick Lamar
Being one of the King of the West Coast's more overlooked tracks, this ballad tells the story of a younger Kendrick, in a time when bad decisions came easily. At the beginning, the misguided teen starts off by experimenting with some new substances, Marijuana and alcohol included. Seemingly harmless, right? As the song goes on, a reoccurring pattern of unfavorable choices develops, and Kendrick eventually is a familiar face in a rough crew. The story ends with the narrow escape of the gang members from a robbery, almost being caught and arrested by pursuing policemen, as they took a wrong turn while chasing them. As a teenager myself, this song hits home a little bit, reminding me what bad influences and decisions can lead me to.
https://vimeo.com/52175677

3) 2112 - Rush
Probably the longest rock ballad ever composed, Neil Peart creates a dystopia in this song, most likely attacking overpowering systems of government. The story follows a man who has been taught that the confederacy of the "red star" is the only way that his world can prosper, through order and obedience. Everything has been created for him and his fellow citizens: movies, shows, music, games, novels. Created is the wrong word because there is no creativity in this world. Anyway, eventually this individual finds a guitar; any instrument used to develop ones own music is unheard of. The song follows his adventure of attempting to reinstate creativeness in this unforgiving world, being shunned and let down by the officials of the confederacy, and eventually to his dreadful suicide.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7zrtbG4ZJrE

4) Lost Ones - J Cole
Going back to a hip hop tone, this song describes the troubles and tensions that come with a newly discovered pregnancy. First through the eyes of the male in the situation, Cole describes the thoughts of this person, showing the strengths and weaknesses of a man who wishes to be there for his child, but doesn't wish to bring him into a world that doesn't seem fit. The second verse is through the eyes of the woman, and it depicts the anger and disappointed she has with someone else attempting to make decisions for herself; claiming that her body is her body, her baby is her baby. The third and final verse presents the entirety of pros and cons with the entire situation, the blame game being played on both sides, but both participants having good intentions in the end. This song represents one of the very puzzling situations for young partners.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y-vQ_VsTkn0

5) Vitamins - Mac Miller
I'm ending the playlist with one of my favorite songs, that not only shows one of the tendencies of most people to be drawn into something they were not expecting, but also creates a short and almost humorous skit along with it. It starts off with our protagonist being drawn into the apartment of a coworker to just smoke some harmless weed, but is seduced into trying this pill that will "make my (his) problems go away." He falls into a surreal vortex of colors and shapes that make his old world seem like the imaginary one. It's a pretty subtle and charming tale that can actually be taken in a much darker light.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Z5YfErKKY