Haley’s Poetic Playlist: “First”

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Hi all! I’m back for another semester of blogging with an old favorite of mine. Today we’re dissecting “First” by Cold War Kids. This indie rock group got its start in California back in 2004, and they have worked their way into our hearts ever since.

“First” was a single released in 2015, stemming from their 2014 album Hold My Home. This piece quickly rose to number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Its overall emotional beat and relatable lyrics make this song incredibly relevant and timeless, earning it a rightful spot on my playlist this week.

“First”

[Verse 1]
“Cheated and lied, broken so bad
You made a vow, never get mad
You play the game, though it’s unfair
They’re all the same, who can compare?
First you lose trust, then you get worried”

Haley’s Poetic Playlist: “Thank God For Girls”

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Hi, friends! This week we’re looking at a rather interesting song (to say the least). It plays with gender stereotypes and definitely pushes the envelope on political correctness. Pop/rock/alternative band Weezer has never been known for being especially conventional and that’s what makes them so unique. I will be examining one of their biggest hits in years, “Thank God for Girls,” which comes off of their 2016 album Weezer (White Album).

If you’ve heard the song before, then you may know why it’s been controversial. During this explanation, though, I will be giving Weezer the benefit of the doubt in that they are not totally bashing females. I say this because I saw them in concert over the summer, and throughout this entire song they had a slideshow playing with pictures of historically strong female icons: Joan of Arc, Mother Mary, Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman, Emma Watson, Brienne of Tarth (fictional but awesome), Oprah, Ellen, and Beyoncé, just to name a few. Weezer then ended the song with a projection of the rainbow flag, which is a symbol for LGBT equality. So while the band may poke fun at stereotypes in the song, I think it’s used in an ironic sense.

“Thank God for Girls”

Haley’s Poetic Playlist: “Cancer”

Hey, lovelies! We’re back this week with a tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness month.

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I’ve chosen the song “Cancer,” originally by My Chemical Romance, because this insidious disease has affected us all. And, if I could be frank, it sucks. This song captures the pain and emotion associated with cancer, and I think it is a moving piece. The track is originally off My Chemical Romance’s 2006 album The Black Parade, but just about a month ago Twenty One Pilots released a cover, and both will be available on the playlist below.

A little background on the song might be helpful. MCR’s album The Black Parade details the journey of “the patient” and his agony as he ultimately passes away from cancer. In an interview, lead vocalist Gerard Way once claimed that the group aimed to write “the darkest song ever.” He claims that “Cancer” is not poetic, but rather direct and brutal just like the disease. I think it’s safe to say that MCR achieved their goal here.

Haley’s Poetic Playlist: “Skinny Love”

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Hello, music lovers! We are back this week with a personal favorite of mine: “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver. I’m sure most of you have heard this song a thousand times and are cringing at the thought of diving into this over-played tune. But whether you have a lyric tattooed on your wrist, or have cultivated a secret hate for this song, there is no denying its raw beauty.

While writer Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver) wrote and performed the original version of this song on his 2007 album For Emma, Forever Ago, an artist named Birdy also has a beautiful cover, and both renditions will be available on the playlist. Enjoy!

“Skinny Love”

In an interview, Vernon explained the meaning behind the title. “It’s about that time in a relationship that I was going through; you’re in a relationship because you need help, but that’s not necessarily why you should be in a relationship. And that’s skinny. It doesn’t have weight. Skinny love doesn’t have a chance because it’s not nourished,” Vernon said. I think that this is a beautiful way of phrasing a very common struggle most of us experience — the regret that comes with a failed relationship.

Haley’s Poetic Playlist: “Morning in America”

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Hi readers! I am so excited to be back and blogging, and I hope everyone enjoyed their summer! By the end of the year, I aim to introduce you to plenty of amazing songs that you’ll all soon enough be adding to your own playlists!

Today’s post is on a song that I came to love over the summer; not just because of its juxtaposition of upbeat music and its rather dense, blunt lyrics (which I will address later), but because it is so raw and real. I believe this song could likely stand on its own as a poem.

The song this week is “Morning in America” by Jon Bellion. Bellion is a singer/songwriter, who wrote the chorus of Rihanna’s single “Monster,” as well as provided the vocals for Zedd’s “Beautiful Now.” This song is off his debut album, The Human Condition, which was released this past June.

“Morning in America”

[Verse 1]
“1600, 1600—1600 on the SATs
Said they gettin’, said they gettin’
Said they gettin’ me an SUV
Just a couple miles from the lights of the city
Pour a little liquor in my Starbucks Venti
Just 11, just 11 when they said I had the ADD”

Haley’s Poetic Playlist: “Girls Like You”

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All right, people! I am back after my week-long sabbatical! I hope you’re all enjoying the summer! Today I’m looking at one of my old favorites from high school. It’s a quick little song that I think you readers will enjoy a lot. It’s a track by a small band called The Naked and Famous. The song is titled “Girls Like You.” Enjoy!

“Girls Like You”

[Verse 1]
“Run, whirlwind, run
Further and further away
Into the sun
In twenty minutes
Everyone will remember you when you’re gone
And your heart, is a stone
Buried underneath your pretty clothes”

Haley’s Poetic Playlist: “Modern Jesus”

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Hey, everyone! We’re back this week with another cool song. I chose a piece from the group Portugal. The Man. They not only have a unique, badass sound, but also present a unique perspective on the inconsistencies and hypocrisy of society — it’s total college student vibes.

I have classified their songs as “hooligan music,” because you can’t help but wish you were doing something illegal while listening (I’m not saying I have, but the music makes me feel cooler than I actually am). If you want to feel young and rebellious, listen to Portugal. The song I’ve chosen was one of the first I ever heard by them. It’s called “Modern Jesus,” and it’s from their 2013 album, Evil Friends.

Disclaimer: The Jet Fuel Review does not have any official stance on religion or faith, and this by no means reflects the organization’s views. Once again, I am simply analyzing a piece of art from my perspective. While this song appears very anti-religion, especially anti-Christian, we must remember that artists are free to their opinions and views just as we are. Personally, for the record, I am religious, but that doesn’t mean I cannot laugh at religion or recognize the various inconsistencies that humans create while following their faith — which is exactly what this song is talking about.

So, religious or not, I hope you can enjoy this week’s song!

Haley’s Poetic Playlist: “Soma”

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Summer is upon us, friends! In the spirit of the approaching season, I thought I would pick a more upbeat tune. I was digging through some songs and searching for something with a bit of a literary reference… and I found one! The song/poem I chose is “Soma” by The Strokes, off of their 2001 album Is This It.

“Soma”

First off, I have to address the title of the song. For those of you who don’t know, “soma” is the name of a fictional drug created by author Aldous Huxley for his dystopian novel, Brave New World. This book looks at a totalitarian government that controls society through a mixture of science and technology with the argument that such a combination could ultimately reduce the individuality of the human race.

Haley’s Poetic Playlist: “I Need My Girl”

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Hey guys! It’s Thursday, so that means it’s time for the next song in my Poetic Playlist series! This one is short and sweet…well, actually it’s a tad bitter. But it’s a beautiful, mellow contrast to last week’s in-your-face obnoxiousness.

This week I’ll be looking at The National’s song, “I Need My Girl.”

“I Need My Girl”

[Verse 1]

“I am good, I am grounded
Davy says that I look taller
I can’t get my head around it
I keep feeling smaller and smaller
I need my girl
I need my girl”

Haley’s Poetic Playlist: “Migraine”

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Okay, lovelies. I have been trying to hold out for a while, but it was only a matter of time before I looked at one of my all-time favorite groups: Twenty One Pilots. Love them or hate them, they have a way with lyrics and it’s hard to deny Tyler Joseph’s twisted way with words (as well as Josh Dunn’s skilled drumming, of course).

On a personal note, I owe a lot to this two-man band. I first heard them during a rather challenging time in high school, and since the discovery, their songs have helped me through some very tough times, to say the least. Consequently, I have seen them twice live, and will be seeing them a third time this summer.

This song that I chose is from their album Vessel, and it’s titled “Migraine.” Now, this is a fairly popular song, and while I could write pages upon pages about their other albums and songs, I wanted to look at this song because it is one of the first that won me over. I think it says a lot in a short period of time. Also, it’s the week before finals and it was easy to look at an old favorite rather than do a ton of research on a different song.