Song Reviews - Part 1

I'm starting this series just to showcase some of my personal favorite songs in the hopes

some of you have a similar taste in music. (which is all over the place lol)

*Disclaimer: These songs are in no particular order or relevance*

#5: Colorado - KOTA The Friend (2018)

Colorado an amazing song. In the first half of the song, KOTA has a good vibe carefree attitude where he states he doesn't care about hate and wishes others well: "Hope you gettin' money | Hope you doin' well bro" In the second half he hints at how the attitude he talked about in the first half doesn't mean he's dealing with his own demons: "People really think my life is perfect | Maybe 'cus I'm laughing through the worst shit" "I don't ever trip but I bet that you would love that" Personally for me, this song reminds me that even if others keep up their images and it seems like everything is going right we have to remember to acknowledge that they may be dealing with things we can't see on the surface

#4: Neighbors - J.Cole (

I like this song since I feel like it's both a commentary on the Black American image and judging others before you get to know them. The song is about a man who finds happiness only to be constantly judged: hence the main hook "Okay, the neighbors think I'm sellin' dope" then he can't stand it anymore and says might as well feed into the image they're painting him as: "Well motherf*cker I am | So much for interrogation | Don't know what I was thinking | I'm moving back to Southside" As an Asian American, to me this song is like a spin off of the "Model Minority Myth" but opposite in terms of reputation for the Black community. We're all affected, we just can't get caught up in the stereotypes.

#3: Things Won't Go My Way - Peach Tree Rascals (2020)

"Don't want to be so afraid | It's time to get out my way | I'm running I can't keep running"

The opening lines to this song go hard with the beat. You're transported to a memory of lying in the grass on a field with this song I swear. Overall, Peach Tree Rascals delivers a good vibes song with the shrug it off message of "Things Won't Go My Way" The song describes how even with bad times there's still some good old memories. "No control in this life we own | If we did then we'd still be kids | Ridding round on our bicycles" "I'm just staring at the stars tryna find my way | When things don't go my way"

#2: The Reason - Hoobastank (2003)

Who doesn't love some 2000's era GOD TIER Alt. Rock? The Reason by Hoobastank is probably one of my all-time favorite songs. As you can see by now my songs are mostly about borderline dysfunctional people. Why? Because it's relatable as we're all dysfunctional in one way or another. Hoobastank sings about hurting another in a relationship but coming to terms with being a better person through love of the other person. "I'm not a perfect person | There's many things I wish I didn't do" While this may showcase how toxic relationships are formed today, I appreciate the soul crushing melancholy in the lyrics. "I've found a reason for me | To change who I used to be | A reason to start over new | And the reason is you"

#1: Two faced - Slchld (2019)

Ever hear a song and go "Damn this song HITS", well for me it's Two faced by Slchld. The image of a mask is one I often think about to describe my own mental state and struggles with depression, in this song the lyrics perfectly describe someone facing an identity crisis due to their deep rooted sadness. "I've had a mask for so long | I lost the touch to be real" It REALLY hits though when Slchld sings about wanting someone to understand who they are behind a mask. "I know that I'm weird sometimes | But I wish somebody knew this side of me" I've found that the people who understand what's under the mask usually have one on themselves.