Michael Writes:
Top 2 Songs from Matt & Why:
Way Down The Line – The Offspring
Growing up, I always had my eyes glued to the TV screen whenever I noticed a music video by The Offspring had come on. ‘Original Prankster’ and ‘Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)’ were some of my favourite music videos, so I was elated when Matt evoked those feelings I treasured of having found a band I thought to be really edgy and cool at the time. I like the opening line of the song – whether true or not I won’t dive in to – but, it really gets me thinking about cycles we get stuck in. I know there’s been many moments for me where I’ve been livid with my parents thinking “why don’t they get it?!”. Imagining they probably experienced the same feeling growing up humanises them in my eyes. With this song, I can award my parents a level of compassion I previously thought excessive. Still, as life moves on it’s slightly amusing and bittersweet that I, too, could one day have a young one looking at me bewildered, failing to imagine why I don’t get it.
Antireal – The Glitch Mob
I first heard this song while starting my late night gym session. During my rests, I found myself thinking “Matt had no business going this hard with a track selection”. It seemed so perfect for the mood and intentions I had going into the gym. While ‘Locked in’, I could imagine myself as my favourite video game character growing up – Sonic the Hedgehog. From my copy of ‘Sonic Rush Adventure’ on the Nintendo DS Lite, Sonic became an amazing role-model for a free spirited individual going with the flow and on the run to his next adventure. Around that time, I was heavily involved with athletics and the 100m sprint was my highlight (you see the sonic link now?). I didn’t have the greatest stamina, but I always wished I could seemingly run forever, just like Sonic.
A song you were really happy to share & why?
Sassafras Roots – Green Day
Ah, lockdown… the gift that just kept on giving. I remember being overweight, angry and late to my A-Level physics class with this song playing. I had just left university after falling out of love with Chemistry, fortunately it was an amicable breakup. I thought going back to do my favourite science would heal the heartbreak of the growing belief around the idea that “I’m a little behind in life”. In this period of my life I really wanted nothing to do with anything; I was just along for the ride. “Just complete this A-Level and get back in uni” was the mantra for many months. If I wasn’t revising, I had this song playing knowing I didn’t want to do anything but sleep the time away. It’s slightly amusing how I’m on the other side writing this. I feel I’m paying respects to that part of me that had been so let down and disappointed in things not going according to plan. Knowing how good things are now, it makes me appreciate those moments for their raw emotional intensity even more.
Any more for any more?
Starting this playlist with Matt was exactly what I needed at the time. I got to tap into the rock, metal and screamo collection I thoroughly enjoyed while trying to master Guitar Hero World Tour. I had the bundle so of course I got well acquainted with the songs; sadly, my singing in career mode wasn’t as successful as I wanted. I value the moments when you find yourself connecting with someone who reminds you of the cherished moments you had growing up. To the person who ends up reading this, I invite them to remember just how cool they are for experiencing those good moments growing up.
Track Listing
- One Armed Scissor – At the Drive-In
- Inertiatic Esp – The Mars Volta
- Chop Suey! – System Of A Down
- Pop Off! – Dance Gavin Dance
- My Curse – Killswitch Engage
- Existence – August Burns Red
- Suffocating Under Words Of Sorrow (What Can I Do) – Bullet For My Valentine
- Kool-Aid – Bring Me The Horizon
- Almost Easy – Chris Lord-Alge Mix – Avenged Sevenfold
- Try Honesty – Billy Talent
- The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows – Brand New
- Cute Without The ‘E’ (Cut From The Team) – Remastered – Taking Back Sunday
- In Too Deep – Sum 41
- Way Down The Line – The Offspring
- Sassafras Roots – Green Day
- Anesthesia – Bad Religion
- The Blister Exists – Slipknot
- 2nd Sucks – A Day To Remember
- No Sleep Tonight – Enter Shikari
- Antireal – The Glitch Mob
- Omen – The Prodigy
- Hold Your Colour – Pendulum
Playlist image by Thiago Barletta on Unsplash
About the Curators
Michael Mchunu
Music is amazing. I love finding songs to create mood playlists on Spotify or YouTube Music.
I find mood playlists enhance and release the emotions I could be feeling in a moment. Each one I make serves a purpose; they are included in the soundtrack of “The Great Adventure of Life”.
While having a background in percussion groups and jazz bands, I like paying attention to the instruments involved in the songs. Hence, some of my playlists have little to no words involved; those are moments when emotions need to be respected fully.
For contrast: I’ve also experimented with creating my own music. Having understood the process of selecting the perfect beat and ensuring each word hits its mark allowed me to appreciate the verses in some of my favourite songs.
There’s a great poetic nature in how some songs are structured that will give them acclaim in my personal opinion.
Right now, I’m experimenting with variations of House music to create mixes that can be posted on YouTube. So far, I’ve released Soulful, Deep, Nostalgic and Alternate House music mixes.
I’m slowly navigating my way from house mixes, to other genres like Hiphop, RnB, Indie, Rock and Pop.
