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• 1 media/giphy (14).webp 2024-11-06T20:09:56-08:00 Connecting the Tracks 23 image_header 2024-12-18T22:57:40-08:00

  In a fast-paced society filled with pressures and chaos, it becomes incredibly challenging to stay connected to one’s past self when venturing into new opportunities. The curated playlist false dreams, revolved around the song “u” by Kendrick Lamar, narrates a protagonist’s journey of embarking on a new experience, only to quickly become absorbed by the unfamiliar environment and losing themselves in the process. “u” confronts the struggle of discovering identity within the noise of society by recounting Lamar’s self-doubt after reflecting on his inability to save his hometown friends despite his immense influence. The song serves as an early climax in the playlist, with three preceding songs detailing the initial journey followed by six songs that illustrate the slow process of acceptance. The album cover of the playlist is a scene from the anime Attack on Titan that illustrates main characters Mikasa and Eren’s ideal life. The show represents the playlist to some extent since, like the playlist’s general themes,  Attack on Titan in short portrays the protagonist fighting against the known world to achieve freedom. However, the protagonist begins to alienate themself, eventually realizing what “freedom’ truly is--though its different from their previous definition of freedom. I won’t spoil too much or delve too deep into the anime, but the mentioned themes relate heavily to false dreams.

  Thematically, the playlist explores how one’s initial optimism can transform into devastating insecurity and isolation, eventually finding redemption through accepting change, embracing the lessons learned along the way, and remembering your roots. This narrative explores the inevitable human experience of growing up and reflects on the bitter-sweet reality of personal development. It provides an uplifting story for many individuals amidst a major change in life such as taking on a new job, moving to a different town, or entering college for the first time by providing a sense of relatability. 

  For many, a fresh start incites a whirlwind of emotions: excitement, naive hope, and joy. However, many of these feelings soon become devastated by unfulfilled expectations, leaving many confused about the ambiguous path ahead and overwhelmed by external pressures. A profound change in routine detaches familiar anchors and removes established places of comfort. false dreams seeks to inspire individuals to confront themselves, have a holistic perspective, and embrace inevitable failure within new adventures, ultimately providing a necessary guide for many struggling through life’s transitions.

  The first song of the playlist, “These Chains” by Mid-Air Thief introduces the protagonist’s cravings to break free of the chains that seem to restrict his ability to grow and yearns for freedom through new experiences. As you listen, you should focus on the sonic soundscape characterized by swelling, naive chimes that burst with enthusiasm as the song progresses, seemingly matching the excitement that comes with fresh endeavors. The song symbolizes the rush of starting something new, foreshadowing how fast-paced optimism potentially creates the theme of identity disconnection that “u” later explores and provides a juxtaposing context of feeling trapped.

  "These Chains”’s burst of emotions suddenly fades into “BUSY/SIRENS”’s melancholic instrumental, mirroring the immediate slap of confusion new ventures give. “BUSY/SIRENS” narrates the protagonist’s constant hustle within the unknown that creates feelings of inadequacy and isolation. I love observing how the external demands society provides can dilute one’s sense of identity within the track, using sirens to symbolize the distractions that limit time to reflect. The second song of the playlist uses these distractions to set up the foundation for “u”’s climax by introducing the theme of how naive optimism can easily evolve into insecurities.

  "How to Disappear Completely” expands on the previous track, somberly expressing how not addressing concerns in life is unsustainable after an extended time. It represents this feeling through a desire to disappear from the world and to escape the pressures that weigh down the protagonist. I like listening to the growing despair in the lyrics and aimless-sounding instrumentals that plagues so many people and eventually bubbles over into “u”.
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  "u" signals the protagonist’s breaking point. The overwhelming weight from “How to Disappear Completely” finally crushes our protagonist as they are screaming, drinking, and crying in despair while confronting his insecurities and frustrations with identity. You should listen to the confused, swaying instrumental and beat switch that contrasts with “These Chains” which continuously builds up and contains similarly swirling instrumentals but in an optimistic tone. The song displays how isolation frustrates many who are too consumed in their work to maintain a connection with their true self and unable to create new, meaningful experiences.
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  "Liability” builds off of the dreadful drunken sobs of “u”, utilizing a somber piano instrumental and dragging vocals. The protagonist fears they can never remember who they once were since others might not accept their real self, burdening themselves with the idea that they are potentially a liability to others. The most crucial thing to listen out for in this song is how the protagonist first introduces the idea of being their own best friend, then faintly starts to embrace vulnerability, and finally finds peace within change which initiates some progression from the events of “u”.
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  "Knees” is the most tragic track off of the playlist. It continues on the introspective nature of “Liability”, but instead reflects on the journey thus far and regretfully wants to return to what once was over a cold, industrial beat. The protagonist understands how emotional growth comes from pain, hence the repeated metaphor “My knees hurt when I grow”, but cannot recognize if he’s actually developed as an individual since they embarked on their journey, citing that they’ve only felt the pain. I think it’s important to listen to the protagonist reminisce on their past, illustrating how many children simply want to grow up but now the protagonist would do anything to become a kid without any pressures again. This displays how, in contrast to previous events on “u”, the protagonist now has conceptualized some idea of identity despite yearning for the past, even referring to a new idea: that they aren’t alone in their struggles.

  "White Ceiling” displays a scene of the protagonist quite literally lying on the ground while staring at the ceiling and reflecting on their experiences so far, claiming every day feels the same while a monotonous, dull instrumental plays with similar characters to the “Knees” beat and boring ceiling. However, you should listen to how the instrumental develops on “White Ceiling” by introducing several upbeat chimes. These potentially reference a dual meaning to the track where the white ceiling symbolizes the unknown, blank canvas of the future that the protagonist is finally looking upwards to and searching for meaning within the current chaos. Though still filled with melancholy, it builds on the entire album so far by signifying the first signs of optimism since “These Chains” as the protagonist attempts to find clarity in the events of “u”.

  "Maybe it's a gift that I couldn't recognize”. Following the protagonist’s existential crisis from “White Ceiling”, they begin comprehending the journey so far on “Trying to Feel Alive”, marking a turning point in the album by juxtaposing the doubt mentioned in “Knees”. After all the confusion and seemingly meaningless suffering, the protagonist reflects through this track and realizes maybe the suffering from the journey did help them discover their real self–it’s so incredibly difficult to understand the process at the moment, but perhaps everything in life occurs for a reason by contributing to who they are today. I love listening to this track on the album for it perfectly sets up the conclusion by tying all the events leading up to this moment: the upbeat, electronic instrumentals layered with promising choral voices topped off with hopeful lyrics that almost acknowledge the journey without showing any regrets. The protagonist directly addresses the events of “u”, a song filled with rage and self-doubt, by recognizing how they’ve lost sight of their initial goal of exploring the world (mentioned from the start on “These Chains”) throughout this new experience. Only now, the protagonist remembers their ambitions and how they have already unknowingly accomplished what they left past comfort for. 

  In light of this newfound appreciation, the protagonist realizes in “Ghost Town” the inevitability of change and accepts that the past will always remain in the past. The grand and victorious beat ripples as multiple vocalists harmonize lyrics about finally reaching “freedom”, though, there is a reminiscent hint of nostalgia wishing they could return to being a carefree child. Ultimately, I love listening to how the protagonist reminds themself that they are “still the kids we used to be”, but are now even stronger as an individual after exploring new things. After navigating life's messes, the challenge is incredibly rewarding when finally connecting the bridge between the past and new experiences, ultimately discovering the freedom of being themselves. The song is a tribute to their depression in “u” that laughs at his failures and triumphantly states how by making it out of “u”, people will eventually discover themselves if they push through it, claiming “nothing hurts anymore, I feel kinda free.”

  "Dearly Departed” brings us back to the beginning, reflecting on everything that the journey brought the protagonist from naive excitement, to existential doubts, to hopeful acceptance. Following the high from “Ghost Town”, the protagonist begins learning how to move on in life after finally settling in his new environment, beginning to navigate past traumas while acknowledging how they forged his current self. You should particularly listen to the reminiscent vibe and subtle guitar riffs that mirror the empty, bittersweet feelings that come with completing a chapter in life. Looking back on the past, the protagonist is simultaneously accepting leaving behind his emotional weight yet questioning, “What's  the point of havin' a best friend if you end up losin' him?” to symbolize his continued mixed feelings of the journey. The protagonist has finally reached a point of closure way beyond the events of “u” after learning to embrace the journey for what it was and finally move forward; yet, “u”’s themes of uncertainty and disconnection still linger within the conclusion, referring to the protagonist still unsure of what the journey meant and questioning: what now?

  false dreams reflects on the inevitable challenges that come with new beginnings and offers an answer to a question so many struggle to conceptualize: how do we move on in life? As humans move onto the next chapter in their lives, it becomes hard to keep a strong connection with the past after releasing familiar anchors. “u”, the song that inspired the playlist, takes this idea to the extreme by exploring isolation after abandoning past relations. Nine other songs accompany “u” to narrate a protagonist who encounters struggles in a new environment but eventually rediscovers himself after embracing the journey itself. The playlist explains the past is solidified and occurred for a reason. All of the pains that come with persevering are already over and it’s our job as individuals to create meaning out of these challenges. Many seek liberation in erasing the past, but to truly move on and experience personal freedom, individuals need to bring all their journies and observe from a holistic view how each chapter taught something. By therefore embracing the journey, we can all accept our stronger, authentic selves and prepare to move forward into the future. (All lyrics taken from Genius)

• 1 2024-11-05T15:34:37-08:00 Lyrics 22 plain 2024-12-07T14:57:18-08:00
  "u"
  [Intro: Kendrick Lamar]
  *Screaming*
  
  [Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]
  Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated
  Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated
  Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated
  Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated
  Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated
  
  [Verse 1: Kendrick Lamar]
  I place blame on you still, place shame on you still
  Feel like you ain't shit, feel like you don't feel
  Confidence in yourself, breakin' on marble floors
  Watchin' anonymous strangers, tellin' me that I'm yours
  But you ain't shit, I'm convinced your tolerance nothin' special
  What can I blame you for? Nigga, I can name several
  Situations, I'll start with your little sister bakin'
  A baby inside, just a teenager, where your patience?
  Where was your antennas?
  Where was the influence you speak of?
  You preached in front of one-hunnid-thousand but never reached her
  I fuckin' tell you fuckin' failure—you ain't no leader!
  I never liked you, forever despise you—I don't need ya!
  The world don't need ya, don't let them deceive ya
  Numbers lie too, fuck your pride too, that's for dedication
  Thought money would change you, made you more complacent
  Fuckin' hate you, I hope you embrace it, I swear—
  
  [Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]
  Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated
  Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated
  Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated
  Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated
  Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated
  
  [Post-Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]
  Lovin' you, lovin' you, not lovin' you, 100° proof
  I can feel your vibe and recognize that you're ashamed of me
  Yes, I hate you, too
  
  [Break: Jessica Vielmas]
  (Loving you ain't really complicated)
  "Housekeeping, housekeeping"
  (What I got to do to get to you?)
  "¡Abre la puerta! ¡Abre la puerta tengo que limpiar el cuarto!"
  (To you)
  "¡Es que no hay mucho tiempo tengo que limpiar el cuarto!"
  (Loving you ain't really complicated)
  "¡Disculpe!"
  (What I got to do to get to you?)
  (To you)
  
  [Beat Switch]
  
  [Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar]
  And you the reason why mom and them leavin'
  No, you ain't shit, you say you love 'em, I know you don't mean it
  I know you irresponsible, selfish, in denial, can't help it
  Your trials and tribulations a burden, everyone felt it
  Everyone heard it, multiple shots, corners cryin' out
  You was deserted, where was your antennas again?
  Where was your presence? Where was your support that you pretend?
  You ain’t no brother, you ain’t no disciple, you ain’t no friend
  A friend never leave Compton for profit, or leave his best friend, little brother
  You promised you’d watch him before they shot him
  Where was your antennas? On the road, bottles and bitches
  You FaceTimed him one time, that's unforgiven
  You even FaceTimed instead of a hospital visit
  Guess you thought he'd recover well
  Third surgery, they couldn't stop the bleeding for real
  Then he died, God himself will say, "You fuckin' failed," you ain't try
  
  [Break]
  *Sniffling*
  
  [Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar]
  I know your secrets, nigga, mood swings is frequent, nigga
  I know depression is restin' on your heart for two reasons, nigga
  I know you and a couple block boys ain't been speakin', nigga
  Y'all damn near beefin', I see it and you're the reason, nigga
  And if this bottle could talk *gulping*
  I cry myself to sleep, bitch, everything is your fault
  Faults breakin' to pieces, earthquakes on every weekend
  Because you shook as soon as you knew confinement was needed
  I know your secrets, don't let me tell 'em to the world
  About that shit you thinkin' and that time you *gulping*, I'm 'bout to hurl
  I'm fucked up, but I ain't as fucked up as you
  You just can't get right, I think your heart made of bullet proof
  Should've killed yo' ass long time ago
  You should've felt that black revolver blast a long time ago
  And if these mirrors could talk it'd say, "You gotta go"
  And if I told your secrets the world'll know money can't stop a suicidal weakness
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "i"
  [Intro: Kendrick Lamar & Ronald Isley]
  Is this mic on? (Hey, move this way, this way)
  Hey, hey, hey, turn the mic up, c'mon, c'mon
  Is the mic on or not? I want the mic
  We're bringing up nobody, nobody
  Nobody but the number one rapper in the world
  He done traveled all over the world
  He came back just to give you some game
  All of the little boys and girls, come up here
  (Ah, one two, one two, what's happening, fool?)
  Come right here, this is for you, come on up
  I done been through a whole lot (Kendrick Lamar)
  Trial, tribulation, but I know God
  The Devil wanna put me in a bow tie (Make some noise, brother)
  Pray that the holy water don't go dry, yeah, yeah
  As I look around me
  So many motherfuckers wanna down me
  But enemigo never drown me
  In front of a dirty double-mirror they found me
  
  [Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]
  And I love my (I love myself)
  Huh, when you lookin' at me, ah, tell me what do you see?
  (I love myself)
  Ahh, I put a bullet in the back of the back of the head of the poli'
  (I love myself)
  Uh, illuminated by the hand of God, boy, don't seem shy
  (I love myself)
  One day at a time, huh
  
  [Verse 1: Kendrick Lamar]
  They wanna say it's a war outside, bomb in the street
  Gun in the hood, mob of police
  Rock on the corner with a line for the fiend
  And a bottle full of lean and a model on the scheme, uh
  These days of frustration keep y'all on tuck and rotation (Come to the front, yeah)
  I duck these cold faces, post up fi-fie-fo-fum basis
  Dreams of reality's peace (Oh, yeah)
  Blow steam in the face of the beast
  Sky could fall down, wind could cry now
  Look at me, motherfucker, I smile
  
  [Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]
  And I love my (I love myself)
  Uh, and when you lookin' at me, ah, tell me what do you see?
  (I love myself)
  Ahh, I put a bullet in the back of the back of the head of the poli'
  (I love myself)
  Uh, illuminated—
  All y'all come to the front, y'all come up to the front
  (I love myself)
  Baby, what about you? Come on
  
  [Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar]
  (Crazy, what you gon' do?)
  Lift up your head and keep moving (Keep moving), turn the mic up
  (Haunt you)
  Peace to fashion police, I wear my heart
  On my sleeve, let the runway start
  You know the miserable do love company
  What do you want from me and my scars?
  Everybody lack confidence, everybody lack confidence
  How many times my potential was anonymous?
  How many times the city making me promises?
  So I promise this, nigga
  
  [Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]
  (I love myself)
  Uh, and when you lookin' at me, ah, tell me what do you see?
  (I love myself)
  Ahh, I put a bullet in the back of the back of the head of the bully
  (I love myself)
  Huh, illuminated by the hand of God, boy don't seem shy
  (I love myself)
  
  [Bridge: Kendrick Lamar]
  Huh (Walk my bare feet), huh (Walk my bare feet)
  Huh (Down, down valley deep), huh (Down, down valley deep)
  (I love myself) Huh (Fi-fie-fo-fum), huh (Fi-fie-fo-fum)
  (I love myself) Huh (My heart undone), one, two, three
  
  [Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar]
  I went to war last night
  With an automatic weapon, don't nobody call a medic
  I'ma do it 'til I get it right (Oh, no)
  I went to war last night (Night, night, night, night, woo)
  I've been dealing with depression ever since an adolescent
  Duckin' every other blessin', I can never see the message
  I could never take the lead, I could never bob and weave
  From a negative and letting them annihilate me
  And it's evident I'm moving at a meteor speed
  Finna run into a building, lay my body—
  
  [Spoken Interlude: Kendrick Lamar]
  (*Offstage argument*)
  Ayy, hold on, woah, woah, stop all this
  Not on my, not while I'm up here
  Not on my time, kill the music, not on my time
  We could save that shit for the streets
  We could save that shit, this for the kids, bro
  2015, niggas tired of playin' victim, dog
  Niggas ain't trying to play vic—, TuTu, how many niggas we done lost?
  How many—, Yan-Yan, how many we lost?
  No, for real, answer the que—, how many niggas we done lost, bro?
  This—, this year alone
  Exactly, so we—, we ain't got time to waste time, my nigga
  Niggas gotta make time, bro
  The judge make time, you know that, the judge make time, right?
  The judge make time so it ain't shit
  It shouldn't be shit for us to come out here and appreciate the little bit of life we got left, dog
  On the dead homies, Charlie P, you know that, bro
  You know that
  Right, it's man—, it's mando, right, it's mando
  And I s—, and I—, and I—, and I say this because I, I love you niggas, man
  I love all my niggas, bro
  Exac—, enough said, enough said
  And we gon' get back to the show and move on, because that shit petty, my nigga
  Mic check, mic check, mic check, mic check, mic check
  We gon' do some acapella shit before we get back to, a—
  All my niggas listen, listen to this:
  
  [Outro: Kendrick Lamar]
  I promised Dave I'd never use the phrase "fuck nigga"
  He said, "Think about what you saying: 'Fuck niggas'
  No better than Samuel on the Django
  No better than a white man with slave boats"
  Sound like I needed some soul searching
  My pops gave me some game in real person
  Retraced my steps on what they never taught me
  Did my homework fast before government caught me
  So I'ma dedicate this one verse to Oprah
  On how the infamous, sensitive N-word control us
  So many artists gave her an explanation to hole us
  Well, this is my explanation straight from Ethiopia
  N-E-G-U-S definition: royalty; king royalty - wait, listen
  N-E-G-U-S description: black emperor, king, ruler, now let me finish
  The history books overlooked the word and hide it
  America tried to make it to a house divided
  The homies don't recognize we been using it wrong
  So I'ma break it down and put my game in a song
  N-E-G-U-S, say it with me, or say it no more
  Black stars can come and get me
  Take it from Oprah Winfrey, tell her she right on time
  Kendrick Lamar, by far, realest Negus alive
  
  (all lyrics taken from Genius)