Music to Atone To
relatable music that seeks to atone and lift the spirit with brent faulkner
featuring artists like
Brittany Howard, Declan McKenna, BROCKHAMPTON, Janelle Monáe, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Gary Clark, Jr.
Perhaps you’re like Alexander – you’ve experienced a “No good, very bad day.” Maybe, a difficult situation in life extends beyond a bad day. A break-up with your significant other has got you down. The loss of a family member has you feeling mighty low. You’ve lost your job, and now, you must rebuild and rebrand. Bummer! All of these unfortunate life experiences and more are captured by the songs featured on this playlist.
This playlist needs no genres; it’s a collection of relatable music that seeks to atone and lift the spirit. Some music reflects pain and misfortune that devastates, but ultimately, it’s therapeutic – a means to move forward.
The Joke – Brandi Carlile
22 January 2019
“You’re feeling nervous, aren’t you boy? / With your quiet voice and impeccable style…” Americana singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile instantly gets down to business on “The Joke,” an anthem of atonement for the bullied, marginalized, and under-represented souls…
Dear Insecurity – Gnash
16 January 2019
“Dear insecurity / When you gonna take your hands off me? / When you ever gonna let me be / Proud of who I am?” Singer/songwriter Ben Abraham assists Los Angeles alternative pop artist Garret Nash (best known as Gnash) on the memorable, ultra-relatable chorus of “Dear Insecurity.”…
Scarf Song – Sara Wolff
9 January 2019
“I made this scarf to keep you warm / To keep you safe and sound from harm / I made this scarf to keep you warm / But now I want to tighten it round your neck.” Why does the protagonist in “Scarf Song” want to strangle the man (the antagonist) mentioned above in the chorus?…
American Sports – Arctic Monkeys
19 December 2018
“And I never thought, not in a million years / That I’d meet so many Lolas.” Who is Lola and how has Alex Turner met so many people with that name? Clearly, The Arctic Monkeys frontman isn’t referencing a specific person, but rather people who may very well be disappointments in their own right,…
It’s Enough – Lenny Kravitz
12 December 2018
“I just thought somehow things would get better…” Sigh. Unfortunately, according to rocker Lenny Kravitz, things haven’t gotten better. What is the Grammy-winner referring to? The utterly flawed state of the world – violence, political corruption, and social issues among a host of other problems…
x ANA x – Badflower
4 December 2018
“It’s showtime / Got a lump in my throat / I forgot how to breathe / Only know how to choke… / I need x, ANA, x / Help me bury my thoughts.” Add “x ANA x” to a growing list of songs that explore the struggles of mental health…
Me Versus Me – Stacy Barthe
27 November 2018
“Drive myself in the state of denial / So dark and hopeless, I wanted to die.” Far too often, the importance of being in good mental health is understated. Depression isn’t something to be played with, as it can potentially lead to tragedy – suicide…
American Bad Dream – Kane Brown
21 November 2018
“So, wake me up from this American bad dream / Is it this messed up, or is it really reality?” Unfortunately, it isn’t a dream, but definitely reality. Country musician Kane Brown is perturbed about the state of the United States of America on “American Bad Dream,” among the crème de la crème from his 2018 sophomore album, Experiment…
Stick to Your Guns – Watsky
7 November 2018
“You got your finger on the trigger, kid… Line it up, line it up, line it up / And hit me with the truth.” ‘The truth’ is that it’s no secret that in the United States, there’s a serious problem with gun violence and mass shootings. Every shooting is tragic, yet, such incidents occur more and more frequently…
Angel Down – Lady Gaga
30 October 2018
“Shots were fired on the street / By the church where we used to meet / Angel down, angel down / But the people just stood around.” On her moving, thoughtful record “Angel Down,” Lady Gaga is clearly perturbed by the state of society…
To My Father – Nicholas Tomillon
23 October 2018
“I’ve always been a fighter / I met you in the war / I thought you would care for me / ‘Cause that’s what fathers are for.” From the first lines of “To My Father,” it’s clear that teen singer/songwriter Nicholas Tomillon has faced adversity…
Paracetamol – Declan McKenna
16 October 2018
“There’s a girl, fifteen, with her head in a noose / Because she’s damned to live, well she’s damned to choose.” Chilling lyrics. Shockingly, the lyrics were penned by a teenager, British singer/songwriter Declan McKenna…
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype. When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event