The End of the World

Quite the dramatic title, right? But no, I'm not giving survival tips or anything else - just sharing my playlist for the end of the world that you can find here.

This isn't what I would play if I found out aliens were going to end the world in hours, to be honest. It's just my ride-or-die songs! Yes, there are songs about endings, finding peace, and/or nostalgia, here's every song you'll ever need in this twelve hour playlist titled 'shuffle if the world is ending'.

*This playlist may contain explicit content. Explicit songs are marked with an (E) next to song title.

"F*ck the World (Summer in London)" - Brent Faiyaz (E)

This song is unbelievably peaceful for such an at - odds song. Faiyaz has an angelic voice; soothing despite the obscene - at - times lyrics. His voice is used sparingly. He lets the backgrounds use silence much the way jazz music does. Because he doesn't tax his vocals, the listener is forced to pay attention when he does use them and the harmonies are even more important. This song is on this playlist because it's something I can listen to in any situation or emotional state - it's incredibly versatile and enjoyable no matter what.

"Swing Lynn (Slowed)" - Harmless

This is also peaceful. An over-reverbed jazz guitar begins the song and stays throughout; keeping a simple harmony. The lyrics aren't that important to the song, either. The guitar, drums, and vocals are the only sound for the majority of the song, which leaves an uncluttered sound for the listener that also clears the mind. I can't help but wish for the summer nights this song conjures up in my mind, too. This song is on the playlist because it's such a staple to my music taste. It just fits with the other songs on this playlist, too.

"Still Don't Know My Name" - Labrinth (E)

This is definitively not peaceful. It's actually the polar opposite of "Swing Lynn" in its dramatic backgrounds and focus on vocals. However, it is theoretically similar in its uncluttered sound. "Still Don't Know My Name" is dramatic enough to warrant a movie soundtrack in which the main character faces death down dramatically. Lastly, it has an alt-pop feel and synth and drums worthy of a Top 40 song with none of the cheesiness.

"The Beach" - The Neighbourhood

You don't really think I'd make a playlist without songs by The Neighbourhood, do you? That would be ridiculous! "The Beach" is the perfect offset to "F*ck the World" because it is everything FTW is not. It's very passionate and involved, with distinctive backgrounds including hidden melodies and specific chord tones meant to evoke emotion. The vocals are ardent and the overall tone of the song is 'I can't lie to myself anymore, I'm in love with you'. It's perfect for giving up and throwing caution to the wind for love, and therefore perfect for 'the end of the world'.

"Apocalypse" - Cigarettes After Sex

Five minutes of absolute beauty. The intro includes just a simply drum beat and cascading single guitar notes, which captures the listener's attention and leaves everything to the imagination. The vocals are very androgynous, making it perfect for anyone - it's not feminine or masculine; it's completely up to interpretation and the imagination of the listener which makes it targeted towards no one and everyone at the same time. The first time I listened, I was taken within the first few words. Because the lyrics are more poetic and not specific to a situation, this song is applicable if I've just been broken up with up or I'm deeply in love. This song is on the playlist because of its peace and versatility. This could quite possibly be my favorite song. (Also, the genre is a perfect mix of indie-folk-bedroom pop-R&B-everything.)

"R.I.P 2 My Youth" - The Neighbourhood

Another Neighbourhood song! I posted months ago about this song and a book that goes with it perfectly, Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow. I recommend reading the sommelier post linked here to a get a feel for the song.

"Star Shopping" - Lil Peep (E)

There's a lot of stigma around rap - a lot of it, especially rap released within the last five or ten years, is immediately written off as unimportant, vulgar, or tasteless. Sure, a lot of rap really is that way. That is definitely not the case with some of it, though - including "Star Shopping" and "Leray"(by Trippie Red, also on this playlist). This rap is more poetic than anything; it sounds like spoken word, and put to music, it's beautiful. This song is definitely written in an era and influenced by other mainstream 'tasteless' rap, but it simply cannot be disregarded because of the beautiful flow and backgrounds. This song features a repetitive guitar line, a simple beat, and other distinctive backgrounds.