Music Rituals
Traditions & Rituals
Mac Miller is very diverse in his discography. He succeeds when you need romantic songs, party anthems, or if you in those sad hours. If I'm hosting a party or a small get-together and I'm on aux, I'll likely start a radio The Spins on Spotify. The Spins is a good song at parties because of its upbeat and feel-good energy. It has high-energy and has a beat sampled from Half Mast by Empire of the Sun. Its also a pretty common song so people recognize it quickly and it helps create a chill and carefree atmosphere that keeps the gathering uplifted.
If I'm in the mood to listen to love songs, my go-to is ROS by Mac. I feel this song feels like yearning and admiration for someone who you feel is just too divine for you. You can tell by the lyrics that Mac deep appreciation for a certain woman and expresses that through poetic lyrics and a mellow, dreamy instrumental. The song’s smooth and jazzy production combined with Mac’s introspective lyrics makes it feel so romantic and - what I think - is one of his most soulful tracks.
Mac has a lot of sad and emotional songs because he raps about the tough feelings we all go through but don’t always know how to express. Good News and Missed Calls are my go-to tracks when I’m feeling down because the I can relate to the lyrics.
Good News is a very introspective and bittersweet song where he reflects on his struggles with mental health, fame, and the pressure to always appear okay. His weary delivery makes it feel like he’s letting out his thoughts in a stream of consciousness. There's also a sense of exhaustion in his delivery. I feel like this mirrors how someone might talk when so worn out by constantly trying to stay positive when things feel overwhelming. This song can resonate with anyone who’s been in a tough place but has to keep moving through life.
I love Missed Calls and think it's such a genius piece. This song is about the ups and downs of a troubled relationship. Mac expresses the miscommunication, growing apart, and the frustration that comes with trying to make things work when they’re clearly falling apart. It's that relatable feeling of wanting to hold onto something that’s slipping away. But the beat is smooth yet energetic, so it's like you know a relationship is ending (sad) but you're honestly coming to terms with it so it has a sense of "okayness" to it, symbolized with the sort-of happy beat.
I love Mac Miller I used to listen to him 24/7 in high school and I still put him on sometimes. I completely agree that his discography is so diverse, with music for almost any mood and with a sound so unique and versatile like his, it made him very easy to listen to all the time. My music habits are a bit different now since I usually just shuffle my liked songs on Spotify and skip until I find something I’m in the mood for. I also didn’t think to focus on a specific artist for my blog instead, I wrote about my study music rituals, which are very different from Mac Miller’s music!
ReplyDeleteHey Sofiya! I really enjoy your take on this! Even though you don’t have specific music traditions, the way you describe Mac Miller as a ritual artist makes so much sense. His music really does fit so many different moods. I also relate to what you said about Good News, that song hits differently when you're going through a rough time. Mac had a way of putting deep emotions into words that a lot of people (including me) struggle to express. Also, The Spins is such a solid party song! I’ve been at a few get-togethers where that song came on, and everyone instantly got into a good vibe. It’s so cool how music can shape the atmosphere like that.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Mac Miller, but I always love having that one artist you can pull out for any occasion. As someone who also has a very diverse taste in music, I have never really connected with specific artists or bands, but that gets much easier when you can find some of that variety from the same artist. I like how all Mac Miller's songs feel unique, but they still have his lyrical style.
ReplyDeleteHii. I am on the same page with you as not having specific traditions, however you did an amazing job with this blog. I also enjoy Mac Miller, as I don't listen to him much, his story is a tragedy but his songs are always so powerful and meaningful. He definitely was a legend in the music industry.
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