Personal Music Biography

All This Could be Yours - Cold War Kids


I've chosen to incorporate Cold War Kids' "All This Could Be Yours" in my personal music biography because it details the importance of taking advantage of any opportunities you are given. I come from a relatively wealthy area and feel blessed to have grown up with such amazing opportunities. The school system in which I was taught is considered one of the best in the state of Illinois. My parents were able and willing to pay for my participation on sports teams, service groups, and other community clubs and organizations, as well as my travel across both the United States and the world. Because of such travels, I fully understand how lucky I am in comparison to the majority of the world, and therefore greatly value each and every opportunity this life has afforded me. One lyric of the song (at :45) reads "when the door opens up, you go where it leads." While this may seem like such a simple and obvious statement, I have seen many of my peers pass up some opportunities that I know other teenagers would kill for. The message of the song, while seemingly simple, is something I find very powerful, as it relates to one of my more prominent values: that of taking advantage of any chance that could lead to greater knowledge, understanding, or moral fulfillment.




All Starts Here - Magic Man


I believe that Magic Man's "It All Starts Here" serves as an accurate musical definition of how I try to live my life. Though it is obviously important to consider consequences and results of one's actions, I try not to be too careful when making decisions because I am so afraid of missing out on things that could potentially be really rewarding experiences. The lyrics communicate messages like "you don't need to be careful" or "we'll find our way without the city lights," both of which suggest that the listener live their life without hesitation, even if he or she does not exactly know what lies ahead. In the same way, I strive to try new things, even though they could be foreign to me or if I'm worried about what might happen. Though I'm still cautious and can't say that I always take chances and try new things, this is how I attempt to live my life.




Ordinary Human - OneRepublic

I chose this song because, as the lyrics suggest, I really do consider myself to be an "ordinary human." There are obviously aspects of my life that may not be considered "ordinary," but overall I have yet to experience something completely life-altering or something that drastically sets me apart from others. As the lyrics describe, I am just an "ordinary human." While OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder sings "but I don't feel so ordinary today," I interpreted this lyric to mean that there are parts of each individual that make them less "ordinary", or simply unique. I have not yet experienced great loss or a particularly traumatic event, and have not faced insurmountable struggles thus far in my life, which is why I might consider myself to be very similar to the majority of people around me. I do, however, understand that everyone has different traits, skills, and experiences that set them apart, which is why I feel that the lyrics of this song describe who I am as a person.