Sunday, April 3, 2016

Alexis Kirkland: Perfect Playlist for Being an Outsider

During my junior year, I have come to realize something about myself. I am an outsider, and proud of it. I strive to be different. From my fashion to my mindset to even starting each day at 3 am, I will do nearly anything to just be out of the ordinary. Who wakes up and says, "I want to be average today!" Why, when you see normality everywhere you turn? Here's my countdown for the Perfect Playlist for Being an Outsider.

10. Alive by One Direction. Ever feel like your wants and needs are a little beyond the norm? Well hey, it's alright, if it makes you feel alive. This track from the planet's biggest band showcases the idea that whatever makes you happiest in the world is something you should never give up on. "Don't look back, live your life."

9. U Can't Touch This by MC Hammer. No matter what the occasion, you can guarantee that Hammer will get you pumped. This classic 90's hit will always give you a confidence boost. So when you look at yourself and wonder if you're going a little overboard with your style, just remember, in the wise words of Mr. Hammer, "Either work hard or you might as well quit."

8. Tell Tale Heart by Alvarez Kings. The lyrics for this song are so broad, you can pretty much apply them to anything. For me, I used them to relate to my experience of being out of the ordinary. Believe it or not, I still feel insecure at times. While I do like my aura to be a surprise experience to the people around me, it can be unnerving on occasion.

7. Space Oddity by David Bowie. Sit outside under a tree in the summertime watch the clouds roll by, and listen to this song. I already knew I felt sort of unearthly when it came to my presence in life, but this song takes me, quite literally, out of this world. I feel like I am Major Tom, floating in the most peculiar way into infinity. No, I can no longer hear Ground Control.

6. Shining Star by Earth, Wind, and Fire. If you know me, you'll know that funk is in my veins. It's what I grew up listening to, and I know it inside and out, from its telling seventh and ninth chords syncopated into an upbeat rhythm, to the artists that made it so legendary. It was basically a requirement that I put some funk on this countdown. This reminds me that I can do whatever I please with my life, and no matter who I am, I'm a shining star. Plus, this genre was so shortly lived, I feel like even more of an outcast by being a millennial teen listening to it. It's euphoric, ethereal, so enigmatic. God I love me some funk (rant over).

5. Adult Education by Hall and Oates. What songs today actually have a plot based around school? You know, that aren't about breaking the rules and flunking out. I JAM OUT to this song because, 1, it's got minor undertones and I LIVE for that in music, and 2, because it preaches what so few of my peers seem to understand about their social lives right now. There is life after high school. I've always been told that I'm an old soul, and this song really brings me into that.

4. Kill Everybody by Skrillex. This song in particular is an acquired taste. If you have a weak stomach, or are easily influenced, this song is not for you. I, for one, LOVE horror. The more gore and blood, the better. I listen to "Creepy Doll Music" and "Creepy Carnival Music" going to sleep every night. It's lovely. Kill Everybody is an upbeat track that has been given an injection of insanity and a small dose of horror. I love it (please don't send me to the counselor's office for this, I promise I'm not crazy, I just like the song).

3. Cry Baby by Melanie Martinez (Explicit). God do I love this song. Trust me, if you are an over-emotional person, this song is 100% for you. Actually, her entire album (titled Cry Baby) is for you. I have always had my brain replaced with my heart. I take things so hard, then I fall apart. But, you know what, I don't care. That's just another thing that makes me different from everyone else, and while it hurts sometimes, I laugh through my tears.

2. Hair by Lady Gaga. For me, this Born This Way song really hits home. As y'all can probably tell, fashion is my biggest outlet of who I am. My hair expresses a lot of this. While you can dress kind of strange on a day-to-day basis, it's not complete without a split-dyed head of hair to top it off. Whether you want racoon or red highlights, your friends will think you're dynamite.

1. Mad Hatter by Melanie Martinez. This song comforts me in times that I feel like my weirdness is a bad thing (which I usually know that it's not). My favorite lines are "I'm peeling the skin off my face, cuz I really hate being safe" and "So what if I'm crazy, the best people are." It can help anyone feel more at ease with themselves, and is my #1 song in my Perfect Playlist for Being an Outsider. Enjoy!

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