Monday Mixtape: March 5

Last week, I wrote my first contribution for the #mondaymixtape tag. In last week's post, I highlighted how the songs in my Feb 26 mixtape help me get through Mondays. Unfortunately, most of us dread Mondays...especially Monday mornings. The strength required to even just get up and pep-talk our way to stepping out of our house and face whatever the new week will bring is tremendous. But I am hopeful that the #mondaymixtape entries will help the Steemit community to look forward to an interesting week because of new music and fresh discoveries.

Some quick rules for those who'd like to participate:

1. Make a post with #mondaymixtape as your first tag
2. Post links to 5 songs you like
3. Tell us why you like them. Point out features that surprised you, stuff you learnt from the song, etc etc.

In this mixtape, I'd like to suggest songs that describe my Monday afternoons/evenings and my commute going home. These are some of the songs that I like listening to at the end of every day because these are a great background music to when I am evaluating the work/school day that had just passed.

Here it goes:

1. IV OF SPADES - Mundo

Yes, I have listed IV of Spades in my mixtape last week and yes, I am listing them again now. I can't get enough of IV of Spades! IV of Spades is a Filipino band and Mundo ("World", when directly translated in English) is written in Filipino. When asked what the song's meaning was, Zild, the band's bassist, explains that they were in love when they wrote the song. So essentially, Mundo is a love song. Haha! If you're a Filipino or someone who understands the Filipino language, this song is going to blow you away. Like I said, I am a lyrics-first person and being an advocate of words, I'd say this is the song that have made me respect IV of Spades. Mundo is so beautifully-written and I really hope that when someone translates this to English, they would get to relay the same message across.

I am amazed with the song's ability to make one feel that wonderful feeling of being in love. Of course, the individual skills of the boys that Spades fans and musicians all go crazy for are still very much evident in this song. My favorite line? "Hindi na maliligaw". Naliligaw means "being lost", as in, "I don't know where I am, which way to go, and I am lost". Translated to English, "Hindi na maliligaw" means "I will no longer be lost", because "you will now be my world" ("mundo'y magiging ikaw"). Sorry, I suck at translating. But yeah, this sounds so much more beautiful in Filipino.

2. The Native Architects - Space Talk

I think the Native Architects has been around since 2014 but it was only in 2017 that I got to discover them through their self-titled EP. While they only have 5 songs in this EP, I recommend listening to all 5. I hope that in the near future, they will decide to release a full-length album.

I find myself smiling whenever I hear this song. This may be part of the reason why this is one of my go-to's when I am stressed or tired (e.g. on Monday afternoons). This song is also part of my Riding Shotgun and Long Drive playlists on Spotify, perfect for when you're on the road with that special someone. :) Because I am interested with astronomy, Space Talk's lyrics obviously won me. I also like the way they've described a love story through this song.

Favorite line: So stop the moments here. I don't want to see another if it cannot be another with you.

3. Coldplay - Amazing Day

I am a HUGE fan of Coldplay and this is going to be a heads-up that most of my mixtapes may include Coldplay, in one way or another.

Amazing Day is one of the songs in Coldplay's latest (hopefully not the last) album released, A Head Full of Dreams (AHFOD). The more popular songs in this album are the album's title, Adventure of a Lifetime, Everglow, and Hymn for the Weekend (a collab with Beyonce). While I think these more mainstream songs of AHFOD have their merits, Amazing Day is seriously one of the best love songs that Coldplay has ever written, both sound and lyrics-wise. I like how the relatable and believable the lyrics are. This song makes you feel thankful of Mondays (despite how horrible past Mondays are) and eventually, it makes you look forward to the next days to hopefully be amazing. Ultimately, this is such a feel-good song, whether you have a special someone or not. Never really fails to cheer me up when I am down.

As for the song's music video, I love how Coldplay initiated this film project which would eventually become the music video of Amazing Day. The videos sent by the fans which showed what was happening in their respective corners of the world really touched my heart and made me more hopeful for tomorrow.

Favorite line: "And time seemed to say, 'Forget the world and its weight' "

4. Clara Benin - Parallel Universe

When I first heard this song, I immediately thought it sounds so similar to another song also by Clara Benin, Kingdom Come. I usually listen to Clara Benin, a Filipina indie artist, when I am walking home at night, especially when I am tired. Clara has such a unique style and her voice is so perfect for when you need to relax or when you need to be reminded that something so beautiful can be orchestrated by something so simple. She is also a skilled songwriter and I am impressed with how she told the story of a painful, why-can't-we-be-together kind of love through this song.

The line that hits me right: In a parallel universe, where timing is kind to us, maybe we would be alright.

5. Tauren Wells - Hills and Valley (The Valleys Version)

This song is about acknowledging that going through challenges will be extremely difficult. However, eventually, challenges will become bearable and overcoming them becomes possible when you know you are not alone. For the past few weeks, this song has reminded of what God has done for me in the past and what God has promised to do for me in the future. In life, we won't always be in plain fields. We will go through various hills, valleys, mountains...and other terrains that will be unfamiliar and painful to go through. Despite these, this song emphasizes that God, in His wisdom and sovereignty, has allowed every thing that will happen to us. And in those moments, even if we feel that He has left us, well, He hasn't and will never leave us. When a day is extra horrible and I just know that the next days will not be easy, this song brings tremendous hope that helps me survive the lies that try to eat me up. I pray that this song does the same thing to you.

This line nailed it: "I've watched my dreams get broken. In You I hope again."

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There! In a few hours, I will be done with work and will be going home. Mondays may be rough, and today is not an exception, but I will be listening to these songs with the hope that tomorrow, it gets better. May you enjoy listening to these songs too!