May is mental health awareness month and I’ve been waiting to talk about all the ways mental health should be treated with just as much care as we do our bodies. I’ve talked about my mental health frequently on the blog and my Instagram before; from therapy, to self reflection, and tracking my personal growth, it’s a journey I’ve loved being able to navigate through social media. But in the same way I’ve expressed how taking social media breaks is probably the best way to keep your mental health in check–especially now with increased social media use and for what it’s used for. So at the moment my Instagram is a little ghost but with summer just around the corner I want to remind you guys to grant yourselves grace. We’ve been working, going to school, and surviving through a pandemic. Mental health has been at an all time fluctuating scale and some days might be even harder now than they ever were before. And that’s okay. The important thing to know is that you matter, above all else. Rest your mind, your heart and your soul and everything else will fall into place.
Now without further ado, let’s talk about these damn songs! Now I love Pentatonix. I’ve been following them since they first came out with their Christmas album in 2015 and I immediately fell in love. Now it’s been awhile since I’ve kept up with any of their albums but I heard two songs and just knew these were perfect to lead this conversation. If you don’t know about Pentatonix, they’re an pop acapella group of five and they’re phenomenal. They started out doing covers and medleys and two of the members even have their own group called Superfruit that I totally recommend checking out. Anyways, their second original album “The Lucky Ones” released in February and since I’m late to everything, here we are. Now I can rant and rave. I’m only going to talk about a few songs from the album but the tracks I am going to analyze relate particularly to the ways I’ve chosen to interpret them. But of course, music is supposed to relate to those in the ways it relates...to you. So maybe I’m completely off with the way I’ve chosen to listen to their lyrics but then again, maybe I’m not and these songs can help you clear your head when you need someone to speak to you about your mental health. Coffee in Bed. How could I start this list without looking at this song first? During rough mental health days, sometimes all we need is for someone to check in on us. Maybe a simple text letting someone know that you’re thinking of them, maybe asking someone how they’re doing–how you're really doing?– or maybe you just need to call and sit in silence to keep each other company. It’s the little things that count and this song really highlights that. From the perspective of a romantic relationship, I’m sure, this song says, “I know I'm gonna hold on to; When you get too in your head; I'll bring you coffee in bed.” Bye. How can I not be in love? It’s blatant mention of anxiety in the first line was something that really resonated with me and it made me think that all relationships–romantic or not–really should focus on trying to make sure your partner feels okay, even if it’s through the smallest thing. It shows that you care. Love Me When I Don’t. Of course, nothing like a little self doubt and insecurity. We all have them, we manage, but sometimes it can get a little out of control. It’s good to maintain negative thoughts for yourself, but it’s also nice to know that you have someone in your corner to pull you back when you start being a little too hard on yourself. Whether it’s your mom, your best friend, your pet, or your therapist, moral support is always important. The pandemic has made us feel so isolated and it can be hard to feel like you have anyone in your corner, especially when you can’t always see or be near them. However, this song really talks about what it’s like to have someone remind you not only are they there for you, but that you’re stronger than you think. And we’re all always stronger than we think. Granting ourselves grace always makes this process a little easier but a good support system is nice to have when your mind can be a little hard to leave. Support groups or group activities online or in-person can also help with this too. It doesn’t always have to be someone you know but social interaction is vital for mental health stability. Just know when it’s your time to reach out and when you need to self reflect. They are Lucky Ones. As the culmination of the album, and the song that holds the most meaning for the band themself, I thought this was the perfect song to use to talk about growth. I talked earlier about growth not being linear and when we’re learning how to live and live with our realities, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, we always have to give ourselves the chance to look back and see how far we’ve come and give ourselves praise for all the hard work we’ve put into getting us this far. As for the baby steps that feel like it’s not getting us anywhere, it's not until we finally turn back and see that we went further than we thought just because we kept going. I loved how this song talked about that. The beginning of the song starts out portraying thoughts of running away, avoiding problems, and the survival skills we used to make you feel like you need to tuck and hide into yourself. But the you come out the other end and realize “oh.” It’s all easier at the end of the tunnel, we just have to get there first. Honorable mentions: Of course I can never stop at my optimal number. (I swear, if ya’ll ever have the honor to hear me talk in person…) *Be My Eyes– “I can get caught up on little things and missteps; You would build a ground beneath my feet; When I get lost, I'm out of my mind, too in my head; You're the camera to focus me.” It’s giving "Coffee in Bed" vibes. *Never Gonna Cry Again– I just love the way this song talks about the pressure to change yourself into someone you think you’re supposed to be because society or the internet or your family tells you “this” is who you're supposed to be. And this steady conflict of “who’s right?” is one I imagine we all can relate to at various points in our lives. *A Little Space–And we love a song that establishes boundaries, even between romantic partners. When things are moving too fast and you feel overwhelmed, communicating that you need a little space before things turn ugly? I can appreciate that. Even if in the end, it leads to heartache, at least I knew I established who I am from the beginning. I think the beauty about hearing an album that’s done by a group that has such a creative writing process as this one, is that we get to hear so many different voices and perspectives within the album. No two songs sound the same or even talk about the same thing. In an interview Kevin Olusola talks about how this album is a culmination of the five years the group spent together and I’m excited to finally hear how that’s evolved and grown into this–something beautiful, modern, and heartfelt–despite the years and changes they’ve been through. If you guys want to hear any more of my album analysis’, make sure to follow me on StudyBreaks website to read more. I have an article on Julia Michaels’ album “Not in Chronological Order” coming out soon so stay tuned! And remember, “your illness doesn't define you, your strength and courage does.” You're doing a great job where you are. Keep going. I'm proud of you. ❤️ Always with love, Arianna
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AuthorI'm an 21 year old girl who lives in NY. I love to read and write and fashion is my life. Follow me to find out more! Archives
January 2023
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