Single Saturdays: February 17, 2024

Single Saturdays is Five Cent Sound’s weekly roundup, where our staff members share a song that they’ve fallen in love with and make their case for why others should give it a listen.

“High School in Jakarta” by NIKI

By Hollie Raposo

This song dives into the betrayal in relationships that many of us have experienced. With Valentine’s Day having just passed, there have been a lot of breakups or situationships. “High School in Jakarta” represents the normal life of a high school girl -  “Bleached half my hair when I saw Zoe on your vespa.” She falls head over heels for a guy that does not love her back and mostly uses her and “only calls when you’re off your face.” Leading her on when there was never going to be a relationship, and hanging out with multiple different girls. Every chorus repeats “I still hate you for making me wish I came out smarter” to learn from the mistakes and not continue to go back to this guy that treats her terribly.

The song also makes references to drama and how some friends come and go when moving away. This scenario has happened one too many times in my life. Falling out of friendships and it's not because you don’t like them but have grown apart as people. Hanging out at the playground and then growing up to be adults are two completely different periods in our lives. The singer even has irrational ways to deal with this situation, lying and saying that, “I’ll be getting drunk at Rachel’s” although it was just to try and make the guy jealous. This song is something everyone has dealt with at one time or another. My favorite line from the song has to be “That you're better cause you're older / are you better now that we’re older?” This line references the stigma that in high school being older or in a higher class made you better because at that time you were seen as superior. A true example of growing up from our past selves that the people that made fun of us, we will surpass, and it does not matter what happened in high school, it is different in the real world. Sometimes this is a reminder that we all need.

“Tore” by Mali Velasquez

By Laura Bott

Have you ever felt deeply embarrassed by the sheer humiliation of life itself? Well, Mali Velasquez certainly has, and she wants to tell you all about it in “Tore.” From her recent album I’m Green, Velasquez debuts a collection of songs with purpose, from grappling with grief after the death of her mother to her relationship with herself and how she continues to exist in the world. Putting it into this lens and understanding the true subject matter makes every song feel extremely poignant and raw, even those that may seem more simple at first glance. I’ve been recommending this album to everyone I interact with for more than 3 seconds. And with airpods in, sitting on a squeaky dorm bed at 7:45 in the morning, squeezing on yet another layer to try to counteract the bitter cold that greets every shred of clothing, this song specifically melds perfectly with the glazed over look in one’s eyes. 

In my opinion, indie-folk is perfect for winter (and seasonal depression if you’re into that). Mali’s voice has this trill quality that is comforting and makes you want to listen extra intently, but with a touch of fear. Her tone is one that always makes it seem like bad news is just around the corner. The slightly warped guitar in “Tore” cuts through the steady synth backbeat, acting as the intrusive thoughts that make her constantly question herself even when there seems to be nothing to question. Imagine the feeling of simply walking to class while the voice inside your head screams at you that you’re acting like an utter and total freak after every step you take – this is the mood Mali Velasquez creates with this track. In situations like this, one’s natural response is anything but transparency: 

“The grass that I hid all of my throwing up in,

In your backyard by the front porch 

I lied when I came back in there feverish 

And you could see right through me” 

Through these lines, Velasquez struggles between being open about her insecurities and emotions or bottling them up. Literally, she is throwing up in someone’s yard and pretending otherwise, but figuratively, she portrays the feeling of needing to crawl out of your own skin and how that clashes with the desire to be authentic to those around you. Everyone has felt like a stranger to themselves at one time or another, often leading to self-sabotage (“But the way I act’s unforgivable / And swore that it was just another accident”).  

With “Tore,” Mali Velasquez reveals her struggle to feel and act normal in seemingly  regular situations. Maybe this confession will help others feel heard, explaining the unexplainable emotion of consistent uncertainty in one’s everyday life. Or maybe it will just allow them to wallow in self-pity. Either way, Mali is able to write about both big and small emotions, highlighting the mundane in such a way that it comes to life before the listener’s eyes. It is what has made me so incredibly infatuated with every single song on this 9-track album. So grab your best pair of mittens, lace up your boots, and go walk around the Commons while blasting this existential track.

“Theo B” by Sunny Day Real Estate

By Maya Eberlin

Ever meek and navel-gazing, Sunny Day Real Estate’s ’90s college radio emo sound always captivates me in the cool fall and dead of winter – their brooding complements the miserable weather perfectly, making them a staple in my most recent playlists. The band was unique for their time, and their sound has never been well-imitated since. They were nothing like their counterparts throughout active years, and despite only being together on and off for less than a decade, they have continued to sell out shows even thirty years after their explosion onto the angsty, teenage rock scene.

“Theo B” has been on a constant loop in my headphones these past couple of months. It first caught my interest because of the drastic, yet brief switch in melody following the first verse – the lyrics paired with this guitar instrumental, “let us sometimes fly away,” are something I have often belted in the car, regardless of whether I understand their meaning in the context of the song as a whole. The song’s esoteric, convoluted lyrics center around the narrator’s longing for love. Certain words sound almost lost within the instrumentals, as the backing guitars overpower frontman Jeremy Enigk’s strained vocals on more than one occasion. In addition, Enigk’s exaggerated pseudo-English emo accent does little to help listeners understand his lyrics. This gives “Theo B” an almost pliable quality, allowing listeners to come up with their own interpretations of certain lines. In addition, the few lyrics which can be clearly heard through the fog of the instrumentals are hugely emphasized. My personal favorite moment in the song is one of these instances: near the end, as the song swells to crescendo, the line “where were you when I was calling, dear?” can be perfectly made out. The desperation in Enigk’s voice is so clear it feels almost palpable, allowing for a truly cathartic listening experience. If you don’t already know this classic, make sure to give it a listen.

“Street by Street” by Laufey

By Michelle Garcia

While this is a great song for any soft jazz lovers, “Street by Street” by Laufey serves as a warm hug and needed to push forward for all of my fellow achy-hearted lovers of Boston. 

The song was written on a bus to NYC on one of her heartbroken escapades from the city and recorded in a beloved dorm room of Boston’s own Berklee College of Music. Laufey’s lyrics become the words of someone I think we all recognize. While she specifically writes about a relationship that ended, I feel that the message is universal, especially for anyone just trying to make it through each day in this city. 

As a recent sob story myself, this song has been like a crutch allowing me to walk strong again. While there are parts of the city and myself that I have shared and will not be able to get back, it does not define me. This is a song that encourages me to make new memories over the unhelpful ones of the past and fall in love again with the life I have made here. I don’t need to link Boston to my pain and I won’t. And whenever I doubt that, I like to think well, if Laufey survived heartbreak in this city, why can’t I? 

Whether you are healing from heartbreak or just trying to make it through the rest of your time in Boston, let Laufey remind you that taking it one step at a time is all you need to do. 

“Street by Street 

Breath by Breath 

From the Back Bay to the Sky 

I’m taking back my city, I’m taking back my life”

“Are You Looking Up” By Mk.gee & Two Star

by Justin Wise

Michael Todd Gordon, known as Mk.gee, is a 26-year-old virtuosic multi-instrumentalist artist and producer who has worked with the likes of Dijon, Drake, Omar Apollo, and The Kid Laroi. As of recently, Gordon himself has just dropped his own debut LP titled Two Star & the Dream Police. Leading up to this momentous occasion, he dropped several singles, one of them being “Are You Looking Up.”

There are three variations of this song, but my personal favorite is the live from Chicago version. In this version, Mk.gee invites us into his world with his baritone guitar as the opening lick gradually crescendos with reverb until we hear his voice. He speaks of a person wrestling within themself, asking them questions like “Are you looking up?” and “What's keeping you fenced off?”. Other lyrics lean more into existentialism and lack of self-confidence with him asking “Are you asking why?,” and “Who's got the power in your mind?”.

Instrumentally, there are remnants of the Dexys Midnight Runner’s 1982 hit track “Come On Eileen” and Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” Era. With the vocal expressiveness of Bon Iver and the emotional complexity of Jeff Buckley, we start to see where Mk.gee’s influences may lie. Thematically, the song invokes comfort, increasing nostalgia, and a coming-of-age story waiting to happen.

From the first few seconds to the last fading moments, “Are You Looking Up” feels like a dream-like road trip with roads long and winding, but if you stick it out, it's worthwhile. There are very few songs I’ve encountered in my life that have ever made me feel something so gutturally soul-filling and proud to be alive, dreamy, and optimistic. Never ceasing to amaze me, Mk.gee is on a path to becoming an individual who will be talked about for quite some time.

“Envy the Leaves” by Madison Beer

By Maxwell Brady-lewis

The song that I picked for Single Saturdays is Envy the Leaves by Madison Beer. This is the third track from her 2023 album Silence Between Songs. Throughout the song, Beer personifies elements of nature to express her envy towards them for being oblivious to the world around them. The listener is able to pick up on this through the first verse, when Beer states that she envies the leaves because “they’re all so carefree” and “unaware of the fall.” Beer creates a sense of longing to go through life without the troubles that come with it, such as failing or caring so much. This, in turn, makes the listener wonder what it would be like to not have to go through life experiencing the array of emotions humans face on a day to day basis. Aside from the lyrics, the production on the song remains the same throughout its length. For listening purposes this fits perfectly with the song’s meaning. Beer wants to go through life oblivious to everything, always staying the same without any disruptions. Thus, the production reflects that. That is until the last 25 seconds of the song, as the production changes to a more cinematic version with edits to vocals. To me this symbolizes the transition back into reality. For the past 2 minutes and 54 seconds Beer and the listener envisioned a life without disruptions. However, like any dream it’s not real, and you have to come back into reality. 

Over the past few months since its release I have not been able to stop listening to this song. I was immediately drawn to the lyrics because I liked to entertain the concept of experiencing life from a different perspective. In addition, I’m someone who enjoys when songs switch up their production, and this song is no exception. I remember being blown away the first time I heard it. With that being said I can’t wait to see how Beer performs this when I see her on tour this summer!

“Pur” by Cocteau Twins

By Izzie Claudio

Elizabeth Frasier, the lead vocalist of Cocteau Twins, starts this tune with a thoughtful rumination on the dynamics of a relationship. She describes the perspective of seeing someone you love experience emotional turmoil. Witnessing this struggle with emotion can elicit a feeling of helplessness, but instead, the choice of gentle validation is explored in the lyrics. “You are angry and that’s okay.” Negative emotions aren’t a burden in a relationship, it’s a moment where both people can grow together. Her voice expertly captures the tone of reassurance and understanding, and the music reflects that same sentiment. The delicate synth melodies create a space of comfort. As the song progresses towards the chorus, there are increased melismas of sounds that travel across the instrumentation; each moment of synth coloring the background lasts longer and longer. It’s as if shooting stars are slowly filling the night sky. 

The beauty of this song is in its climax. With a strong beat of the snare drum, everything explodes into a declaration of unconditional love. The introduction of the drums powerfully expands Frasier’s vocals and the entire atmosphere that initially began with such softness. The chorus is repeated three times until the song comes to an end, which emphasizes Frasier’s declaration of love despite an emotional hardship. 

“Reach and you won’t lose me 

Destroy the objective, but still survive 

You are angry and that’s okay… yes

I am not afraid of your anger

What do you need? What do you want?

I love you and I know that you can figure it out”

The build-up of emotion in this song never fails to give me chills, and the music of Cocteau Twins truly transports the listener to another world.