Name some existential songs.

ChroniC · 30 Jun 2020 at 21:59

There's are songs/tunes/music that you would play at a party and then there are those types of songs that conjure up strange feelings. Ones that you listen to that cause euphoria or dread, happiness or fear, it's a very strange thing and you defintely wouldn't play them at a party, but they're brilliant none the less.

An example I guess currently for me is the theme to DARK, that was also the very important part of the an episode of Breaking Bad.

With a quiet beginning it builds up with intensity. I love it.

Would anyone care to name anymore.

SixTwoSix · 30 Jun 2020 at 22:19

Mokadelic - Doomed To Live evokes all kinds of weird emotions in me, can make me feel sadness and elation depending on mood as I start to listen.

G-MAN2004 · 1 Jul 2020 at 17:29

jsmoke · 1 Jul 2020 at 17:35

This can be depressing at certain times. Remember listening as student in 90s. Cold flat, no money, just out of school, so much going on etc.

kdd · 4 Jul 2020 at 06:17

A lot of Prog/metal touches on existential themes.

montymint · 4 Jul 2020 at 06:55

Nitefly · 4 Jul 2020 at 08:41

One song that always made me feel weird and pensive was Decks Dark by Radiohead. A song more or less about looking up, seeing a big Independence Day stile space craft and thinking “....****” and using that as a metaphor for contemplating how you spent your life. So jolly

It was used really, really well at the end of the first episode of Ozark.

[Chorus]
Then into your life, there comes a darkness
There's a spacecraft blocking out the sky
And there's nowhere to hide
You run to the back and you cover your ears
But it's the loudest sound you've ever heard
And all we trapped rag doll cloth people
We are helpless to resist
Into our darkest hour

[Verse]
But it was just a laugh, just a laugh
Just a laugh, just a laugh
Even at this angle
And so we crumble
A ten ton head, made of wet sand
Oh, this dread circumference
You've gotta be kidding me
The grass grows over me
Your face in the glass, in the glass
It was just a laugh, just a laugh
It's whatever you say it is
In split infinity

[Chorus]
Then into your life, there comes a darkness
And a spacecraft blocking out the sky
And there's nowhere to hide
You run to the back and you cover your ears
But it's the loudest sound you've ever heard
Into your darkest hour

[Outro]
When you've had enough of me
When you've had enough of me
Sweet darling
When you've had enough of me
When you've had enough of me
Sweet darling
Sweet times
Sweet darling
Sweet times

Yaayuh! · 5 Jul 2020 at 06:32

It’s generally the reason/context for a lot of music, especially Post rock, prog rock, shoegaze, dreampop and even synth pop and classical. My main Spotify playlist is full of it lol.

Sigur Rós is a good shout. For me at the moment I’m getting the vibe on Big Thief.

I find movie and TV show OSTs a great place to pick up on this sort of stuff. Sharp Objects for example: https://open.spotify.com/user/warne...2DXARC72gCph6bNloyM?si=8KAgCDdwRe62sgbJdfPxkQ

Uncle Petey · 5 Jul 2020 at 13:39

Junglist · 8 Jul 2020 at 17:08

Obvious choice

jsmoke · 8 Jul 2020 at 17:32

Not sure if right genre but might be.

Good tune from 90s.

NickK · 10 Jul 2020 at 21:13

Brighteyes.
Sound of Silence.
Jona Lewie Stop the Cavalry.

cheesyboy · 10 Jul 2020 at 21:23

Lux Aeterna from the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack

Nitefly · 10 Jul 2020 at 23:42

jsmoke said:
Not sure if right genre but might be.

Good tune from 90s.

Isn’t that the tune you play when you bring a lady back to make out?

Just me?

neviditelny · 11 Jul 2020 at 05:06

Yaayuh! said:
It’s generally the reason/context for a lot of music, especially Post rock, prog rock, shoegaze, dreampop and even synth pop and classical. My main Spotify playlist is full of it lol.

Sigur Rós is a good shout. For me at the moment I’m getting the vibe on Big Thief.

I find movie and TV show OSTs a great place to pick up on this sort of stuff. Sharp Objects for example: https://open.spotify.com/user/warne...2DXARC72gCph6bNloyM?si=8KAgCDdwRe62sgbJdfPxkQ

I've not listened to a lot of dreampop or synth pop, but the others you mention (post rock, prog rock and shoegaze) is great in that way. Even though a lot of post rock don't have lyrics the songs move you quite a bit anyway. In prog there is some really amazing songs and albums which touches existential feelings and emotions. I think Anathema got some great songs that would fall in that bracket (Internal Landscapes is one of them). Shoegaze I've not listened to much yet, but one of my favorite bands (Alcest) are pretty heavily influenced by shoegaze but takes a darker take on it (think they are classified as darkgaze/blackgaze).

Rroff · 11 Jul 2020 at 05:20

Obligatory

There are a few different evolutions of that one by Globus/Immediate Music.

cheesyboy said:
Lux Aeterna from the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack

Just about anything by Clint Mansell to be fair - The Fountain OST has some great ones.

Worth giving the whole album a listen - though you might end up a bit depressed by the end of it.

Rroff · 27 Jul 2020 at 04:22

Ran into this one again - there is something about it that really touches on the hopelessness I don't think I've ever heard another pieces of music capture.

PC777 · 27 Jul 2020 at 16:05

Some from my playlists.

Apparently a popular funeral song, definitely gives pause for reflection:

Same act, similar theme of time passing:

My favourite Sia song, harder to find this Schauss remix than the one with record scratches in it that I don't like nearly as much:

A rare example of a genuinely existential pop song IMO.

Got this from Dirt 4, the standout track on it for me with an existential tone.

Dirkscooby · 28 Jul 2020 at 20:27

In My Life
The Beatles

There are places I'll remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone, and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends, I still can recall
Some are dead, and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I'll love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I'll love you more
In my life I'll love you more

Chojin · 16 Aug 2020 at 23:01

Essáy - Archangel

Name some existential songs.

Pet Northerner