Five Songs with MSG Effect

Yes, MSG as in mono sodium glutamate the flavor enhancer. These songs enhance all the feeling I’m having by at least twofold. I just love singing along to these five, especially when I’m having an emotional turmoil (like now). And “singing along” here is not howling the melody on the top of one’s lung. More like humming the words semi-absent-mindedly. And eating all of those words in whole without digesting them first. And feeling that unmistakable pang of silence stirring inside my heart.

I think the idea is to enhance those feeling to their maximum intensity. To really feel, understand, rationalize and finally let those feeling go. Or at least make myself numb enough not to be bothered by those feeling anymore. HAHA!

Either way, they never fail to work their magic. Different potions for different kinds of commotion.

1. Mr. Curiosity – Jason Mraz

The words:

“This catastrophic event wasn’t meant to mean no harm

but to think that it’s nothing wrong is the problem

I’m looking for love this time, sounding hopeful but it’s making me cry

Trying not to ask why

Cause love is a mystery

Mr. curiosity

Be Mr. please

Do come and find me

Love is blinding when the timing's never right

Oh who am I to beg for difference

Finding love in just an instant

Well I don't mind, at least I've tried

Well I tried, I tried...”

What it is about (in my opinion):

Somewhere between ‘taking care of the cat’ and ‘the bitterness of having tried to find love and failed’. I’m always completely at lost with Jason Mraz’s lyrics.

Why it is intense:

I don’t even know what it means, yet every word sounds as if they’re my own

The turmoil-inflicting feeling(s) that it enhances:

‘The agony of not being in love’ as my friend Stella so aptly put it.

2. Still fighting it – Ben Folds

The words:

“It was pain, sunny days and rain

I knew you’d feel the same thing

Everybody knows it hurts to grow up

but everybody does, so weird to be back here

and let me tell you that the years go on

and we’re still fighting it and we’re still fighting it and

you’re so much like me

i’m sorry..”

What it is about (in my opinion):

Definitely not about teenage angst and the toll of adolescence (the chorus is a bit misleading). Maybe about the guilt and bittersweet feeling of seeing someone that you really care about is going through all the mess this life is. And somewhat seeing your own self reflected on that someone.

Why it is intense:

:-‘(

The turmoil-inflicting feeling(s) that it enhances:

All of them.

3. Silence is easy – Starsailor

The words:

“Silence is easy, it just becomes me,

you don't even know me, why lie about me.

Silence is easy, it just becomes me,

you don't even know me, why do you hate me”

What it is about (in my opinion):

About seeking sanctity in silence

Why it is intense:

Because silence is in NO way easy. It’s anything but.

The turmoil-inflicting feeling(s) that it enhances:

The sick-and-tired-ness of dwelling in silence

4. It’s not the end of the world? – Super Furry Animals

The words:

“Why?
When you fall asleep
Before the end of the day
You start to worry
Like when the taxi comes
To take you away
When you're in no hurry
Yet as our hair turns white
All the stars still shine so bright, above
At least
It's not the end of the world”

What it is about (in my opinion):

the cliché itself : ‘it’s not the end of the world’.

Why it is intense:

because it doesn’t sounds like a cliché

The turmoil-inflicting feeling(s) that it enhances:

The fallacy of hope (sometimes).

5. Fallen – Sarah Mclachlan

“Heaven bend to take my hand

And lead me through the fire

Be the long awaited answer

To a long and painful fight

…

But we carry on our back, the burden

Time always reveals

In the lonely light of morning

In the wound that would not heal

It's the bitter taste of losing everything

that I've held so dear...”

What it is about (in my opinion):

MY LIFE..hahahaha

Why it is intense:

It’s Sarah Mclachlan. All her songs are intense.

The turmoil-inflicting feeling(s) that it enhances:

The awareness that I have fallen, sunk so low, messed up and should’ve known better.