Tell us what your all-time favourite song is and why for $5!

one of my favorite songs currently would have to be Everything Changes by Staind. My favorite changes all the time. I love the story that this song tells. It’s pretty sad. There have been a few times where I’ve felt like a burden to someone and this song kind of explains it. I relate to it a lot so

War on Drugs have to be up there. There’s just something so melodically moving about their music.

One of my fave tracks is An Ocean In Between The Waves. A 7 minute epic indie rock piece that feels pacey yet somehow dreamy at the same time. It just slowly builds and builds as it goes on. I don’t know why but it still sends chills down my spine.

It’s off the Lost In A Dream album which is well worth a listen if you like that BBC 6Music scene. 👍

Starset - Perfect Machine

I've already explained how Starset is probably my favourite band, and touched on why Perfect Machine stands out above the rest, but I'll go a little deeper here.

To recap, Starset is a science rock band. In the same way Christian rock bands sing about their faith, these folks sing about technological developments and the duality that comes with it. There's a heavy electronic rock influence throughout that airs on the sci-fi end, and the lyrics are wrought with warnings and commentary about where we might head as a society if left unchecked. They're perfectly placed as technology is progressing faster than ever before.

Buried in Divisions (2019), Perfect Machine wasn't a single, but it probably should've been. It's one of the lighter songs with an intentionally apathetic tone. The vocals are meant to sound somewhat robotic from the perspective of a machine, which is really emphasised with effects in the chorus.

It's the lyrics that stand out to me more than anything. Particularly:

"Show me your insides Show me your secrets Show me what you desire I can fake it Show what you wanted So I can be it And if I bend just right I can make it"

and

"I'm just a liar Without deceiving I'm just a broken clown Make believing I should've let you know You should've ran for cover I'm just a parlor trick A two-bit counterfeit"

and

"Lay your heart into my perfect machine I will show you what you wanted to see Just a mirror 'til I get what I need The reverie was not of me You never saw nothing Never saw nothing"

On the surface, it's an abusive relationship, with someone conforming and pretending to make something work. There are references to manipulation, and it's clear that, whatever it is, it isn't healthy.

Having worked in privacy and security media when this came out, I had a slightly different interpretation. It's still all the above, but rather than with another person, it's our relationship with technology. Everyone and their dog tries to siphon as much data as possible with the promise of something in return, but what you get is very little. Advertisers will do anything, including bending over backwards to get everything they can, but in the end, you're left feeling increasingly hollow. Considering the Cambridge Analytica scandal surfaced in 2018, just a year before the album came out, and Starset is incredibly lore-based, I believe it's a direct inspiration. It hits home for me like no other song given its timing in my life and how passionate I am about the subject.

Oasis - Wonderwall.

It's simple, and probably too predictable, but it's suitable for every occasion: weddings, funerals, karaoke, football matches - not many songs are that recognisable and can be connected to personal experiences that they are able to adapt to any setting, any time, with any group of people and be universally accepted.

While it's incredibly difficult to pinpoint a single all-time favorite song due to my eclectic tastes and the way my preferences shift with my mood, at this moment, I'm drawn to 'Knighting Ceremony (Aden Town Theme).' This piece from a video game soundtrack from Lineage II uniquely resonates with my current state of mind.

There’s something about this track that captures the experience of entering a grand, ancient city. As you virtually wander through Aden Town, the music instills a deep sense of awe and respect, intertwined with joy. It’s more than just background music; it’s a crucial part of the game’s soul, enhancing the sense of discovery and majesty within this virtual world.

Here’s a link to the track featuring composer Bill Brown himself conducting an orchestra in a live session, allowing you to fully experience the grandeur and emotional depth it brings: