I Feel Fine

Sometimes it’s okay to just feel okay. Life is not made of extremes alone. But I swear, by the time you finish this playlist you’ll feel awesome. Here are some songs for those transition days when you’re just not sure where you fit:

“Fear of Heights” by Apollo Sunshine. The band captures that feeling of transition from child to adult, and that balance you have to achieve in adulthood. What is maturity/adulthood, and as an adult when can you act like a child? Thoughtful and touching.

“I Feel Fine” by the Beatles. It speaks for itself, completely noncommittal.

“Watching the River Flow” by Bob Dylan. Very bluesy, but the narrator is fairly passive. He doesn’t know what he wants to say, he knows where he wants to be, but he’s just going to sit and watch because “this old river keeps on rolling, though. No matter what gets in the way and which way the wind does blow.”

“Keasbey Nights” by Catch 22. Remembering times that were not particularly happy, but still feeling nostalgic. I know the feeling. Old memories are comfortable, even if they are not particularly happy memories.

“Assholes” by The Damnwells. These guys seem somewhat resigned to the fact that “everybody grew up and turned into assholes”, but still bitter. This song is dead-on, I love the lyrics and the rebel-country swing. My favorite line is: “Is this what you call free? Is this why you keep bothering me?”

“The Long Way Around” by the Dixie Chicks. I didn’t like the Dixie Chicks until I heard their latest album. It moves beyond country music, and the lyrics are awesome. This song always makes me feel good. Someone else understands.

“(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” by Elvis Costello. Can’t we all just get along? Everything doesn’t have to be a battle.

“Lullaby” by Jack Johnson and Matt Costa. I love this song, because it’s beautiful and comforting. These guys always make me happy.

“Save Your Generation” by Jawbreaker. Do you ever get completely frustrated with your peers? This song is good, because it addresses that frustration in a positive way. Best lyrics:
“There is plenty to criticize,
it gets so easy to narrow these eyes,
but these eyes will stay wide,
I will stay young,
young and dumb inside,
I’ve just begun to forget my lines.”

I also love, “your leap of faith could be a well-timed smiled.” I live by so many of these words.

“The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World. I’ve loved this song since the moment I heard the first lyric. The funniest thing is that this song made Jimmy Eat World famous. Either a ton of people feel this way, or no one pays attention to lyrics.

“Bigger than My Body” by John Mayer. I find so much of Mayer’s music inspiring. Besides being a great musician, he also writes some amazing lyrics. This song captures that feeling of wanting to soar, but running up against obstacles. The chorus is great:
“Someday I’ll fly,
someday I’ll soar,
someday I’ll be,
so damn much more,
‘cause I’m bigger than my body gives me credit for.”

“Rainbow Connection” by Kermit the Frog a.k.a. Jim Henson. Any other version of this song is stupid compared to the one sung by Kermit the Frog. He hits the sentiment dead-on, and doesn’t make it sound contrived. In many ways this is my theme song.

“Knowledge” by Operation Ivy. This song is succinct perfection. The moral parallels one of the great lines in my favorite movie (“Say Anything.”) Lloyd Dobler doesn’t know what he’s going to do with his life, “but at least [he] knows that [he] doesn’t know, you know?” I love Lloyd an I love Op Ivy. Here’s the best line imho:
“We get taught to decide,
just like,
as if,
I’m not gonna change my mind.”

“True to Your Heart” by Stevie Wonder and 98 Degrees. From the “Mulan” soundtrack (which I love, btw) this song always makes me feel good. Stevie Wonder’s voice is spiritual, and just the fact that the song goes along with the story of “Mulan” makes it awesome. Sing it in the shower!!