I’ve always been fascinated by music and have wanted to play an instrument since I was a little girl. Unfortunately, I did not inherit my dad’s musical talent, so that dream did not last long. Instead, I listen to music in my free time and when doing homework. My current favorite music artists are Taylor Swift, Dean Lewis, Benson Boone, and OneRepublic.
It was a huge surprise when, on my 15th birthday, my parents graciously gifted me with an authentic vinyl record player. It has officially unlocked a new obsession: collecting records.
My vinyl collection consists of eight records: four assorted Taylor Swift albums, Fireworks and Rollerblades by Benson Boone, the Elf movie soundtrack, The Best of Christmas by the Pentatonix, and my most recent purchase, Artificial Paradise by OneRepublic.
Immediately after listening to Artificial Paradise for the first time, I fell in love with the upbeat new songs and the older singles that are part of this perfect tracklist. These songs are the ideal bop for listening in the car, at home, or needing the motivation to stop procrastinating on the latest homework assignments.
Artificial Paradise is OneRepublic’s sixth studio album, released on July 12, through Interscope Records and Mosley Music Group. The singles included in this album are some of OneRepublic’s iconic songs: “Sunshine,” “West Coast,” “I Ain’t Worried,” “Runaway,” “Mirage,” and “Hurt.”
My absolute favorite song in Artificial Paradise is “Serotonin,” a feel-good song describing the difficult quest to balance happiness with the inevitable stress life has to offer. Superficially, the lyrics have a very catchy, easy tune to learn, but diving deeper into them, I realize how intentional each word is; combined with the instrumentals and rhythm, this song is a masterpiece that many modern-day teens can relate to.
One track I find myself singing at the most random times is “Red Light Green Light,” a short, punchy song that shows how versatile OneRepublic can be. This is one of those songs that puts a smile on the listener’s face, even when they aren’t in the mood. After listening to this song for the first time, I could already hum the catchy melody. The chorus says, “It’s red light, yellow light, green light, red” over and over again; this describes how life will never be at a constant speed and is always changing. This song gives anyone an optimistic perspective on the challenges life has to offer.
The following song, “Sink or Swim,” is a high-energy anthem with an infectious rhythm and motivational lyrics that encourage the listener to jump right into challenges and let the music take them. The song starts with a profound metaphor: “Are we gonna sink or swim?” Then, the urgency of the statement is increased with the lyric, “Tide’s getting high, and we might go under.” Throughout the entire song, the urgency to seize the moment is palpable. This is a must-listen for anyone struggling to navigate life’s turbulent waters.
Initially, Artificial Paradise might seem like a simple upbeat pop-rock album, but if you take some time to listen to these tracks and all the others, I guarantee your opinion will change. OneRepublic created a lyrically beautiful tracklist, helping everyone deal with the challenges life throws at them.
