Introducing a new segment on our blog: the writing staff beat! Here we have our contributors discuss a prompt every week. This time around, we are talking about our favorite music moments. What is a specific section in a song that gets you really excited? Find out (and listen to) what our writing staff loves about their favorite tunes.
Andrea Williams: Coldplay's "Viva La Vida"
The first thing that I think of when it comes to an iconic musical moment in my life is the intro to "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay. In this intro you are totally immersed in the rich sounds that the cello is making that soon turns into the backbone throughout the entire song. The second time that this song captivates me is in the pre-chorus once you hear the sounds of the violin peeping through Chris Martins vocals and the grounding sounds of the cello. Once the pre-chorus comes to an end you can start to hear soft cymbals in the background and the tension starts to build and as soon as that tension comes to an end you are meet with two quick hits to the drum as Chris Martin starts singing the chorus. With those moments making up the whole song it's safe to say that this will remain as one of my all-time favorites.
Kenneth Cox: New Order's "Blue Monday"
Almost exactly halfway through New Order's 1983 single "Blue Monday", the song skitters to a stop. The tightly programmed beat and layers of synths on the song suddenly fall apart and drop out, leaving just four hi-hat hits and a thundering crash sound before returning right back to the song. I'm convinced that the booming, immense crash in "Blue Monday" might just be one of the greatest moments in music history. The crash is an explosion of energy, a moment of catharsis that ties all seven minutes of the song together. It's a moment I spend the whole song waiting for, and leaves me thrilled and buzzing with energy every time I hear it. "Blue Monday" wouldn't be the song it is without that brief, ever so important crash.
Lily Doolin: Styx's "Mr. Roboto"
My earliest favorite "music moment" would have to be in the song "Mr. Roboto" by Styx. My mom listened to this song in the car all the time, and its electronic/rock vibe sucked me in every time.I would chant along when the lead singer started repeating "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto." Since I was so young, this was probably the only part of the song that I understood, and I just latched on to it like no tomorrow. Even to this day, I'll randomly find myself chanting those lyrics in the shower, in class, or when I'm trying to be productive but I just can't manage to pay attention. This song has also become one of my go-to song when I feel like performing karaoke for myself in the car just so I can have an excuse to belt out "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto" at the top of my lungs. It's a song that's come to hold a lot of fun memories for me, so it always puts me in a good mood listening to it.
Mica Kendall: Catfish and the Bottlemen's "Rango"
Owen Murray: Radiohead's "Everything In Its Right Place"
Rodin Batcheller: The Beatles' "Rocky Racoon"
"Rocky Racoon" has always been one of the most underrated Beatles songs ever and is also one of my favorites. The way it starts off with an acoustic guitar and Paul McCartney rambling in a silly deep voice followed by a playful harmonica makes me smile every time I hear it. I remember this song playing in my house growing up and my father following along with every lyric by heart. As a youngster, the only parts I would end up singing were the parts where Paul sang "Do do do…" along with an old-timey saloon piano. That's probably my favorite musical moment in a song. Not just because of how fun and playful it is, but also because of the memories it holds.
