(Emo)tional Work Out Release

Pain drives the greatest motivation. Especially true for when the cut is on our vulnerability. We want to be strong, but sometimes we like open up the scar to watch ourselves bleed. It lets us ourselves know we can still feel. We need an outlet in the throes of this revisited pain as one may be consumed by the feelings rather than redirected. My musical selection has worked for myself to utilize that pain as the ignition to fire up and power through harder, better than my previous self. It is a reminder of my past, a reliving my present, and it is my focus to change my future trajectory. It is a house of mirrors internal struggle of how I see myself through self-reflection, experience, and interaction with others. It is also my professional and personal relationships that left me pulled further out to sea with each wave of ridicule and current of judgment sweeping me away. Yet I still remain, and these songs are my life raft, my armor, and as well as my strength multiplier.

“Four Years” – Senses Fail: My favorite song from my favorite band. It is definitely not one of their more popular nor is it from one of their more popular albums. However, it is the song that has resonate with most with how I felt in my relationship (marriage, year 1) at the time of its release and in the last couple months (same marriage, year 13). The song kicks off hard to get the workout going for your warm-up as the lyrics start to inject into your bloodstream to set the stage of what is to come and get your adrenaline boost. It was hard to limit it, but there will be more of this band to come.

“Somewhere Around Midnight” – The Airborne Toxic Event: It is a little bit slower than one would think of for an intense workout, but because the content of the lyrics is what really sinks in its teeth and makes your heart start racing and head spinning with emotions. It hits hard on the instrumental sections, though. This is for those who get so wrapped around one person and significant to you, but to be practically be an afterthought in their universe.

“Grand Theft Autumn/Where is Your Boy” - Fall Out Boy: Much in line with the previous song selection, where you are not the one. It is a rapid-fire pop-punker that is resonates with every person who only wishes to be one for the one they desire to be with. Yet again, though you the feeling is not reciprocated.

“Clarity” – Zedd featuring Foxes: This track is my “ugly duckling” so to speak. It doesn’t look or sound like it fits in with the rest of the lineup. The contrast of toxicity in a relationship but still needing and wanting to be in it. I’m not really into the dance-techno beats, however, this combined with the pleasant, painful voice of the singer, Foxes, really compliment each other. Good cadence for a run. If you see me pumping my arms and fists on the road, don’t be alarmed. I’m probably just jamming to this tune.

“Mass Pike” – The Get Up Kids: Be sure to keep your water bottle lids closed to keep your water safe from your streaming tears from this emo toe-tapper. A whole lot of rejection theme going on in here. A great motivator in the steps of recovery, self-betterment, and independence from that emotional cage. One good thing for this selection is if you are sweating it out there won’t be any differential between your sweat and tears.

“Mr. Brightside” – The Killers: Could very well be the most popular and recognizable song on the playlist. I don’t know a worse feeling in pursuant of love is to watch them be with someone else. Just this feeling of your gut bottoming out and this vacancy left in their wake. I don’t care what workout type I’m doing this always seems to give me a little boost.

“Save Me” – Unwritten Law: Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. No matter what I do I always seem to always be judged and in the wrong. I’ve been known to blurt out loud with headphones in when the chorus hits. I’m sure it wasn’t pretty, but I am not changing for anyone else because I’m out here trying to live and be myself.

“All That I’ve Got” – The Used: I’ve never really been much of a fan of this band other than few songs and this was not one of them until recently. I would probably describe it like an emo post-hardcore power ballad. It is really how I just carry myself through life. It is all smiles and professionalism on the surface but deep down is the constant burning and struggle trying to tear its way to the surface to unleash on an unsuspecting world. It can really jolt your resiliency when it hits perfectly on a HIIT cycle.

“Enemy Lines” – Bayside: You didn’t ask for it, but you’re getting it; more emocore. This is a pretty messy split that results in being in an uncomfortable position while trying to make the gears still turn for what really matters: family. It’s a venting session more than anything, but I can feel my feet move a little swifter.

“See You in Hell” – Aiden: Suffrage brought on each other. Realizing that all our actions and reactions have only us pain when we can’t control our emotions. We create our own hell that we pave the path. Nice little horror punk thumper.

“Waiting” – Finch: I’ve beaten myself enough. It’s time to move on. I’ve been waiting on the truth, pleading for it. Have to be real with yourself and know when to pack it in. Growth can’t be had if standing still and around for something that may and probably never come. You get a good, catchy, fast-paced emo-esque pop-punk ditty to accompany any good high intensity exercise.

“Crash My Car” – Speak the Truth… Even If Your Voice Shakes: Pure catchy rock from this “supergroup” of Senses Fail’s frontman, Buddy Nielsen, and Finch without their own singer, Nate Barcalow. It is the fear of facing your past from what you have done will follow you forever. It’s a little darker than that, but that a pretty solid interpretation in my (brown) eyes. Get ready to run right out of your socks.

“Baseball, But Better” – Say Anything: Ah, the chase. It’s the thrill of the chase, but never catching. It is always out of reach as it gives you something to always pursue. Sometimes what we want is just what we think, but don’t know if we would if we actually had it. It is one of the band’s pure rockin’est song from their catalog. Gets me jazz for exercise.

“Space” Something Corporate: Emo, emo, emo. Nothing says emo like a band led with a piano, not a keyboard. This fist and iron pumper is pretty on the nose. Sometimes you just suffocate each other making us hurt one another. Give the space to let each other breathe and hopefully we can see the bigger picture together.

“Smile in Your Sleep” – Silverstein: We are buying all in on these emo thrashers. Good for all your workout plans. All the false promises and no one bats an eye. It is done with such ease and even conviction.

“Give it Up” Midtown – Shame this band broke up just I thought they were hitting their stride. The songs are all departures from their previous catalog of pop punk. Lots of aggression and production put into this album. Sometimes we lose ourselves and don’t know when to call it quits. Sometimes we feel we must continue because its what we want, but you can lose ourselves in the process making the same mistakes as before or others have done.

“Get Well Soon” – Reggie and The Full Effect: This one hits home currently. It’s an in-between situation of is it worth the squeeze to reconcile something that has left us wounded and scarred. Lots of keyboard electronica action charging through on the back of a mighty, thunderous steed of guitars, bass, and drums.

“Ignorance” Paramore – One of their hardest hitters from their sophomore effort. Real testimonial in there is a lot of blame to go around, but we can’t move on because we cannot see eye to eye. Lots of sitting back idly waiting for someone else to change first. Eventually someone is going to outgrow and grew apart from the other. Its hard not to want to cardio’ize (so not a word) just kind of Rocky’ing it down the road.

“This is Not An Exit” – Saves the Day: I like this one for a good cool down and stretching as it calms my heart rate and my soul. It doesn’t want you to look back and appreciate what you have done and have gone through, whether good, bad, or indifferent. All has help shape who you are and to just ride the waves. You did it the best you could.

“Let it Enfold You” – Senses Fail: Had to get one more in. Correction: I had to dwindle it down to one more song by this band or I’d fill this with like 20 songs from these guys. Completely different approach with this one with what is more important to you. Is it peace? Or is it happiness? Are you content with the normalcy of your life or is happiness in pursuit of something more even though you may not reach it? Most of us don’t have the life we wish we could have had or want. We bow out just another existing being extinguished. Life could have gone any way for any of us. Starts off in your face before taking slowing down on the bridge. It ends ramping up again almost in a cry for help. Mashes in a lot of emotions in this one.

“Famous Last Words” – My Chemical Romance: Redemptive? Possibly. Seeking forgiveness? Negative, Ghostrider. If you stick around then you are as good as saying you forgive the other person for their transgression. You need to find a way to live without succumbing to the burden placed to please someone else. I didn’t give this song a fair shake when it originally came out and took me almost fifteen years to take another look and realize the beauty of this song as well as the album it hails from, Welcome to the Black Parade. It sparks all sorts of emotions in me to push harder, but to also stop to reflect and to be vulnerable. Good sing-along chorus and ending. I like to close out my workouts with this one to get me to the end.

We are coming in with 21 tracks in about 1h 19m of emotional release as we are pushing our physical being further. Our physical health goes hand in hand with our mental and emotional health. We cannot neglect one for the other. “Exorcising your demons” through the work out of your choice I think strengthens your spirit and helps unburden some of the weight, even if it’s a temporary high.