“The Funeral of Amenhotep III” by Philip Glass — Angikal Gosar, 2nd year doctoral student
The greatest worry for the Egyptian pharaohs was not the death of the body, but the death of the soul, which would be forgotten by posterity. In Philip Glass’s opera Akhnaten, the choir of Amon’s priests chants the funeral rite over the body of Pharaoh Amenhotep III in ancient Egyptian: “Live, live, you shall not die! You have existed forever and ever, and you will last forever.”
Glass removed the violin from the orchestra, leaving behind the viola, cello, and bass, creating an ethereal, brooding sound. The arpeggios cycle over a ground bass in a passacaglia, a Baroque variation form built on a repeated bass line. Glass is known for its “musical repeating structure,” so the changes are additive rather than decorative, thickening the texture.
Amenhotep’s son Akhnaten invented monotheism through worship of the sun god Aten, ruled for 17 years, but was eventually overthrown, his name carved from every monument and forgotten for 3,000 years. But today, a boy sits in California meditating on the coronation of “the first individual in history.” Therefore, Akhnaten’s soul did not die. Even if you feel like you have no impact on history, your legacy may be measured across centuries.
“Dancing in the Dark” Written by Bruce Springsteen — Audrey Chan ’28
When I was in high school, I used to set this song as my alarm so that I could wake up in the morning and move my body, no matter how tired I was. Once I got over the association with the wake-up call, it went back to being my go-to option for boosting my mood. I often listen to Bruce Springsteen in the morning. I believe that you can start your day with a positive feeling. But this song in particular has a strong message about overcoming the feeling of being bored, frustrated with yourself, stuck in some kind of rut, and ultimately finding the drive to “keep dancing” and keep going, even if you don’t have all the answers yet.
“wonderful” Written by Macklemore — Melita D’Souza ’29
Whenever I’m having a rough week due to school stress, friendship conflicts, or just feeling unmotivated, I turn to Glorious. This song gives me instant confidence and reminds me to appreciate how far I’ve come. The upbeat rhythm and powerful lyrics will leave you feeling positive and motivated to take on any challenge that comes your way. Listening to this helps shift my mindset away from stress and negative emotions and replaces those emotions with gratitude and determination. The song’s message about overcoming obstacles and celebrating personal growth always uplifts my mood and strengthens my mental health.
“Raise your glass.” by Pink — Megan D’Souza ’29
Sometimes perfectionism takes over my life and I feel like I’m not doing my best. No matter how much I try to let go, in the back of my mind I feel like I need to try harder. The upbeat tune of “Raise Your Glass” reminds us to find beauty in imperfection. Pink’s carefree attitude is liberating and shows the joyful side of life when you stop focusing on the details and start enjoying every moment, no matter where you are.
“Paradise” by BTS — Dayanara Yepez Ramirez ’28
Everywhere in life, especially on a campus as highly regarded as Stanford, we are told to strive for big things. In fact, every conversation on this campus seems to be spent discussing internships, research, and other extracurricular activities. To be honest, I don’t think I was a person with very big dreams. I want a peaceful and comfortable life. My biggest dream is to become a writer. Nevertheless, a small question sometimes pops into my mind as I listen to conversations in which rest seems more foolish than restorative.
At times like these, this song is particularly soothing, saying, “If you have a moment to feel happy, you don’t need a dream,” and “It’s okay to stop, you don’t have to run without knowing why.” This is a very clear explanation of a system that propagates widespread noise from people without considering their well-being. This anthemic synth-pop track feels like a friend reminding you that what matters most is your own serenity.
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