Blue October and The Giver

Today I have some music for you by a band that has been a little off my own personal radar. Sometimes you run across a band that you listened to in what seems like a past chapter, and their music allows you to reminisce. I wanted to go ahead and talk about a song by Blue October that did just that for me. I haven't heard this song by Blue October in such a long time, that when this shuffled into my music stream, I had to stop for a moment to just listen.

This song definitely airs a little bit more on the somber rock side of things. Blue October is a band that is under appreciated in my opinion. Though they are more well known as a rock band, Blue October has some beautiful music centered around these rock soundscapes. Every song has such a deep meaning and a theme that they are able to explain to us through music. This, in particular, is a song that really speaks to the depths of humanity. This song reaches out toward the emotions that everyone feels and struggles with every day. When I heard this song, I felt it with the center of my being. I don't know how to explain it. There is something so inspiring about the lyrics, the way they are sung, and the music accompanying it. This whole song has this inspiration and glimmer of hope in the face of all the adversity we face.

This is not a song about the typical relationship drama and breakup heartbreak. Blue October has written something that is about the pain and obstacles we feel daily, and that which constantly leaves us afraid. Fear is something every being feels and shares and it is something that connects on a deeper level than just being homo sapiens. It connects on the level of humanity, of feeling that humanity. Justin Furstenfeld not only wrote a song this beautiful, but delivers it in an incredibly emotional way. He is known for having a voice that has this natural rawness and gravelly sound to it. But with this song, we get something that is quieter and gentler. We still hear that underlying grit in his voice, but it is not so much rough as it is the vulnerability and rawness that we feel. It is clear that extensive time was taken to write a song that is as poignant and emotionally charged as this.  As someone who is an avid Blue October listener, it feels as though they went back to their roots with this song and album and it is simply magnificent. Yes this song does have a quieter take, however, this song does explode with the brilliance of something beautiful and dark. There is this special kind of energy to this song, one that is almost like a purging and venting, which eventually turns into a release. When song reaches its height, the brightness and concentration of heavier percussion and more involved instruments makes it sound as if they are surrendering their fears to the world and letting it all go. I actually had the opportunity to meet the band, which was an amazing experience. I can tell you that this a band that lives by their lyrics, and these lyrics and instrumentation and music are truly an expression of themselves.

Today's instrumental song is from the movie The Giver. Before I had seen this movie, the impression I got from a lot of people was that it was a mediocre movie. When I did see it I couldn't disagree more. I thought The Giver was movie that was so beautiful and captured humanity in a way that a lot blockbuster movies don't. This was a movie that was hauntingly stunning in the way that it truly understood the importance of emotions. It is one thing to feel, but emotions run deeper through the mind and soul than anything else. The score captures that ideal so perfectly and in such a moving manner. Marco Beltrami captured the entire spectrum of emotion in this score through all the incredible pieces and scenes that accompany it. I was blown away by this movie to be completely honest. The music elegantly captured every key scene and takes on this transcendent type quality to show the boundless space of emotion. This movie and score was simply awe inspiring. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!





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