Connor Marshman Period 4

Phantasmagoria Transcendental Playlist Imagine by John Lennon (cover by Eva Cassidy)

The song Imagine tells its listeners to dream of a transcendental world. In this world, there are no worries of a heaven or hell. Instead, people worry for today. There are no evils like war and famine everyone respects one another. The world is peaceful. Furthermore, there is no materialism and greed.

Fields of Gold by Sting

Fields of Gold evokes thoughts of nature. I visualize two young lovers running through sunny pastures and swaying, golden crops.

Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles

Like Fields of Gold, Here Comes the Sun brings to mind thought of nature, specifically early spring, with verses like its been a long cold lonely winterI feel that ice is slowly melting. Also, the phrase here comes the sun not only brings to mind thoughts of nature but also a hopeful optimism for the future.

100 Years by Five for Fighting

100 Years is all about focusing on the here and now. The phrase you only have a hundred years to live expresses the transcendentalist focus on this life rather than an afterlife. Although the song may not be altogether dismissing an afterlife, it warns its listeners to appreciate what you have now before it is gone. Be a participant in your own life!

Connor Marshman Period 4

Somewhere Only We Know by Keane

Somewhere Only We Know again calls to mind thoughts of nature. This is seen through verses such as, I felt the earth beneath my feet/Sat by the river and it made me complete.

Vienna by Billy Joel

Vienna deals with idea of focusing on the here and now. The singer is reaching out to a person who is rushing through his or her life. She or he is so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that they forget to appreciate what is going on in life right now.

Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai

Virtual Insanity criticizes the world we are becoming. This world has become overrun with technology. However, this technology is really useless and often times harmful. Society has become devoid of the beauty in nature by being forced to live underground. Mankinds preoccupation with technology has taken their attention from the more important things in lifesuch as spirituality and nature.

Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve

Bittersweet Symphony again criticizes society. Like Thoreau, who felt mankind had become enslaved to money, the song mirrors this sentiment with the verse, Trying to make ends meet, youre a slave to money then you die.

Forrest Gump (Feather Theme) by Alan Silvestri

Connor Marshman Period 4 This piece is completely instrumental. However, I feel it conveys transcendentalism through its light, swaying sound. The piece comes from the Forrest Gump soundtrack, and I feel that this movie expresses a transcendentalist attitude towards life. Forrest Gump lives in the moment throughout his life and has a constant optimistic attitude-despite the obstacles that he faces.

End Credits (The Cider House Rules) performed by John Lenehan and composed by Rachel Portman
I felt this fitting as the last song to my transcendental playlist, because it really feels as if you are floating away or transcending this world. I see myself flying above wide open pastures and forests. I feel empowered and optimistic about the future when listening to this!