8 Songs That Will Teach You More About Philosophy Than Any Book

"Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.”

Jean Paul Sartre



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Existentialism is just a darker version of humanism. We are free to do and say what we want, yet are held responsible for the outcome of our actions. We have some awareness of this when we are young, but as time passes and we age, we become more conscious about it, until we are left with two options: to accept it or deny it and try to blame someone else, like we do with corrupted politicians, the Illuminati and their extraterrestrial connections, religious institutions and their brainwashing leaders, or maybe our family, friends, and enemies... We'll blame whoever we can as long as it makes us feel better with ourselves.



If we are truly free, what are we supposed to do with our time here? That’s the eternal paradox of existentialism. It is an auto-regulated anarchy that leads to the most crushing of abstract notions. If we are the only ones responsible of our own lives, the only power we have left in this world is decision: How do we want to spend time? With whom? How to focus our energy and attention...? Although these notions may be universal, when the time to confront them comes, they turn into really thorny dilemmas. The postmodern human has to be specific about everything. "No, that's not violet. It's fuchsia." "This isn't rock, its psychedelic progressive metal."

Amid this abstract and personal trance, one can get easily lost in utter confusion and be unable to understand what's happening around you. The world that surrounds us is just an stimulus that our brain decodes and renders in images, smells, sound, flavors, and sensations. So, how do we find true freedom when we are submerged in that infinite sea? For example, when we dance to the rhythm of music, we let ourselves be overtaken by the moment as an act of surrender.







There is no reason, hope, or desire. It's just doing something for the sake of doing it. There are no happy endings or perfect beginnings. This is what Zen philosophy calls "no-mindedness" or Mushin. A moment diluted until you are satisfied rather than full. It is like going to a buffet and eating just what you need. These are acts of freedom that have no meaning because there is no finish line or second guessing. There is nothing to keep or expect in the future, and when things are this way, everything is allowed.



In the case of music, many artists and bands have retrieved the main foundations of this philosophy through their songs. Let's listen.





1. "Freedom" — Rage Against the Machine















The political stance of this California-based band consists in the aggressive opposition against established norms. This song conveys that yearning for freedom and the concept of rebellion as a tool to leave aside social numbness.





2. "Anarchy in the UK" — Sex Pistols







"Don't know what I want. But I know how to get it".



This is epitome of punk anarchy. You may be wondering what does it have to do with existentialism? Well, everything revolves around the analysis of freedom.







3. "Fuck tha police" — N.W.A













N.W.A was formed in the late eighties in Compton, Los Angeles. Their raw lyrics, blended with the power of hip-hop and turntables, turned gangsta rap in a sub-genre that became popular in the early nineties. The song "Fuck tha police" was really controversial and caused them many problems with the FBI and the police. This resulted in more advertising for their music, as the world wanted to know everything about the artists. This was never the band's main intention. They were simply trying to express their views and show how a day in their life was for them. This can make people reflect upon human condition, another aspect explored by existentialism.







4. "Time" — Pink Floyd









What can we do with the time we have? "Time" centers around that timeless question, pouring t in a majestic and unparalleled musical piece.





5. "Killing an Arab" — The Cure

















“I can turn and walk away or I can fire the gun staring at the sky, staring at the sun, whichever I chose. It amounts to the same absolutely nothing.”

Robert Smith took inspiration from the novel L'Étranger (The Stranger) by French philosopher Albert Camus. The song emphasizes the nihilistic and existentialist aspects of the novel.







6. "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" — Smashing Pumpkins









The lines "despite of my rage, I’m still just a rat in a cage" turned into the anthem of a generation that conceived freedom as a cage.







7. "Smells like Teen Spirit" — Nirvana













With influences from punk, pop, and rock, Nirvana rose to fame thanks to their exaggerated rage against the establishment. The tragicomedy of their music was a reflection of their weariness about human condition. "Smells like Teen Spirit" perfectly sums up what this band came to represent in music's history.







8. "Piggy" – Nine Inch Nails











"Nothing can stop me now, cause I don’t care anymore".



The aim of this song is to represent freedom as an ultimate abstraction, as long as it is responsibly employed. That means being conscious that any of our actions has consequences, first on us, and then on others.



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Translated by Andrea Valle Gracia



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