Anthem Lights "Best of 2016"
- Jan 2, 2017
- 3 min read
The Songs:
“Stressed Out” - 21 pilots
“7 years” - Lukas Graham
“Closer” - The Chainsmokers
“Work” - Rihanna
“Can't Stop the Feeling” - Justin Timberlake
“Treat You Better” - Shawn Mendes
“24 Karat Magic” - Bruno mars
The Why:
I don’t know why Anthem Lights started doing the “best songs of the year” mash-ups, but I sure do enjoy them! They began making them for the year 2007, and have made one for each year till now. The band is four guys who sing covers, mash-ups, medleys, and make original songs as well. They have performed and arranged music in a variety of genres, including (but not limited to) pop music, Christian music, Disney, patriotic, and many others. I’m the kind of person who often enjoys Anthem Lights’ arrangements more than I enjoy the original versions! (As is the case for this mash-up).
The How:
Something I really enjoy about Anthem Lights’ arranging style is 1.) that they often make their musical combinations and transitions seamless. They splice together lines of different songs so that they complete each other and finish each other’s phrases. An example in this mash-up is at about 20 seconds through 30 seconds into the video, with lines from “7 Years” and “Stressed Out.” Later, they do it at 1:22-44ish, when they interchange lines from “Treat You Better” and “Closer;” and again at 1:52-59 with “Closer” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling.”
Another style element of Anthem Lights’ mash-ups is 2.) that they use lines from the different songs to unify the arrangement. Even if they’re singing in a different key or time than one song is originally done in, they can include lines from that song in the background or as echoes, and this helps make connections between seemingly unrelated songs (see 1:17-23 where they introduce in “Can’t Stop the Feeling” in the middle of the line as an echo).
3.) Thirdly I love how these guys use transition words between completely unrelated songs. The main ones in this arrangement happen at the 31-40 second point, transitioning from “7 Years” to “Work;” at 1:21-28 between “Closer” and “Treat You Better;” and last but not least, at 1:57-2:03 between “Can’t Stop the Feeling” and “24 Karat Magic.” I know if I were looking at a list of songs to put together in a mash-up like this, there will be some songs that I have no idea how to include with the others, musically or lyrically. This is where you find the transition word and no matter how silly or cheesy it sounds you just roll with it.
Food for thought:
For some of you, this may be obvious, and for others it may be a hidden-but-known realization. Something to keep in mind as an artist of any kind is that not everything you make is a masterpiece. Not every song is going to be a hit. Not every sculpture will be bought for a million dollars. And many times what your audience believes is your best work may not be your favorite work or what you think is your masterpiece. I heard it said from a wise songwriter that when you think you’ve written a great song, “Great! Now go write a hundred more.” I have to be reminding myself of this often, because the prideful perfectionist musician inside my head often doesn’t want to share things I’ve written/arranged for fear that what I think sounds good is not worth anything. It’s so important to get outside your head and see the bigger picture, keep expanding your repertoire of ideas, and don’t let the thought that “It’s not a masterpiece” keep you from trying again. I wouldn’t call this song a masterpiece of mash-ups compared to others by this band (and by other arrangers), but it is still pretty cool and very cleverly arranged. Just food for thought. :)
Related:
THIS is my favorite of Anthem Lights’ annual mash-ups. Think about all those things above in “The How” as you listen to this:
“Best of 2015” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOi44bF1CcE
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