3. Something Corporate "Konstantine"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMwI1DlZpyY Known more or less as the emo community's "Free Bird," "Konstantine" has for many years stood as one of my favourite songs. Written by Andrew McMahon, first the frontman of Something Corporate, then the mastermind behind piano-rock outfit Jack's Mannequin, and now a solo artist, "Konstantine" has somehow managed to become an iconic, signature song despite the fact that it never received an official release in the United States. In fact, Something Corporate only made two full-length albums, neither of which could find room for this 9:36 epic. In 2003, the studio version of the song was released as part of a Japan-only EP called "Songs for Silent Movies." Luckily, thanks to the peer-to-peer downloading revolution as well as to the passionate underground emo and pop-punk communities "Konstantine" was able to find life and respect in a way that it never would have in any other era of music. Online the tune spread like wildfire; its angst-filled, break-up-fuelled lyrics serving as the basis for countless instant messaging 'away' statuses (now migrated to Facebook ). For many teenagers out there, this was a coming of age song, a composition that was easy to latch onto and relate to, even as the rest of the world was spinning out of control. The shimmering, repetitious piano loop grounds the song, but ultimately, its McMahon's lyrics Jimmy Eat World references, 11:11 allusions, and all that turn "Konstantine" into the ultimate ode for adolescent longing. There's a reason that fans still call out requests for the song at every concert McMahon ever plays even if Something Corporate is little more than a memory at this point.
Craig Manning
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Craig is a Chicago-based freelance writer who like to talk incessantly about music on AbsolutePunk.net. He also does writing for marketing companies to "pay the bills," but his true passion lies with the pop culture sphere.
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