13 Songs That Feature Elements of Escapism | Playlist 🎧

“13 Songs That Feature Elements of Escapism” features music courtesy of Avril Lavigne, Depeche Mode, Jason Isbell, Kanye West, and Michael Jackson.

No need to sugarcoat things folks – this playlist is all about escapism. Merriam-Webster defines escapism as “habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity or entertainment as an escape from reality or routine.” The key word is ESCAPE.  There are plenty of songs that embrace escapism – we just chose unlucky number 13 for this list, with the possibility for expansion in the future.  That said, the musicians providing the soundtrack on 13 Songs That Feature Elements of Escapism are Avril Lavigne (“Birdie”), Depeche Mode (“Cover Me”),  Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (“Tupelo” and “If We Were Vampires”), Kanye West (“Spaceship”), and  Michael Jackson (“Xscape”).

1. MARINA, “Handmade Heaven”

LOVE + FEAR • Atlantic UK • 2019

“I carry along a feel of unease / I want to belong like the birds in the trees.” Hmm, sounds like a perfect example of escapism, a common topic in music of various genres.  MARINA drops the name Marina and the Diamonds for her 2019 studio album, LOVE + FEAR.  Initially, the Welsh pop singer released LOVE only, from which our song at hand, “Handmade Heaven” appears. Even on LOVE + FEAR, “Handmade Heaven” serves as the opening record.

MARINA sounds fantastic on “Handmade Heaven,” flaunting her lovely, upper register, and singing with incredible ease while still packing a punch.  Amplifying her performance is warm production work, that’s also pretty epic at the same time.  The most dynamic moment arrives on the chorus, which is also the most memorable moment of the “Handmade Heaven.”

“But in this handmade heaven, I come alive
Bluebirds forever color the sky
In this handmade heaven, we forget the time
‘Cause birds of feather fly together.”

During the stellar chorus, the vocal production is ‘on fleek’ and the instrumental palette is incredibly rich – synths, drums, strings, etc.  Another noteworthy moment? The bridge, where MARINA sings:

“And I could no longer ignore
The ivy growing tall
This life don’t suit me anymore
The writing’s on the wall.”

“Handmade Heaven” previously appeared on the playlists 13 Songs Associated with Heaven and/or Paradise and 15 Songs That Reference Things Associated with Religion. 

2. Myylo, “Cyborg”

I’m a Nice Boy (EP) • Myylo • 2019

“I wish that I could make myself a cyborg / Shoot up into space with my jet pack / Bounce around the heavens till I found God / And ask her why I ever let you go, go, go, go…” Hmm, escapism mixed with ‘matters of the heart’ affect Nashville-based LGBT pop singer/songwriter Myylo on the brief, uniquely-titled single, “Cyborg”. “Cyborg” appears on the musician’s satisfying 2019 EP, I’m a Nice Boy. Myylo is one hell of a unique musician, “mixing idiosyncratic lyricism, janky classical guitar, lo-fi saxophone licks, and sky-high falsettos to create something truly special.”  Furthermore, “Cyborg” is one hell of a song, making appearances on other playlists: 10 Awesome Songs That ‘Tickled My Fancy’ in February 2019 and Totally Awesome LGBTQ+ Songs Beaming with Pride.

Of course, it’s not every day that a cyborg is referenced in a song, let alone ends up being the song title.  The self-described ‘drama king’ (“Oh god, I’m so dramatic”) drops the aforementioned outlandish chorus to convey his feelings of regret regarding an ex-boyfriend that he let go. It’s obviously not just the chorus that is colorful.  On the ‘Elton John’, name-dropping first verse, the “Rocket Man” is “Swooping in like a space force cowboy / Tryna get you back.” Yeah, admit it – the lyrics are damn clever.  Furthermore, on the second verse, while he’s less outlandish, he still successfully delivers the “we don’t talk about your boyfriend” because “you’d rather be mine.”

So, Myylo is escaping via cyborg – check. His ex- wants to escape his current relationship to get back with Myylo? Maybe… or is that merely Myylo’s perspective? Probably. Regardless, “Cyborg” blesses us with matters of the heart and some escapism.

3. Avril Lavigne, “Birdie”

Head Above Water • BMG Rights Management • 2019

“I ain’t your prisoner / You can’t lock me up no more /… You can’t chain me down no more / Goddamn, it’s gonna hurt / So fly away, little bird.” On the well-rounded “Birdie,” Avril Lavigne delivers a mid-tempo, uplifting ballad. Head Above Water, her long-awaited, comeback album, has its fair share of ballads, for better or for worse.  While all of them are uplifting, obviously, some are more accomplished than others. “Birdie” doesn’t rank among the crème de la crème necessarily, but it’s a worthwhile listen.

“Like a bird locked up in a cage called love / He clipped her wings when she was born to fly / He said, ‘A pretty bird, you can’t sing / But I’ll buy you diamonds and ruby rings’…” Where the centerpiece (“Head Above Water”) of Head Above Water dabbles in faith, “Birdie” instead explores escapism, ultimately seeking to be “set free.” “Birdie” previously appeared on the playlist, 11 Songs About Those Fine-Feathered Things Called Birds.

4. Panic! At the Disco, “King of the Clouds”

Pray for the Wicked • Fueled by Ramen • 2018

“With these dreams, I inflate, painted skies in my brain / Every day, I’m Carl Sagan in space / To escape this old world, this old world.” On “King of the Clouds,” one of the better songs from the 2018 Panic! At the Disco album, Pray for the Wicked, Brendon Urie and company provide a prime example of escapism. It was the kingly reference that earned Panic! At the Disco a spot on 11 Songs All About His Majesty, The King, while it’s the spirit of escape that locks “King of the Clouds” in on this particular list.

“Some only live to die, I’m alive to fly higher / Than angels in outfields inside my mind.” Again, okay… right. “King of the Clouds” successfully fuses alt-pop with elements of throwback soul. Panic! At the Disco has always been eclectic, so it’s not surprising that “King of the Clouds” doesn’t have a concrete stylistic characterization. Short and sweet, the strings, organ, and that sweet falsetto by Urie are the biggest selling points.  The chorus is pretty royal to say the least.

“I’m the king of the clouds, of the clouds
I get lifted, I get lifted
I’m the king of the clouds, of the clouds
I get lifted, I get lifted.”

5. Depeche Mode, “Cover Me”

Spirit • Columbia • 2017

“I’ve felt better / I’ve been up all night / I can feel it coming / The morning light…” Dave Gahan doesn’t paint the happiest portrait, does he? The Depeche Mode frontman continues on “Cover Me” singing, “The air is so cold here / It’s so hard to breathe / We better take cover / Will you cover me.” In 2017, the veteran electronic rock band conceived the perfect album for “times like these.” Spirit examines the moral, social, and political turmoil of present times.  Gahan isn’t particularly enthused about anything over the course of Spirit, painting a pessimistic portrait of the direction of life.

“Cover Me” can be best described as an escapism record.  Slow and mysterious, Gahan’s baritone is fully invested as he’s searching for another life.  Judging by the lyrics, the life in which Gahan and Depeche Mode are exploring lies in outer space.

“Way up here with the Northern lights
Beyond you and me
I dreamt of us in another life
One we’ve never reached.”

6. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “Tupelo”

The Nashville Sound • Southeastern • 2017

“If I get out of this hole I’m going to Tupelo,” Jason Isbell proclaims on “Tupelo,” a mid-tempo, country-tinged number from 2017’s The Nashville Sound. Mississippi isn’t the most rousing choice for escapism (no offense Mississippians), but hey, “The Heart Wants What It Wants”, right?

“There is a girl out there that will treat me fair…
There ain’t no one from here that will follow me there.”

Within the context of the song, Tupelo, the city, can be viewed both literally and figuratively. Ultimately, more trouble would find the singer/songwriter any place he goes, even as he seeks to escape personal hell. I feel like I should apologize to Mississippi… It should also be noted that another song on The Nashville Sound explores escapism, “Cumberland Gap.”  “Tupelo” has previously appeared on the playlists 19 Songs About Various Cities Around the World and 50 Songs About the 50 States.

7. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “If We Were Vampires”

The Nashville Sound • Southeastern • 2017

“It’s knowing that this can’t go on forever / Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone / Maybe we’ll get forty years together / But one day I’ll be gone / Or one day you’ll be gone.” One Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit from the Grammy-winning Americana album The Nashville Sound just isn’t enough.  Hence, we turn to the escapist, hypothetical record, “If We Were Vampires.”

On the deep gem from, Jason Isbell acknowledges and reflects on the fact that one day him or his wife will die, and one will be left alone. Okay, that’s not escapist, so, where does the escapism occur? Verse two, which invites the vampires into the mix. “If [they] were vampires,” they’d have nothing to worry about after all.

“If we were vampires and death was a joke
We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke
Laugh at all the lovers and their plans
I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand…”

Obviously, Isbell realizes this isn’t realistic in the least, continuing:

“Maybe time running out is a gift
I’ll work hard ‘til the end of my shift
And give you every second I can find
And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind.”

“If We Were Vampires” previously appeared on the playlists Creatures! Ghosts, Monsters, Vampires and Such and 13 Songs Where It’s a Matter of ‘If’.

8. Kendrick Lamar, “FEAR.”

DAMN. • Interscope • 2017

On the intro of “FEAR,” the 12^th track from Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning DAMN., a voicemail from Carl Duckworth references Old Testament scripture Deuteronomy 28:28.  This isn’t the least uncharacteristic of the album itself, which features a number of Biblical and spiritual references.

On the first verse, Lamar’s mom warns him of the consequences for a variety of actions.  Essentially, she’s instilling ‘fear’ into him should he do something wrong:

“I beat yo ass, keep talkin’ back
I beat yo ass, who bought you that?
You stole it, I beat yo ass if you say that game is broken
I beat yo ass, if you jump on my couch…”

That’s all fine and good, but we need escapism, DAMN it!!! Well, that escapism occurs on the chorus where Kendrick Lamar wishes he could “smoke fear away” because it’s destructive and detrimental. The plan is to escape through a high, as well as sex:

“If I could smoke fear away, I’d roll that motherfucker up
And then I’d take two puffs
I’m high now, I’m high now…
Life’s a bitch, pull them panties to the side now…”

Of course, there are even more layers to “FEAR.” On the second verse, the key lyric is “I’ll prolly die…,” yet a different take on fear. The focus is ‘27 years of age’ on the third verse, as Lamar looks toward 30. On a fourth verse, the key moment is, “I’m talkin’ fear,” while the bridge, performed by Bēkon, focuses on ‘god damn,’ which has multiple meanings contextually.

“God damn you, God damn me
God damn us, God damn we
God damn us all.” 

“FEAR” previously appeared on the playlist 10 Songs Centered on Fear.

9. Korn, “A Different World”

The Serenity of Suffering • Roadrunner • 2016

“I dream of a past / So I can break through / The walls I have built inside / The thoughts I can grasp…” On “A Different World”, Korn, assisted by Corey Taylor, maintains the devilishness of their 2016 album, The Serenity of Suffering – regarding sound of course.  As the pre-chorus lyrics exemplify, “A Different World” is about escapism: “I’d love to see a different world / A place where you can’t find me.” The lyrics from the jump (verse one), as well as the second verse support this need “to see a different world.”

Commencing with a brilliant descending synth, it’s clear that Korn isn’t playing on “A Different World.” The chorus hearkens back to “Twisted Transistor” (See You On the Other Side, 2005) in regard to its overall execution, particularly rhythmically.

“Feel me, kill me, my back’s up against the wall
Your magic spell doesn’t work anymore
Kill me, kill me, that’s what you’ve got to face my friend
This ain’t the end.”

The ‘hardest’ moment comes during the bridge, where there’s an emphasis on “Give it to you / Harder! Harder!”  “A Different World” previously appeared on the playlist, 13 Songs That Focus on the World.

10. Jake Miller, “Superhuman”

Overnight (EP) • Warner Bros. • 2016

“I wish I was superhuman, I wish I was ten feet tall / I wanna be cold like you / When you act so cool and you don’t care at all…” “Superhuman,” a song that appears on Overnight, the 2016 EP by pop musician Jake Miller, initiates with mean sounding synths as well as ‘the bomb’ (“Fucking with the rules of gravity”).  The big reason why “Superhuman” appears on this list is because it dabbles in escapism, which is pretty cool.

Despite flirtations with a minor key and toughness, “Superhuman” is relatively light.  Addressing the escapism (that’s what we’re here for, right?), Miller looks to transcend merely being a mortal. It’s far-fetched, but that’s the beauty of escapism. Furthermore, the song is quite enjoyable. He relates his desired ‘superhuman’ qualities to love, a prevalent theme on the EP Overnight.

“I wish I was superhuman, I wanna have strength like God
I wouldn’t feel no heartbreak
I would kiss that pain so it don’t hurt at all.”

11. Twenty One Pilots, “Stressed Out”

Blurryface • Fueled by Ramen • 2015

Twenty One Pilots delivered a tour de force on their ambitious second major label effort, Blurryface, released in 2015.  In their overall discography, Blurryface marks the duo’s fourth studio album and by far their most successful.  Twenty One Pilots won their first Grammy – Best Pop Duo / Group Performance – for the song at hand, “Stressed Out.” Notably Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun accepted their Grammys without pants on.  With that said, let’s dive into the song itself, shall we? 

“Sometimes a certain smell will take me back to when I was young / How come I’m never able to identify where it’s comin’ from?” On “Stressed Out,” Tyler Joseph seeks escapism by reminiscing on the simpler times of his childhood.  The chorus, the centerpiece of the record, sums this up simply and effectively:

“Wish we could turn back time to the good old days
When our momma sang us to sleep, but now we’re stressed out.”

Moving beyond the escapism, for the first time, in the context of the album, ‘Blurryface,’ a character constructed by Joseph, represents his flaws and insecurities (“My name’s ‘Blurryface’ and I care what you think…”).  Blurryface exhibits vulnerability, something that many people can relate to, but few depict as openly as Joseph does here.

“I was told, when I get older, all my fears would shrink
But now I’m insecure, an’ I care what people think…”

12. Michael Jackson, “Xscape”

Xscape • Epic • 2014

“Everywhere I turn, no matter where I look / The system’s in control, it’s all ran by the book / I’ve got to get away so I can clear my mind / Escape is what I need, away from electric eyes.” Amen!  In 2014, Michael Jackson released his highly-anticipated album, Xscape.  Well, he didn’t release it (he’d already been dead five years) but his estate did. Xscape was no slouch, ending up being a fine LP worthy of spins. The album essentially brings Michael Jackson to the 2010s, a decade in music he didn’t live to see.  But enough about the album Xscape, what about the song at hand, the escapism-fueled title track, “Xscape.”

“Xscape” concludes the standard edition of the album. This escapism joint ultimately seems optimistic, but not without pain or disillusionment.   The chorus pretty much sums up Jackson’s plan of escape:

“Escape
Got to get away from a system
Lose in the world today
Escape
The pressure that I face from relationships
Got to go away
Escape
The man with the pen
That writes the lies that hassle this man
Escape
I do what I want to cause
I got to face nobody but me
Escape.”

Beyond the lyrics and theme, the production work is impressive, courtesy of Rodney Jerkins who was a seminal part of Invincible.

13. Kanye West, “Spaceship”

Ft. GLC & Consequence

The College Dropout • Roc-A-Fella • 2004

It’s hard to believe that “Spaceship” can be considered an oldie, but as of publication (2019), it’s 15 years old.  One of the best songs from The College Dropout, Kanye West outdoes himself on this prime example of escapism.  The production work is absolutely terrific, hearkening back to old-school soul.  Why? Well, Mr. West brilliantly samples the Marvin Gaye classic “Distant Lover,” which fuels the fire for sure.  Of course, Mr. West doesn’t escape on his own – he’s assisted by GLC and Consequence, not to mention additional vocals from The World Famous Tony Williams and a then little-known John Legend.  For some context, Legend would release his major-label debut, Get Lifted later that year.

Staying on topic, the escapism of “Spaceship” begins on the hella memorable chorus:

“I’ve been workin’ this graveshift and I ain’t made shit
I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly past the sky.”

Kanye West expands on the chorus on the first verse as he expresses his disillusionment with his job.  I have to agree with Complex Magazine that this is one of West’s best verses – a gem through and though.

“If my manager insults me again
I will be assaulting him
After I fuck the manager up
Then I’m gonna shorten the register up
Let’s go back, back to the Gap
Look at my check, wasn’t no scratch
So if I stole, wasn’t my fault
Yeah, I stole, never got caught.”

Following up West’s brilliant verse is tough, but GLC and Consequence bring their own fair share of excellence to “Spaceship.” A perfect example of the hunger and desire to escape for GLC also references a mall job just like West:

“In the mall until 12 when my schedule had said 9
Putting them pants on shelves waiting patiently I ask myself
Where I want to go, where I want to be
Life is much more than running in the streets.”

As for Consequence, he focuses on the present and never returning to being an unknown rapper and broke:

“Had to be a catastrophe with the fridges staring back at me
Cause nothing’s there, nothing’s fair 
I don’t want to ever go back there
So, I won’t be taking no days off ‘till my spaceship takes off.”

“13 Songs That Feature Elements of Escapism” [Photo Credits: Atlantic, BMG Rights Management, Columbia, Epic, Fueled by Ramen, Interscope, Myylo, Pexels, Pixabay, Roadrunner, Roc-A-Fella, Southeastern, Warner Bros.]