Day 25: Mac Miller, Good News | 30-Day Song Challenge 🎶

On Day 25 of the 30-Day Song Challenge, the “Good News” is that the music and legacy of the late Mac Miller will endure forever.  

Embracing the trendiness of social media, The Musical Hype unleashes its own, month-long version of the 30-Day Song Challenge.

Day 25 Prompt: A song you like by an artist no longer living

Ah, this is a say day.  Day 25 of the 30-Day Song Challenge prompts to select a song you like by an artist no longer living.  After having to previously lament the breakup of The Mars Volta on Day 24, now the sadness becomes more pronounced because I must choose a song by the deceased. That’s where “Good News”, the crowning achievement of Circles, the posthumous album by Mac Miller comes into play. Miller sadly passed at the age of 26 in 2018.

One of many Jon Brion co-productions on the album, the sound of “Good News” is quite refined, with plucked strings, a subtle, but highly effective, dusty drum groove, soulful electric guitar, and superb, if modest keyboard/synthesizer touches. It’s quite ear-catching, even if it floats, opting for restraint as opposed to being dynamic.

Beyond the backdrop, Miller is on-point; quite reflective. “I spent the whole day in my head / Do a little spring cleanin’,” he sings on the first verse, continuing, “I’m always too busy dreamin’, yeah / Well, maybe I should wake up instead.” On the second verse, he asks, “Why I gotta build something beautiful just too go set in on fire?” Quite deep and incredibly relatable.   The third verse is quite chilling and eerie, with the key lyric, “There’s a whole lot more for me waitin’ on the other side…”  The centerpiece, expectedly, is the chorus:

“Good news, good news, good news             
That’s all they wanna hear
No, they don’t like you when I’m down
But when I’m flying, oh
It make ‘em so uncomfortable
So different, what’s the difference.”

Listening to “Good News” in particular, it’s easy to be saddened knowing that Miller is no longer with us; he had so much to offer.  “Good News” is the total realization of his talent. This gem previously appeared on Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: January 2020 and 11 More Really ‘Good’ Songs… It’s That Simple.  The “Good News” is that Miller’s legacy will endure forever.

Mac Miller • Circles • Warner • 2020

Day 25: Mac Miller, “Good News” (30-Day Song Challenge) 🎶 [Photo Credits: Brent Faulkner, Mac Miller, The Musical Hype, Pixabay, Pexels, Rostrum, Warner]