Guest Post! INFJ Playlist, by Alex!

Hi friends! We've got something special for you today. I was going to post it yesterday but (I promise this is going somewhere) yesterday got wacky, so I'm posting it today, which works out even better coincidentally because the very first post for our collaborative series over at 1MoreCastle.com is supposed to go live today! So we're having a big ol' collab celebration. (I almost wanted to be clever & try to mash collab with celebration, but then it came out as 'collaboration... oops.) So, here's Alex, to tell us about why he picked the songs he did for his fabulous MBTI Playlist!

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Greetings blog viewers! My name is Alex and I happen to be Valerie’s friend. She has generously let me occupy her blog space while she is off knitting or something. Back in July she and I both had the same idea, to create a playlist based on our Meyer’s Brigg personality and share it with friends via social media. Little did either of us know how many people would end up participating. So many so that I still have not gotten through everyone’s playlists, and I fully intend to. Since I started my own playlist I have fully intended to write a blog explaining why I chose the songs I did. Each one was carefully chosen, at first. I did start to stray slightly from a strictly personality based playlist and it became an “Alex based playlist”. But fear not I am INFJ and my playlist does reflect that, but it also reflects me perfectly. It is ideally listened to with headphones and in order. I didn’t place songs randomly. My intention is to take you through a journey in my shoes, I hope you’re size thirteen. I want you to feel what I feel, to think what goes through my head, and to see just what it is like to be me. This also might be a good way to get to know me as well. In the remainder of the blog I will be sharing why I chose the songs I chose as well as any relevant lyrics. I sincerely hope you enjoy listening to this playlist, and if you haven’t already, share yours!

1.“Sleeping Lessons” by The Shins

“Just put yourself in my new shoes,
And see that I do what I do, Because the old guards still defend”

A song I included mostly for the feels, this is what I feel like on my highest of highs.
But the vibe I get is it’s like a justification for “what I do”.

2. “Andrew” by Jonwayne

I included this one purely for the feels.

3. “Under Pressure” by David Bowie and Queen

“It’s the terror of knowing what this world is about, watching some good friends scream ‘let me out’”

The world is a hurting place and I feel its feels.

4. “Hurt Feelings” by Flight of the Conchords

“I got hurt feelings…

…I’m crying tears of a Rapper”

This is the feeling of being misunderstood by everyone, and being forgotten, that I so often have.

5. “Four of Two” by They Might Giants

“But I knew that the girl would be coming very soon”

Being led on by a girl who has no interest in me has happened before, and it sucks.

6. “My Evil Plan to Save the World” by Five Iron Frenzy

“I have an evil plan to save the world for every man,
And I think it's better than the way it's being run.
Oh the groundwork's laid,
No Don't be afraid,
I'm sure that I can fix it,
When I figure out the physics.”

While not evil, I do have a plan to save the world 

7. “The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind” Music by Henry Mancini

You might say I think like a criminal mastermind sometimes, but I have good intentions not ill ones.

8. “The Sound of Silence” By Simon and Garfunkel

“Hear my words that I might teach you.
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence.”

I rarely feel like anyone takes what I say very seriously.

9. “The Question Song” By Tom Wilson

“I don't know, stop asking me the question.”

People often ask me the same silly questions over and over, and it annoys me to no end. The actor who played Biff in Back to the Future (My favorite movie) sang this song.

10. “Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazzarus and Garvey

“I must disagree sir…won’t you listen to me?”

Mostly for the feels, but I do wish people would listen to me. I know what I am talking about most of the time.

11. “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” by The Ink Spots

“I don't want to set the world on fire
I just want to start a flame in your heart”

I don’t want or need to be desired by everyone (or every girl) just one.

12. “You Can Call Me Al” By Paul Simon

“A man walks down the street
He says why am I soft in the middle now
Why am I soft in the middle
The rest of my life is so hard”

“You can call me Al”

I am quite soft in the middle (very sensitive) and I like being called Al. On a more nostalgic note my parents used to sing this song to me when I was a baby.

13. “We Belong Together” by Randy Newman
“When we're together,
Grey skies are clear, oh.
And I'll share them, till where I'm less depressed.
And it's sincerely, from the bottom of my heart,
I just can't take it when we're apart.

We belong together,
We belong together.
Yes, we do,
You'll be mine, forever.”

A love song for my (future) bride and myself 

14. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by Olivia Newton-John (originally by John Denver)

“…the radio reminds me of my home far away.”

I always feel like I belong somewhere else than where I am, in another time another place. And indeed I do have another home elsewhere.

15 “Feelings” by Morris Albert

“Feelings, nothing more than feelings”

I speak almost exclusively in feelings.

16. “Robot Parade” by They Might Be Giants

I am a fun loving robot who likes to get along with people, and this song captures that perfectly.

17. “Friends” by Flight of the Conchords

“Friends sing together…
Friends do things together…

Friends laugh together…”

I am all about being friendly and also having good friends.

18. “Someone’s Rockin’ my Dreamboat” by The Inkspots

“But with love as my guide,
I'll follow the tide,
I'll keep sailing 'til I find you.”

I feel like I belong in the 30s/40s but more to the point I am usually in a dream like state and looking for just the right (fill in the blank) (friend, girlfriend, movie, book).

19. “I Will Possess Your Heart” by Deathcab For Cutie

“You gotta spend some time with me.
And I know that you'll find, love
I will possess your heart.”

Spend time with me and I guarantee you’ll like me, INFJs are said to be some of people’s favorite people.

20. “I Want to Break Free” by Queen

“I want to break free
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You're so self satisfied I don't need you
I've got to break free
God knows, God knows I want to break free.”

I often get into situations that I feel trapped, like jobs, or relationships but I’m not the most assertive person.

21. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” By Simple Minds

“Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Don't Don't Don't
Don't You Forget About Me”

Oftentimes I feel left out or forgotten about entirely.

22. “You Don’t Know Me” By Ben Folds (Ft. Regina Spektor)

“I wanna ask you -
Do you ever sit and wonder,
It's so strange
That we could be together for
So long, and never know, never care
What goes on in the other one's head?”

I have been in many relationships (friendships or otherwise) in which I don’t ever get to know the other person and vice versa, it is rather strange being friends with a stranger or even be related to one.

23. “Not Your Kind of People” by Garbage

“We are not your kind of people.
You seem kind of phony.
Everything's a lie.
We are not your kind of people.
Something in your makeup.
Don't see eye to eye.”

This whole song is a very good representation of how I feel oftentimes. I think a lot of people are phony and that is a huge pet peeve of mine. Don’t lie to me, I can tell when you aren’t telling the truth.

24. “I Wanna Be Like You” sung by Louis Prima

“I wanna be like you
I wanna walk like you
Talk like you, too”

Sometimes I just want to be like everyone else and fit in.

25. “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac

“Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
Don't stop, it'll soon be here
It'll be better than before
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone”

I tend to be an optimist and think the best is yet to come.

26. “Everything You Know is Wrong” by “Weird Al” Yankovic

“Everything you know is wrong
Black is white, up is down and short is long
And everything you thought was just so
Important doesn't matter”

A silly song, but I often feel like I know things others don’t and focus on stuff that matters, like people instead of drama.

27. “Damn Good Times” by They Might Be Giants

“I'm not much of a natural dancer

But I've got a friend who's a natural dancer

You could call her a jumpin' bean

She's got ants in her pants and she's gonna dance”

Mostly for the feels but I do like to dance sometimes, and quite awkwardly

28. “On the Beautiful Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss

How I feel when I am feeling at my best.

29. “Please Do Not Go” by Violent Femmes

“So please, please, please do not go
Please, please, please do not go
Please, please, please do not go”

I don’t want to be abandoned or forgotten about, in romantic situations or just in normal friendships.

30. “Somewhere Out There” by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram

“Somewhere out there
Beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me
And loving me tonight”

I know somewhere out there, there is a girl looking for a guy like me and I am looking for her as well.

31. “They’ll Need a Crane” by They Might Be Giants

“Don't call me at work again

No, no, the boss still hates me

I'm just tired and I don't love you anymore”

These are the feelings I feel in the middle of a bad relationship and the subsequent breakup.

32. “Pictures in My Head” sung by Kermit, Gonzo, Fozzie, Swedish Chef, and Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem

“Is there more I could have said?
Now they’re only pictures in my head.”

Sometimes I feel like my happiest times are behind me.

33. “Common People” by William Shatner

“I want to live like common people
I want to do whatever common people do”

Sometimes I just want to fit in and be “normal”.

34. “Ramona” by Beck

Though not really supported by the lyrics, “Ramona” is the girl of my dreams, who may or may not even exist.

35. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman

“Some other folks might be a little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too
Maybe
But none of them
Will ever love you the way I do”

My friendship is loyal and unique.

36. “Rainbow Connection” by Kermit the Frog

“What's so amazing
That keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see
Some day we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me”

I often want to find that one thing that will help me connect with someone, and that often time comes in the form of daydreaming.

37. “Beautiful Dreamer” by Bobby Darin

“Beautiful Dreamer, why do you stare?

Isn’t there someone you know who would care.

Say you are unhappy because you’re alone…

Beautiful dreamer, please dry your eyes.

Don’t you be lonely, just realize,

That I too am lonely, lonely and blue.

Beautiful dreamer, I’m a dreamer like you.”

I am such a dreamer, and I often feel like I am alone in the world, but deep down I know I am not.

38. “If You’re Into It” By Flight of the Conchords

“If you want me to
I can hang 'round with you
If I only knew
That's what you're into

You and him, him and you
If that's what you're into
Him hangin' 'round around you
You're hangin' 'round, yeah, you're there too”

I’d like to find out what someone is into so I can get to know him or her, but not quite as suggestively as the song…suggests.

39. “If I Didn’t Care” By The Ink Spots

“If I didn't care more than words can say
If I didn't care would I feel this way?
If this isn't love then why do I thrill?
And what makes my head go 'round and 'round
While my heart stands still?”

When I care about someone it can get rather intense.

40. “Whistling in the Dark” By They Might Be Giants
“A woman came up to me and said
"I'd like to poison your mind
With wrong ideas that appeal to you
Though I am not unkind…

…And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be whistling in the dark”

People often come up to me and say rather strange things, and I’d often just rather not say anything to them, or better yet be by myself whistling in the dark.

41. “Skinnamarink” By Sharon, Lois and Bram

“Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do,
I love you!”

I tend to love people, and also use silly words. On a more personal note, this was a childhood favorite song of mine.

42. “Every New Day” By Five Iron Frenzy

“Dear Father, I need you,
Your strength my heart to mend.
I want to fly higher,
Every new day again

Man versus himself.
Man versus machine.
Man versus the world.
Mankind versus me.
The struggles go on,
The wisdom I lack,
The burdens keep pilling
Up on my back.
So hard to breathe,
To take the next step.
The mountain is high,
I wait in the depths.
Yearning for grace,
And hoping for peace.”

This song perfectly encapsulates my every day struggle to feel self worth, some days it’s easier than other, sometimes I get overwhelmed by my burdens other times I am soaring at the top of my game. This is my personal prayer that I pray so often and almost every time I think of the song or listen to it I can’t help but well up with so many tears. I love this song with my entire heart, it’s one of the few that I can that about.

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*returns from knitting or something* Thank you Alex! <3 It's been an honor.
I'm really enjoying using this blog as an outlet for sharing what people are passionate about & why. If you have something you'd like to talk about, let me know!