Tracks

2012- La Maria
2016- Chop Suey!
2019- I Want It That Way
2019- It’s Been a Long, Long Time
2019- Con Altura
2020- Kids

My Mixtape Autobiography
(2003-Present)
By Christian Arambula
 La Maria Chop Suey!
2012 2016
Me pasaba rogándole a Maria Middle school was an interesting time to say the least. I was
Que formara parte de mi vida the nerdiest kid you could imagine with the trademark black
Pero ella se hacia del rogar glasses and superhero obsession. I even had a comic book
Del rogar ,del rogar backpack that I loved. I was still just as nerdy going into
Y me volvía, a lastimar freshman year but slowly but surely I made progress.
A lastimar, a lastimar
In middle school all the students had to present a service
th
I did not get my first phone until I was in 6 grade and so project at the end of the year in groups of four. One of the
whenever I wanted to listen to music I went to youtube.com on members of our group was named Austin, he loved rock music
my parent’s old desktop. and playing the drums and he even had shoulder length black
hair to match.
I do not associate the song to one specific memory rather the
countless afternoons I’d hear it around the house with my It was nearing the end of 8th grade and my group and I were
mother singing for the whole house to hear. I never liked sitting in our Spanish classroom just messing around on our
Banda music before, but this song made me realize it wasn’t so phones when we should have been planning for the big
bad after all. upcoming presentation. Austin randomly asked if we had ever
heard a song called “Chop Suey!” to which we all responded
I remember playing this song on the old desktop we had as I
no. He was shocked and immediately began playing it on his
did the little homework I was assigned back then. I had no idea
phone at full volume. We laughed then he brought out a pair of
what the lyrics were about but nonetheless it was catchy, and
drumsticks from his backpack and started to yell the lyrics as
my parents probably have a video of me singing somewhere on
he played.
their old phones.
Wake up
Whenever I hear it today I’m reminded of how easy life was in
Grab a brush and put a little (makeup)
elementary school back when my biggest worries were trading
Grab a brush and put a little
Pokémon cards with my friends. I’m reminded of a time when
That was the last memory I made with my middle school
my mother and I’s relationship wasn’t so strained, and our
friends before graduation and considering I haven’t seen most
biggest arguments were over getting me to eat my vegetables.
of them since coming to Mater Dei, probably the last I ever
will.
 I Want It That Way It’s Been a Long, Long Time
2019 2019
This song is a masterpiece and I have no shame when it comes It's been a long, long time
to singing this song. The first time I sang this song in public Haven't felt like this, my dear
was with some friends on the UCLA trip my sophomore year.
Since I can't remember when
It had been a long day and we were on a bus on the way to see It's been a long, long time
a performance by UCLA’s drama department. I don’t
Ever since Avengers Endgame was announced it was all me
remember my rationale behind it, it was probably a dare, but
and my friend Miguel could talk about. We talked about the
what I do remember is looking my friend dead in the eye as I
ending to the previous movie for hours and discussed fan
sang “You are my fire”. At first he was confused but he joined
theories for over a year. When the tickets were made available
in nonetheless,” The one desire”.
for pre-order Miguel bought them the day of and refused to let
By this time half the bus had turned back to stare at us but me pay him back saying it was a gift.
some of them actually joined in and sang with us. We finished
When the release day finally rolled around Miguel, some other
the song and everyone around us laughed at the absurdity of it
friends and I all arrived at the theatre ready for the cinematic
all. I remember just being so happy in that moment, not a care
experience of the century. Miguel and I were geeking out the
in the world besides singing a song from an old boyband.
whole movie but when it was time for the final battle and
My friends and I still sing it in the car from time to time or Captain America picked up Mjolnir we started yelling and
whenever we are together but whenever I hear that song I’m screaming and most of the theatre did as well. The movie was
brought back to that bus ride. It was one of those moments that memorable enough, but the fact that I forgot about Miguel’s
just felt scripted like it was ripped from a movie. That feeling peanut allergy as I ate trail mix next to him and nearly killed
is something you rarely experience which to me is what makes him in the middle of the movie makes us laugh even today. The
it so special. movie was an emotional rollercoaster and all in all that movie
experience is something I’m sure I won’t feel again for a long,
long time.
 Con Altura opportunities to bond and that they were cause for celebration
not disapproval.
2019
My Godfather had never been someone I saw as an adult. Not
that I didn’t respect him in that way but merely that I saw him
as someone I could easily talk to. This was because of our age
gap being only 11 years and so I always saw him as more of a
brother growing up.
He was the cool uncle for as long as I could remember. He
bought me whatever toys I wanted, and he even let me play
violent videogames when I was way too young.
The summer before my junior year was his wedding. During
the mass I began to remember all the memories we had, and I
was saddened as I realized that we’d no longer be able to spend
as much time together to make such memories.
At the party I wasn’t having much fun as I kept thinking about
what I realized earlier. I don’t dance nor am I outgoing enough
to strike up a conversation with strangers, so I was mostly
stuck sitting alone most of the night as my family danced the
night away. My godfather was having the time of his life of
course and we hadn’t spoken much this summer like previous
years which was weighing on me.
When Con Altura started playing I looked over to see him and
his wife dancing and I noticed that was the happiest I’d ever
seen him. I began to realize that this wasn’t necessarily the
beginning of the end. I was being selfish and wasn’t taking into
account how much happier he’d be once married. This
experience taught me that each new stage in life brings new
 Kids As we approach the last year of our high school careers we’ll
soon be forced to take our first steps into the “real world”. We
2020
will soon make decisions that’ll impact the rest of our lives.
Oh I am just a kid
Those late nights we spend making memories are a precious
I'm afraid of the dark
commodity that’ll soon run out. Those days at the beach, car
But I'm obsessed with ideas
rides full of laughter and lunchtime antics will be a thing of the
One day I'll go far
past. That’s why we try our best to enjoy the moments we have
Oh I'm no longer a kid left together. Yet as hypocritical as it may seem we also don’t
And everything has changed want to peak in high school. We want to look back at this stage
There's nothing in my heart in life knowing we did our best and ultimately be happy with
And lightning in my brain our choices not longing to relive them. We’re no longer kids
and although we overthink a lot we all understand nothing is
So listen up you kids meant to last forever. Each and everyone of them has a bright
And hear what I say future ahead and although our paths may diverge I’m thankful
Don't listen to your brain for the role each of them had in my life.
And follow your dreams (I say)
My friends and I have a love-hate relationship when it comes
to talking about the future. We’re all excited about the idea of
graduating and having the freedom to pursue our passions yet
this very freedom is what terrifies us. What if we make the
wrong choices? What if we can’t pursue our passions and are
forced into a job that we hate while longing for a chance to be
young again? I want to make my parents proud, but I also want
to be happy. What if we just aren’t good enough and fail to
reach our goals? Todays day and age gives us more
opportunities than ever before but sometimes it feels like we’re
merely in a cage that ever slightly expands as we grow older,
never able to achieve true freedom due to the expectations
placed on us by others as well as ourselves.