The Pitch’s Infinite Playlist Round 37: Zach Gunter

The Pitch’s Infinite Playlist // Illustration by Shelby Phelps

Welcome to The Pitch’s Infinite Playlist, a forever-growing playlist of songs picked by people in KC. View/follow the full playlist on Spotify and you can always go back and check out the full run of articles. Throw the playlist on shuffle and enjoy away!

Playlist Guest #37: Zach Gunter

Who are you and what do you do?

I am Zach Gunter. I will be graduating from the University of Missouri – Kansas City next year with a bachelor’s degree in communications, with a major emphasis in digital media and journalism.

I constantly write. Be it for The Pitch or UMKC’s Roo News, I always have new articles coming out.

Where can we support/follow your work?

My work at The Pitch can be found here. My work for Roo News is listed here. If you would like to keep up with my ramblings to the void, my X/Twitter account is @ZGKC08.

“Chemical” by Post Malone

The meaning behind “Chemical” can be taken one of two ways. Either Post Malone’s previous struggle with drug addiction, or a toxic relationship that he can’t quit. I choose the latter, because I can relate to that easier. Beyond the meaning, the song is just great.

“Mourning” by Post Malone

Okay so clearly I need to do some soul-searching. In “Mourning,” Post Malone explores the struggles of getting sober. While I personally have never dealt with addiction, I relate to the song in another way. Getting over depression and anxiety is an uphill climb as well.

“A Symptom of Being Human” by Shinedown

This was a song that the world needed. In an age where mental health is becoming less taboo, everyone needs to remember that struggling doesn’t make you weird. It’s just “A Symptom of Being Human.” The first lines of the chorus are “Sometimes I’m in a room where I don’t belong. And the house is on fire and there’s no alarm. And the walls are melting too, how ’bout you?” This line reflects how the main character feels no way out of their troubles. However, the chorus ends with “Don’t worry, it’s all just a symptom of being human.”

“Clocks” by Coldplay

Finally, a song that wasn’t released in the last two years. In “Clocks,” lead singer Chris Martin sings about a past relationship where there was little closure. Ironically, he married Gwyneth Paltrow the next year. The song leads the listener along the path of someone who feels they have lost their way. They are confused, the world is moving on around them while they sit in despair.

“Viva la Vida” by Coldplay

This song is simply great. There’s no real meaning to me or my life. I just enjoy the song for what it is. It’s a retelling of the French Revolution from the perspective of King Louis XVI. The song immediately jumps into its theme with the line, “I used to rule the world, seas would rise when I gave the word. Now in the morning I sleep alone, sweep the streets I used to own.” The tale of a more understanding king than what was really on the throne.