Believe it or not, this is my first time listening to “Feel It All Around,” and the very first thing I feel is space. It reminds me of the moment I first stepped into the warm waters of the Black Sea at sunset: the boundary between your body and the world around you becomes almost imperceptible. Ernest Greene, the mind behind Washed Out, created a portal into the collective unconscious of an entire generation back in 2009. Although the lyrics consist of only a few repeating lines, a whole philosophical system lies hidden behind them.
The Geometry of Calm: “You feel it all around yourself”
The track’s central thesis is a sense of omnipresence. “You feel it all around yourself / You know it’s yours and no one else.” These words carry the idea of subjective idealism. Greene seems to be telling us: reality is what you feel right here, in this specific second. In a world where we are constantly scattered by thousands of notifications and anxieties about the future, Washed Out offers a radical act of presence. This feeling of “owning” the moment has nothing to do with materialism. It’s about the intimacy of experience. No one else can feel that sunbeam on the water quite the way you do. It’s a manifesto of self-sufficiency: to be happy, all you need is this internal resonance with your environment.
The Psychology of Letting Go: “In spite of all the things you did”
The most enigmatic and simultaneously powerful line in the composition is: “In spite of all the things you did, we’ll work it out.” This is where “Feel It All Around” transforms from simple “background music” into deep psychological therapy. These words acknowledge the existence of mistakes, traumas, and negative experiences. Chillwave is often criticized for being escapist, but this line proves otherwise. It says: “Yes, the past happened. Yes, there were mistakes. But now, in this warm sonic haze, they no longer hold power over you.” This is the philosophy of forgiveness through dissolution. The music acts as an alchemical solvent, washing out the sharp edges of our guilt, leaving only a pure “now.”
Analog Longing and “Historical Fiction”
The track’s sound, which we perceive as “lo-fi” and “warm,” rests on a solid philosophical foundation known as hauntology. It is a longing for a past that never existed or a future that never arrived. Ernest Greene uses synthesizers and vocals as if they are drifting from time-damaged tape. This creates an effect of “historical fiction.” We listen to the song and feel nostalgia for a summer in the 1980s, even if we weren’t born yet. It’s a paradox: we mourn a memory implanted in us by the music. Greene’s vocals sound detached; he isn’t trying to be the center of attention. He is just another instrument, another texture in the fog. This decentralization of the human ego is very close to Eastern philosophies: you are not the protagonist of the universe; you are a part of its rhythm.
Portlandia and the Irony of Cultural Codes
It’s impossible to ignore the fact that the track became the face of the TV series Portlandia. This added a new layer of meaning. The show satirizes hipster culture—obsessed with authenticity, vinyl, craft goods, and “returning to the roots.” “Feel It All Around” fit the opening sequence perfectly because it is the quintessence of that obsession. It sounds like an idealized version of reality. It is music for a world where the only problem is choosing a coffee blend or finding the perfect thrift store. But in this ironic context, the song takes on a protective quality. It becomes a safe space to hide from the complexities of the modern capitalist world.
The Visual Silence of the Cover
Look at the cover art: a girl in the water, a pink sky, a horizon merging with the sea. This is the visual embodiment of the Life of Leisure concept. In today’s world, leisure is often seen as a sin or a waste of time. Washed Out rehabilitates idleness. He suggests that contemplation is also an action. Immersing oneself in the water on the cover symbolizes a return to a safe, almost embryonic state, where external stimuli fade, and only the pulse remains.
Conclusion: Why do we still feel it all around?
“Feel It All Around” remains relevant even 17 years later because it answers a basic human need—the need for silence and acceptance. Ernest Greene managed to extract a feeling of absolute love (“You feel the thought of love again, it’s all alright”) from a few electronic circuits and chewed-up samples. I would be hesitant to call this “relaxing music.” I believe it is a philosophical reminder that the world around us is a mirror of our internal state. If we can “wash out” the excess noise, resentment, and anxiety, all that remains is warmth, light, and the feeling that everything will eventually be okay. And that, perhaps, is the true essence of chillwave: not running away from life, but finding a way to love it even in its most blurred and imperfect state.
P.S. If you enjoy diving into the hidden meanings of popular songs, we also recommend our analysis of another hit where a light sound masks a profound drama — Death Bed: Powfu’s Philosophy on Love and Loss.
Rate this post along with 0 others
