Spotlight Song: “What’s A Good Life” by Post Animal
August 25, 2025
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Post Animal’s “What’s A Good Life” Invites Us to Explore What Truly Leads to Happiness
Solitary drums open “What’s A Good Life” with Post Animal’s characteristic psychedelic sound, quickly becoming the heartbeat of one of the band’s most existential songs. Music about living the good life is nothing new, but Post Animal manages to find a fresh take on man’s search for meaning. Rather than trying to answer its own question, “What’s a Good Life” evokes a mixed feeling of satisfaction and yearning that asks its listeners to reflect on what’s truly important to them.
In a span of just over four minutes, “What’s A Good Life” provides the space to absorb its message without ever feeling too repetitive. In typical Post Animal fashion, it’s a collaborative labour of love, blending the songwriting and vocal talents of members Dalton Allison, Jake Hirshland, Joe Keery, Javier Reyes, Wesley Toledo, and Matt Williams.
The vocals break into the indie-rock ballad softly, weaving an almost cautionary tale for the listener. The lyrics are honest and raw, letting us in on a secret: Even the rock stars performing for massive audiences wonder if they’re on the right path. In fact, when your job security revolves around impressing audiences and executives, there may be even more pressure to perform as something you’re not.
With this confession, the band encompasses the familiar disenchantment that comes after you’ve achieved a dream you’ve worked toward forever, only to realize it’s not exactly what you imagined.
Yet as the band builds up to the chorus, brighter vocals pull us up to a higher register, offering a glimpse of hope.
What Really Matters to You?
The lyrics and melody of the chorus create the sense that whatever the narrator has found, it’s enough to make him feel satisfied with who he is right now.
Maybe I’m a romantic, but this line leads me to believe the narrator is finding solace in a relationship that sees him exactly as he’s always wanted to be seen. A good life, then, means finding an authentic kind of love that lets you be accepted as who you’ve always wanted to be.
The beauty of the open-ended lyrics in this song, however, lies in the fact that the listener can come up with their own interpretation. Maybe the narrator finally released perfectionism. Maybe they’ve become satisfied enough with their own artistry that outside opinions no longer matter. It’s up to you to decide what resonates.
In the bridge, the band pivots to a future where they paint the perfect picture of a stereotypically “good life.” They’ve remained caught up in the competition of comparison and maintained the image of success.
Still, the question of what really makes a life good haunts them, leading to the line that could be the thesis of the song: What’s your favourite thing you’ve done?
When you reach the end of your life, what can you look back on and be proud of? Not because someone else deemed it worthy, but because it’s something you enjoyed, that you felt mattered?
Maybe You Have To
Just after the three-minute mark, sharp-eared fans will notice the melodic nod to an earlier Iron track, “Maybe You Have To,” which explores themes of longing, regret, and acceptance. These themes fittingly echo throughout “What’s a Good Life,” linking the songs together.
The band modulates to a slightly higher, more triumphant key for their final repetition of the chorus. As the tempo winds down, you’re left with the hope that they’ve found what they’re looking for. Still, the melancholic undertones leave you wondering if the narrator really feels satisfied or if they’re still searching for something more.
“What’s a Good Life” highlights Post Animal’s unique ability to pair funky melodic scores with thought-provoking lyrics, showcasing the authentic collaboration of a band that’s not afraid to make its own mark on the industry.
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