If the famed Mayan calendar is to be believed, December 21st will mark the final day of our existence. Let's make sure we go out on a high note. While I personally don't believe that when I fall asleep on the night of the 20th, I'll never open my eyes again, and considering that people who are way smarter than me who have actually spent their lives studying ancient cultures have debunked the theory that the end of the Mayan calendar marks the end of time, I thought it would be fun to come up with a list of songs that could serve as my personal soundtrack to the Apocalypse. It's bound to happen someday, right? I might as well be prepared when it does.

Let's start with the obvious choices:

Prince - 1999

A new century! Y2K! Armageddon (not the Ben Affleck version — like, biblical Armegeddon)! The idea of the calendar turning over to the year 2000, brought with it, for whatever reason, a fear that it would be the end of days. A theory Prince capitalized on back in 1982(!!!) with his hit song, 1999. A fun, uptempo jam that basically says, "hey, if the world's coming to an end, we might as well make the most out of it with the most epic party ever." It's a song that will be relevant regardless of whether or not the world ends on December 21st, 2012 or December 21st, 5012.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

R.E.M. - It's the End of the World As We Know It

The year was 1987, the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was raging, the Middle East was its usual, war zone self, and there were accusations against then President Reagan that involved selling weapons to Iran and rebel fighters in Nicaragua, known as the Iran-Contra Affair. By artistic standards, and those who like to blow things way out of proportion, the end of the world was nigh, but R.E.M. was OK with that. Because after all, if the rapture is going to happen, who are we to try and stop it? You might as well just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Lostprophets - Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)

I first discovered this song a few years ago when it was featured on Guitar Hero: World Tour and admittedly enjoy it more for its groove and vocal harmonies than I do for the lyrics. With that said, the lyrics do send a good message that when the world ends, regardless of whether not we'll be given a heads up, we should live every day to the fullest.   That and it rocks.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Deadeye Dick - New Age Girl

There is absolutely nothing about this that relates to the end of the world, I just like the song. Especially that line about how "she don't eat meat, but she sure like the bone." Cracks me up every time.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Down - Bury Me in Smoke

As I've mentioned in the past, I do love me some heavy metal, and it doesn't get much better than supergroup, Down. A band comprised of members of Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity, and Crowbar. As the final track on their 1995 debut, NOLA, "Bury Me in Smoke" is the inner monologue of someone who sees the writing on the wall, and admits that every decision they made wasn't necessarily the best (a feeling I think we can all relate to), but ultimately accepts their fate with no regrets for their past behavior, making one final request, whenever their time is up, bury them in smoke. A reference, I assume, is  in relation to the bands fondness for a certain herbal supplement.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

What songs would you put on your Apocalyptic playlist?

More From WDKS-FM