Music: Nobody by Mitski

Sometimes music just happens. You're living your life, nothing special going on, and then a song comes on and you have to stop everything to give it your full attention. I had this phenomenon happen just yesterday. Recommended to me as a recent release based off my tastes, "Nobody" by Mitski, a Japanese-American Indie singer, lit up my headphones and I've had it on repeat all day.



From the opening drum beat that sounds like it came right out of the 50's or 60's to Mitski's own vocals, everything in this song has a vibe that seems to come from a bye-gone age. It's a cheerful and uplifting tune that is dressing up a very sad and realistic emotion: loneliness.

"My god, I'm so lonely, so I opened the window to hear sounds of people... Venus, planet of Love, was destroyed by global warming. Did its people want too much? And I don't want your pity, I just want somebody near me. Guess I'm a coward. I just want to feel a light."

The imagery of being trapped within her room and having no-one around, only to open the windows just to feel life outside your reach is enough to make me want to just give her a hug. The melancholy way she calls out for someone, just anyone, to accept her and show her the love stresses I think how just about everyone on this planet feels at any given moment on a daily basis.

Venus, representing the planet of Love, and it being overdrawn of its resources is her way of saying that perhaps love has finally run out and it's why she has yet to feel her heart filled with its warmth. And yet, at the same time, she doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for her dilemma. She'd rather have the company of someone close to her instead of words of consolation.

"And I know no one will save me, I just need someone to kiss. Give me one honest kiss and I'll be alright." I've been big and small again... but still nobody wants me... and I know no one will save, I'm just asking for a kiss. Give me one good movie kiss and I'll be alright. "

Desiring a movie kiss could signify that her hunt for that perfect connection with someone will never happen. I mean, yes, a kiss is a symbol of how two people can physically be to each other, but to compare it to those seen in movies is something that is doomed to fail from the outset. Her expectations could be flawed and she'll never feel satisfied with what people can offer her.

I find the lyrics where she says that no one will save her interesting since this wisdom must have been learnt over time. You don't go looking to other people to complete your personality -- they are there to add to your life and give a witness to your experiences. These pearls may have come from others that she's gotten close to before but they, for one reason or another, did not stick around and now she's wondering if there's really something wrong with her; ex: the way she's described herself as both "big and small".

The word "nobody" drones on as the song reaches its end and perhaps shows that deep down inside, even when we're with the people that light up our world to its highest brightness, sometimes we still are alone, hiding in our bedroom, waiting for a light.