Mitski Returns to Take Over Our Lives
Mitski is one of those singers whose music reaches into the soul of the listener. No matter what people have experienced themselves, her music easily resonates with listeners. This album is no exception.
The first time I ever heard Mitski was, embarrassingly, on TikTok. The song was “Me and My Husband,” and with its catchy beat and deep lyrics, it really intrigued me. There is an ongoing joke that Mitski is for the “sad girlies” – that this new album will ruin their lives. But she's so much more than just a punchline.
A second song I really enjoyed was “Everyone,” which is about choosing to do what you believe is right for you, no matter what anyone else says. “Everyone said, ‘Don't go that way’ / So of course, to that I said ‘I think I’ll go that way,’” she sings. This song reveals that she feels trapped in a world of judgemental social structures and how she wants to be free of it all.
It has been almost five years since the release of her last album “Be The Cowboy,” which introduced Mitski to a more mainstream audience with the songs “Me and My Husband,” “Nobody,” and “Washing Machine Heart.” Mitski has been teasing her newest album since October 2021 when she released the lead single “Working for the Knife.” The gloomy ballad speaks on the struggles of working in the music industry and longing for a more fulfilling career.
Mitski is known for sharing her experiences as an Asian-American and the struggles that come with living in a eurocentric world. I was reminded of this by one of the standout lyrics of the single: “Nobody cared for the stories I had,” she sings. By including this lyric, we are given a glimpse of Mitski's experiences as someone who feels like people don't listen to her because of who she is.
Mitski also released three more singles over the months leading up to the album's release. These songs include the 80s inspired pop song “The Only Heartbreaker,” the calming, lullaby-esque “Heat Lightning,” and the upbeat “Love Me More.” All four of these singles are very strong and are similar to her previous releases, but never redundant.
Nobody by Mitski has been heard in 458.2K TikToks( photos courtesy of Ebru Yildiz)
One of the standout songs to me was “Nothing Left For You Here.” A song about falling out of love with someone who is still deeply in love with you. The way the music swells and intensifies as she sings, “You could touch fire, you could fly,” is representative of how she felt when she was in love with her significant other and the powerful emotions that came with the relationship. They could do anything and she would still love them. Then the intensity comes to a halt when she sings, “then it passed.” An ode to the fleeting feelings of her past lover.
A second song I really enjoyed was “Everyone,” which is about choosing to do what you believe is right for you, no matter what anyone else says. “Everyone said, ‘Don't go that way’ / So of course, to that I said ‘I think I’ll go that way,’” she sings. This song reveals that she feels trapped in a world of judgemental social structures and how she wants to be free of it all.
Overall, this album is very refreshing, honest, and it will most likely be emulated by mainstream artists in the near future. Mitski’s soul-tethering songwriting skills are just as good as ever, and she has created an album that lets you glance into her life. As much as people love to gatekeep their favorite artists, I truly hope Mitski gets the recognition she deserves for this one.
Jolie Vega — February 14th, 2022
