✨ special guest feature
Quick interlude to say thanks to Wing of FRESH by wing for inviting me back for a second guest post! I loved having this space to geek out about some things I’ve enjoyed lately. Wing provided some lovely food for thought in the post & comment prompt questions, dovetailing nicely with the message of this Substack.
Now back to your regular programming…
suggested reading method
To best savour this artwork, please take a moment to eliminate distractions. Consider minimizing all other windows on your computer; putting other devices (phone, tv etc) aside; taking a deep breath, to the full extent of your lung capacity; and focusing solely on the “artwork” section.
Once you’ve processed that to your satisfaction, the rest of the post is optional reading, provided only to share my own impressions and reasons for choosing this piece.
artwork
“Bug Like an Angel” by Mitski, from her forthcoming album The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We.
⬇️ Optional “Behind the Song” video by Mitski:
interpretation
Last year, one of my students wrote about her favourite quote, attributed to educator and activist Dr. César A. Cruz: “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” I can’t think of a more fitting sentiment to match Mitski’s latest single, which explores addiction and self-sabotage.
I already liked the way this track sounded, but watching Mitski talk it through in the “Behind the Song” video gave me renewed appreciation for her approach to songwriting. She describes how she crafts her protagonist and setting from the first line, and explains how the chord progressions and lyrics play into the meaning. While she has intentions for her song’s messages, she allows for multiple interpretations. For example, Mitski explains how the lines “I try to remember the wrath of the devil / Was also given him by God” can be read optimistically or pessimistically, so the listener can “take whatever they need from it.” Every musical and semantic choice was thoughtful and deliberate.
Mitski’s meticulousness is reflected in the music video, where Mitski and her uniformed gospel choir (and the audience by proxy) come face-to-face with the unkempt “other.” The protagonist staggers around, consumed by instability. They approach the choir, make prolonged eye contact with Mitski, and then reject the potential help offered by that community – making a face, and stumbling off into the night.
It’s hard to talk about the mentally ill, the homeless, and other populations in similarly desperate conditions without feeling sadness or even guilt. Mitski’s song allows “comfortable” people to ponder this discomfort, while also “comforting the disturbed” by offering a sympathetic lens into their plight.
context
Mitski, born Mitsuki Laycock (b. 1990), is a half-Japanese, half-American singer-songwriter who grew up across several countries. She has released 6 studio albums and 3 EPs, with her next album scheduled for September 2023 release. Mitski has been called “the US’s best young songwriter,” and nominated for an Academy Award for the song she co-wrote and performed with David Byrne and Ryan Lott for the film Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Do you have a favourite song that somehow makes you feel “uncomfortable”? Feel free to share your own thoughts in the comments!