Monday, April 14, 2008

"Victoria" by John Mayer

john mayer now holds the title of favorite artist. i got his itunes essentials collection, and the one song that i never had by him -- "victoria" -- now has my complete attention. That, and his funky rendition of "i got a woman" from the TRY! album.
but right now, it's the story of this girl victoria that's the most gripping.

hey, victoria came by
victoria came by tonight
hey, victoria came by
she says to say goodbye

it's the truest thing, really. artists take what they experience and they make it art. it's just what we do. whether it be the world around us as we experience it, a woman's touch (or lack thereof), or life in general. it only makes sense that for an artist to grieve, he must express the pain and loss in an artistic fashion.
part of what irritates me about the misconceptions and false pretenses surrounding the word "emo", while we're on the artist's grieving process: "emo" does not mean someone who sits at home cutting themselves, or someone characterized by tight jeans and black eyeliner. "emo" does not qualify someone as a pathetic, complaining wuss.
emo is more profound than all the shallow stereotypes and misconceptions. emo is when an artist pours out their heart and soul into a work. it could be a song, a poem, a painting, a book...anything in which emotion and feeling becomes manifest. damien rice is emo. dashboard confessional is emo. even john mayer can be emo at times; listen to "i'm gonna find another you" or "comfortable".
anything that can register as poignant is emo. hanging out with friends, laughing it up and feeling nostalgic can be emo, for pete's sake.
so why does everybody associate "emo" with negativity, depression and despondency?
it eludes me.

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