The first time I listened to Mitski, I fell into each line of her songs. I listened to her entire discography in a couple hours. By far, the most striking attribute about her songs is the pure confessional attitude. She writes honestly about her vulnerabilities, and it resonates with me in the most modern conception of the world. Here are eight of Mitski’s most revolutionary, contradictory, and confessional songs that relate to the modern world.
1. “Nobody”
“Nobody” is Mitski’s most popular song, due to its contradictory disco-pop sound and the brutally honest lyrics. This despairing song begins with stanzas of her accepting her cowardice in loneliness, yet also recognizing that being with people makes her feel better. Her lyrics “And I know no one will save me / I just need someone to kiss” exemplifies the duality of her loneliness. This self-critical, yet honest portrayal of loneliness, reflects the loneliness we can all face, even though we think that others are always happy on social media.
2. “First Love / Late Spring”
Starting off slow and melodic, this song reaches a climax at about one minute into the song, reflecting the way in which one falls suddenly into a first love. Her lyrics at the end of her loud chorus say, “Please don’t say you love me […] / One word from you and I would / Jump off this ledge I’m on, baby.” These pleading lyrics relate to the contradictory feelings of absolute obsession and fear in having someone tell you they love you. In an age of social media, it is easy to become obsessed with the idea of people, and simultaneously fear the commitment in having to love someone completely, even the parts you don’t know yet.
3. “A Pearl”
“A Pearl” opens up with a startling awareness of someone losing feelings for their partner because of their inability to love them back – “You’re growing tired of me / You love me so hard and I still can’t sleep.” She laments that she “fell in love with a war and nobody told [her] it ended” reflecting the ways in which we can find it hard to accept safe love after being in tumultuous relationships. The pearl she speaks about is the memory of a toxic relationship and reflects the romanticization of past relationships that ended for a reason.
4. “My Body’s Made of Crushed Little Stars”
This song begins with a fast strumming that encapsulates the feeling of not accomplishing enough. She laments, “My body’s made of crushed little stars / And I’m not doing anything / I wanna see the whole world.” In this way, the song reflects the ways in which childhood dreams are not always accomplished the way we’d like them to be. This song wonderfully encapsulates the relatable feeling of perfectionism in a constantly moving and changing world and emphasizes the necessity to pace ourselves.
5. “Your Best American Girl”
Mitski’s “Your Best American Girl” begins with a slow, loving address to her crush. The song picks up pace at the climax when she sings “Your mother wouldn’t approve of how my mother raised me / But I do, I think I do / And you’re an all-American boy / I guess I couldn’t help trying to be your best American girl.” She weaves a modern “star-crossed lovers” tale in which cultural upbringings and societal expectations remove the possibility of love. Although critics claimed this song was a critique of the “white boy indie rock” world, Mitski said, “I wasn’t trying to send a message. I was in love” in her notorious confessional and honest attitude.
6. “Last Words of A Shooting Star”
This song recounts a plane experiencing turbulence, and begins with slow guitar strumming. She reflects on the significance of smaller events in her life during this frightening moment, singing “And you’d say you love me and look in my eyes / But I know through mine, you were looking in yours / And did you know the Liberty Bell is a replica.” She relates her empty experiences of love and life to the liberty bell being a replica of the real thing. This recounting of seemingly insignificant moments encapsulates the theme of living in a modern, fast-moving world that negates our human need to experience deep and meaningful moments.
7. “Bag of Bones”
This song, the first one Mitski wrote, begins with a slow piano verse. It relates society’s patriarchal emphasis on beauty through her recognition that her nail colours are wearing off. She reflects this feeling of being used up in her chorus. She sings, “Mercy on me, would you please spare me tonight? / I’m tired of this searching, would you let me go?” She calls out at the end, “And I can take a little bit more / Let’s shake this poet out of the beast.” It signifies the hollowness of modern relationships and the emphasis on sexual gratification that leaves her feeling empty and alone. In a dark, witty tone, it reflects the importance of self-love, and being with people who value you for more than just your “bag of bones.”
8. “Class of 2013”
This song, with fast piano playing, calls out to the loss of innocence and the desire to be comforted and taken care of like a child in adulthood. At the crux of the song, her voice raises and she sings loudly, “Mom would you wash my back? / This once, and then we can forget / And I’ll leave what I’m chasing / For the other girls to pursue.” In her signature honest style, it reflects the feeling of failure and the realization that you don’t know who you are. In this way, it reflects the experience of early adulthood and losing the innocence you once had.
Although Mitski has many impressive and revolutionary songs, these eight songs provide a detailed view into her ability to weave complex themes into digestible songs that reflect the contemporary, modern world in a striking, unique sound. Mitski is the queen of confessional song-writing, and it’s time for her to receive the glory she so clearly deserves.
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