Hero by Mariah Carey was first released in 1993, however it didn’t begin to have an impact on my life until the year my father died… 1996. He passed away on July 14″; I was only 14. Although he never actually raised me, and we had a rocky relationship, so to speak, it was
still the first time I had genuinely had to deal with a loss. The part of the song that really spoke to me were these 8 lines:
It’s a long road
When you face the world alone No one reaches out a hand For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself And the emptiness you felt Will disappear
As a young teen, I was somewhat of an introvert. I grew up with a few friends and my grandmother. Due to the loss of my father, I felt lost and like I had no one to turn to. Mariah inspired me, as if in that short chorus, she was speaking to me directly. It seemed she knew exactly what I was going through; thinking of facing this world alone with out my dad, by my side, to finish watching me grow, play with his grandchildren, see me graduate from high school, and walk me down the isle… it appeared hopeless. That’s exactly how the world works, there isn’t going be anyone to hold your hand all the time and the only one who you can truly rely on, is yourself. This song gave me hope, made me feel at peace, and allowed me to believe that I would make it. Whenever I need a reminder that I am strong enough to do everything I want to do, I listen to this song.
127 our experts are availableright now
The first song I learned from beginning to end was Baby Got Back by Sir Mix A Lot. I can’t pin point the exact age I first heard it, but I do remember sitting in my friends room and rewinding the cassette tape until we had every word down on paper. This was definitely not a track my grandma would have allowed me to listen to had she of known, of course. The cursing and sexual nature of the song alone would have brought about an argument, not to mention that it was rap. She was a Christian woman, in all sense of the word, but the dirty language and explicit content isn’t what stood out to me as I placed his tape in my Walkman.
So Cosmo says you’re fat
Well I ain’t down with that
‘Cause your waste is small and your curves are kickin’ And I’m thinkin’ bout stickin’
To the beanpole dames in the magazines You ain’t it, Miss Thing
Give me a sista, I can’t resist her
Red beans and rice didn’t miss her
This was the first time that I had heard someone express that being “thick” wasconsidered attractive. He clearly conveyed in his lyrics that he didn’t want a skinny woman. His lady needed to know how to enjoy a meal, and have some extra padding to boot, especially on her backside. In a weird way he made me feel pretty, I was anything but a Cosmo chick, and was taught that boys were attracted to girls with a more petit figure.
Finally! A person of influence, who was heard all over the radio, was contradicting the opposition to the typical. Baby Got Back not only sent out a message that I could relate to on a personal level, but it was also an upbeat jam that I could rock out to as well. So, whenever I’m at home needing something with energy to get me in the mood to clean or want something to pump me up while I get dressed for a night out, I turn my iTunes to this sick beat.
There are tons of songs that make me feel certain ways, but one of Taylor Swift’s most recent releases, Blank Space, really speaks to me. I’ve been married for eleven years, but separated for the last four. If you can think it, we have probably been through it, and those experiences have hardened parts my heart. When I think about my relationship, or future relationships, for that matter, I listen to this song.
Screaming, crying, perfect storms. I could make all the tables turn Rose garden filled with thorns Keep you second-guessing like oh my god.
Who is she? I get drunk on jealousy
But you’ll come back each time you leave
Cause darling I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream
These few lines of her song remind me so much of my relationship with my husband and how my future relationships may turn out to be. A beautiful mess so to speak. She seems to be saying that she looks like she has her life together and well rounded, but if you give her a reason she can show her psychotic side. Every intimate bond that she has with the opposite sex ends in disaster and because of that it has turned her into someone men would call crazy. She brings all the insecurities from her past relations into new ones, making it hard for her to trust anyone. Once that trust is lost, it’s game over.
