Songs like this really make me appreciate the mixer/producer talent level. I would love Song Exploder to do an episode on this one because it’s so rich and complex. The tell tale sign of a good song is if it makes you wanna move and for me this song does just that. Bonus if like this one it mentions JNCO jeans.
I definitely hear MARINA vibes in Elliot’s performance here. There’s a similar longing to both. This one though definitely has a bit more defiance to it. A bit of swagger.
“Call me drama queen, if that’s what you see, but I’m just tryna be, happy, I’m the drama queen, when I have to be, ’cause I’m just tryna be, happy”
Part of me gets feelings in this song of becoming the villain in your own story because you’re setting boundaries. Particularly after the lyric where she says “I taught myself how to smile”. There’s an implication here that whoever she’s singing the song to isn’t making her do it very much and she’s fed up and finally saying something about it. Sometimes it takes a lot to get to that point.
We’re all just trying to be happy. Is there a boundary that maybe you need to set because you’ve been teaching yourself how to smile? Food for thought. Hope you’re well today. Be good. Thanks for reading.
everything, etc. 
To me, it’s giving The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck.
“I don’t care at all” (about the dumb stuff we get upset about) “I’m just trying to be happy” …is kinda the theme of that whole book.
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Yes! Good spot!
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