From Hate to Love: Evaluation of Phoebe Bridgers’ “Moon Music”

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Illustration by Jane Montalto

After seeing Phoebe Bridgers dwell in live performance twice final summer season, I’ve bought a newfound appreciation for “Moon Music” and its story. The stage was fully lit up with multicolored lights and a whirlpool of gloom was precisely what was forecast for these two nights. Echoing her divine voice, her candy however edgy demeanor sparkled and her tune spewing within the crowd outlined what it actually meant to be a loyal “farb.” With your entire crowd taking part in the ultimate verses of “Music of the Moon”, each the anticipation and the rapturous climax that ensued made me really feel at house. Watching their efficiency dwell the tune modified from a slow-moving, skippable observe to the tune of a automobile journey into the night time – one which deserves a deep-sea dive.


Phoebe Bridgers performing in Prospect Park. Picture by Michael Kearney.

“Moon Music” – the seventh observe from the critically acclaimed album Punisher By Phoebe Bridgers – Reminiscing the Moments of Previous Love, Recalling the Moments of an Previous Love, uncovers an outdated relationship that waits to be rekindled. On this enchanting but heartwarming tune, Bridgers makes use of metaphors to convey themes of longing and loyalty. That includes the melancholic guitar-plucking “Moon Music” with Bridgers’ awe-inspiring hums and somber lyricism, it has been categorized as a top-rated observe in his discography.

Owls flood the hoot observe earlier than the primary few strains:

you instructed me to go house
however i needed to take you

After an evening of bar hopping and bottomless drinks, the night time begins to shut when she is obtainable a stroll house. Bridgers is aware of she will be able to handle herself, however feels obligated to say sure. Though her love curiosity makes an attempt to handle her, Bridgers has to hold the useless weight of her blacked out lover in the course of the night time.

and also you pushed me in
And now my toes cannot contact your soles

Bridgers compares this dynamic to being pushed right into a pool at midnight. The love curiosity put Bridgers right into a relationship she wasn’t prepared for, inflicting her to lose management of her legs and consciousness of her environment. Night time swimming offers with thriller – drifting in our bodies of water of unknown depth. This metaphor, indicative of her romance, depicts Bridgers as the person who was carrying the load of this rocky relationship.

On the second verse, Bridgers shares the important thing level of betrayal:

you could not
you could not
stick one’s tongue to somebody’s throat
who loves you extra

The repetition of the phrase “you may’t have” reveals what occurred – Bridgers’ love curiosity is leaving her for another person. Bridgers noticed the connection as uncomfortable, but his love for his accomplice was boundless. The considered her lover admiring the opposite pains her—a type of ache that digs deep into her ribs and slams her coronary heart towards the impenetrable concrete.

Bridgers follows up with phrases of hope:

so subsequent time you need me i am going to wait
like a canine with a chook at your door
Mmm

Now, Bridgers needs what she will be able to’t have, and she is going to give in till the chance to be with this love curiosity presents itself once more. She imagines herself as a canine, a quintessential image of loyalty and pure devotion, whereas the chook exemplifies an emblem for profitable again their relationship. Ending the poem with the sound “mmm” is the equal of a canine whisper, pleading for greetings and love from one other. This dynamic will likely be revisited and examined in subsequent verses.

In additional particular memoirs, Bridgers and his love curiosity share related opinions on Eric Clapton’s discography:

We Hate “Tears in Heaven”
Nevertheless it’s unhappy that their youngster died

Clapton’s tune “Tears in Heaven” commemorates the dying of his son. Though it exhibits vulnerability, the 2 fail to benefit from the tune regardless of its tragic backstory. His blatant dissatisfaction with the tune is the primary similarity seen in “Moon Music”, and it’s he who breeds love from hate.

Though Bridgers and her love curiosity are on the identical web page about Clapton, disagreements come up when John Lennon is talked about:

And we fought about John Lennon
until i cried
after which fell asleep

The showrunner stays unaware of why there may be controversy about Lennon, however Bridgers has famous in interviews that Lennon is his favourite Beatle and an necessary hero to him. She slept alone due to tears. Lennon wrote the tune “Fairly Boy” to console his son, Sean, who was experiencing a nightmare. This candy tune exemplifies Lennon’s unconditional love for his son, offering Sean with blanket safety and night time. Overwhelmed by the argument, Bridgers might have anticipated consolation the way in which it was finished by Sean Lennon, who was sleeping underneath intense stress attributable to his love curiosity.

Bridgers now recollects the place of his desires:

however now i am dreaming
and also you sing on my birthday
And I’ve by no means seen you smile so massive

Bridgers paints an image within the listener’s thoughts: She is surrounded by family members, her face dimly lit by the candles on the birthday cake. She notes the significance of his love curiosity and his presence and smile. Though Bridgers desires about celebrating her birthday, she needs to see her boyfriend blissful. She shortly references the theme of her party: “It is nautical themed.” To an outsider, solely the theme of the celebration is established, however for Bridgers and his love curiosity, it could point out an inside joke or deeper that means between them. On Bridgers’ debut album, strangers within the alps, “Mayotte” A dream about her family members surrounded by a marine setting additionally recollects:

And I’ve this dream the place I am screaming underwater
Whereas my associates are waving from the aspect

In contrast to the road in “Moon Music,” “Funeral” exhibits her associates oblivious to Bridgers’ inappropriate sinking—however in “Moon Music,” she feels full within the traditional “Pleased Birthday” tune. The connection between the Moon and the ocean varies all through the day, each rising and falling with their gravitational pull. Bridgers can really feel this rollercoaster of feelings when interacting with their family members, as proven of their unconscious ideas.

Wrapping up within the tune’s closing verses, Bridgers recounts her dream recollection:

and i’ve one thing to say
however cannot for the lifetime of me
keep in mind what it’s

When remembering the specifics of a dream, the main points fade, and on this case, Bridgers cannot keep in mind what else he had so as to add. At this level within the tune, she has fully forgotten concerning the struggle and may solely keep in mind imaginary blissful moments together with her love curiosity, revealing that she resides in a fantasy.

Phoebe Bridges performing “Moon Music” at Forest Hills Stadium. Picture by Michael Kearney.

After verses of night time actions and darkish visions, the moon lastly makes its look within the tune’s refrain:

And if I may provide the moon
i will provide you with the moon

The bodily act of giving moon to somebody is certainly not possible, however the provide to take action is a pure act of emotion. Nonetheless, the vector despicable Me Fails to fall into this class and desires to maintain the moon just for himself. (Aspect be aware: Bridgers seems on the movie’s soundtrack Minions: The Rise of Gru, and it’s really a masterpiece.) The identify “Phoebe” is derived from the Greek identify “Phoebe” – the identify of a Greek Titan who was carefully related to the Moon. This in flip means that Bridgers would give the whole lot of herself for her lover if she may. Though the refrain of “Music of the Moon” doesn’t repeat, these two strains carry a heavy burden to the listener.

The Bridgers refused to allow us to take a break after that pitiful refrain and ended the observe with an much more emotionally hurtful outro, starting with:

you are sick and also you’re married
and you will be dying

Bridgers takes us right into a future the place her love curiosity is now married and rising outdated with one other, watching them from “Sidelines”—one other nice tune in her discography. She grows outdated together with her love curiosity on this imaginary future they’ve created, and he or she holds onto the slim hope of getting one other likelihood.

The recurring determine of water throughout “The Moon Music” is referenced final within the line:

However you are holding me like water in your arms

Carrying any liquid in your arms requires fixed focus and consistency, the place one improper transfer can disrupt its quantity. Bridgers imply she has a delicate character, and when the folks she trusts closely betray her, she falls aside.

The canine and chook metaphor returns, bringing the tune full circle:

if you noticed the useless little chook
you began crying
However you understand the killer would not perceive

Bridgers’ consultant canine caught a chook for its proprietor. The chook, seen as a profitable token for rekindling their relationship, is the metaphorical “moon”. The proprietor noticed a horrific sight seeing the canine with the useless chook in his mouth. The killer – the canine – misunderstands the state of affairs and sees it solely as an act of affection, however the proprietor sees it as an act of hurt. Within the Bridgers’ case, she may have given herself to her boyfriend and remained oblivious to what went improper, feeling that she wasn’t adequate for them or was fully misunderstood. Equally, in “Killer” off strangers in alpso, She additionally sees herself as a assassin, dropping phrases like “ravenous for blood” and “giving all of your love”.

Bridgers will undergo unprecedented boundaries to get the least quantity of consideration from their love curiosity, speaking about how being devoted to at least one individual could make you try to achieve the not possible.

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