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With that said let’s tackle this album one song at a time. Opening song Bluebird starts off by using “hell” as the 3rd word in the song. Now Perri doesn’t use it in a fashion that constitutes malice or even evil behind the song…at first. As you listen to the song the refrain;
How the hell does a broken heart
Get back together when it’s torn apart
Teach itself to start
Beating again ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
is played time and time again as you learn this song is a frustrated song about a broken heart…and that hell is much more laced with anger and may we even say hatred towards this heart breaker. The use of hell doesn’t shy me away from the song, but it does constitute not playing with little ears around…I mean would it have been so hard to just say How does a broken heart…
Next song Arms has a great sound and starts off great, proclaiming unexpected love from someone. This is a song I relate to because my wife always says she feels at home in my arms, which is what this song is about that feeling it seems…however it has a lot of doubt to though with lines like I’ll never let our love get so close and I believe that it’s easier for you to let me go. Those lines make this song perhaps the representation of the confusing nature of falling in love, which is something we all can relate to. We want the other to see through us as Perri says, but also we’re afraid to let it get that close. This song in my opinion is definitely okay, and truly doesn’t proclaim, say or hint at anything I would be against.
Bang Bang Bang brings in the third song with a bang J. Unfortunately, the only thing going bang is the bitterness and desire that this heartbreaker, maybe from Bluebird, is going down and it seemingly celebrates it. Now I’ve been at the point where someone I loved turned on me and I desired nothing but bad things for them…doesn’t make it right though. This song serves no purpose other than that ill-feeling you feel for an ex that has done you wrong…and to be honest I’d rather not re-visit that bitterness, because it just brings out the thoughts I shouldn’t have towards someone. Bitterness and anger should be buried not sung about, and compassion should be what we pray to have.
Distance I feel may be one of the best written lyrics on Perri’s album although its story does have one small concern for me. To me it’s the ballad of a girl whose boyfriend loved it when they were still falling for each other and everything was new…but now is as the song says, And you (him) keep waiting to save what we had. I feel this song speaks to a lot of women mainly because the majority of guys hate to get that close, and let’s be honest most guys are pigs and once love is entered in the way you act and treat your significant other should change exponentially. I found it a little off though that the singer (the girl) seems to know this about her man but in her naïve love she refuses to accept he may never feel the same way…which is why she Make sure to keep my distance, Say I love you when you’re not listening. I feel this song is very real and honest…however I would at the same time encourage a girl feeling like this to speak up and accept it may end it. This is my second favorite song on the album though because Perri sings of true emotion, without throwing in ill-hearted bitterness or unnecessary swear words. Thumbs up on this one.
No, I can’t take one more step towards you
‘Cause all that’s waiting is regret
And don’t you know, I’m not your ghost anymore
You lost the love I loved the most
Easily the headliner of the album Jar of Hearts starts very powerful and sets up the passionate song that is to follow. As big as this song got in the mainstream media…I’ll be honest I wanted to dislike it. I wanted to come up with a reason, but if you take this song for what it is, it is a very empowering song for women everywhere in an abusive relationship. Perri sings so passionately it makes you wonder if this “guy” she’s singing about is from real life and she truly does have scars on her heart (would explain the broken heart theme so far). Perri unlike in a few other songs is staying strong this time and taking a stand against the guy this time. When I listened to this song for the first time I pictured different women packing up and leaving their bad relationships behind. Some were walking, some were driving and others taking the bus. I think Perri does well in this song, even if unintentional. Girls can and should listen to this song and realize no man should miss treat a woman and if they do, don’t let them add your heart to their collection. Take it back, leave and never look back. Thumbs up again…ugh oh that’s two now.
Mine is just weird. Talks about the singer having a secret and how the person the secret is about calls late at night drunk: What’s with all the late night liquored phone calls? This song to me seems to be this person may have another but he calls the singer when drunk and it’s her little secret…he seems to want to be with her, but she keeps stating I can’t love you…to be honest I’m not sure if infidelity or just drunkenness is what this song is about. Either way it is catchy and if you don’t pay attention to the confused lyrics it’s got a nice sound…but too many unknowns for me to do a thumbs up…turn it to the side I guess.
I do like how Perri put an Interlude in her album…many artists no longer do this. The crazy thing is it’s beautiful…I’d love to know if Perri had any part in it (piano maybe?). It’s a quick 50 second thing of beauty.
I’m happy to say Perri doesn’t keep going to nowhere, which is where Mine was heading. She instead brings the album back up with Penguin. Now this song is my favorite on the whole album. I love this love song, and Perri delivers such raw emotion but in a graceful and acoustic ballad. Great song, great words and just a great love song overall; thumbs up to this one as well.
Miles starts out and I was thinking oh man another great love song, but I’ll give props to Perri for surprising me. The third verse states;
And these are words
I wish you said
But that’s not how it went
‘Cause you gave up on us in the end
it is a sad revelation in the song. It goes on to state I can’t make it on my own, what a terrible thing to say. The song accomplishes the fact that it tugs at your love strings, but then cuts them. Right when Perri could have pointed towards hope or may I say God…she says she can’t go on. While yes we all feel like that when faced with times like this for a moment, it wasn’t a good move to put it in a song…there are too many girls out there that already feel they have to have a guy no matter how bad they are, this cultural idea of not being able to do it alone is to blame.
The Lonely, Sad Song and Tragedy finish out the album with even more somber, sad and hopeless songs…with just a hint of strength in Tragedy vowing to never allow any of this to happen again.
Honestly, Perri seems to have grabbed a hold of every bad romance she’s ever had and written songs about them. The passion is there and at times seems to be dripping through the speakers it’s so apparent. However, there is a ton of helplessness expressed and it seems like no light is on the horizon far too often. She doesn’t even sing about strength from others let alone God. With that said there are some decent songs on here, but I feel some are just plain negative with all the hopelessness present throughout them. Christina Perri however does have a very nice voice and is unique in her delivery.
I myself wouldn’t have purchased the album, but there are a select few songs on the album I feel are worthy of listening to. The others just skip over, and DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED, RECENTLY DIVORCED OR BROKEN UP…OR IF YOU’RE BITTER TOWARDS AN EX. This album receives an orange light of caution from myself, mainly because of its overall hopeless feeling expressed; however it does have a few songs that at the least are worth buying individually. Will I be adding it to my personal collection no (doesn’t point to God or hope for that matter at all), but would I think it terrible to see a fellow brother or sister with it in their iTunes…not at all.
Please remember this is my opinion yours more than likely isn’t the same, take what I say for reflection or anger. Either way thanks for reading.
One love, One God, one way,
Your Bro,
Tyni
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