Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Will Possess Your Heart”
I’ve always felt a little uncomfortable about this song. I think it’s perhaps because I associate it with the time in my life when I actually started to critically think about music. When I started college, I was obsessed with the notion of becoming one of those super cute indie kids who only listened to indie music (with the occasional token punk rock thrown in there…you know, so people would think I was edgy). Death Cab was easily my favorite band. I used to listen to Plans and make plans of my own to one day feel the agonizingly beautiful emotions that Ben Gibbard sang about. You know, because you can totally plan what kind of loves you’re going to have in your lifetime. Especially when you’re fresh out of high school and totes convinced you’ve found the love of your life. 18 is blissfully stupid.
Back to the music, when I first heard this song on the radio I was like “uhhh…you’re going to possess someone’s heart? Like a demon? That’s not really romantic, Ben. Maybe you meant that you’re going to own it? Well that’s sort of rude…JLo always says that love don’t cost a thing so how do you plan to take ownership here? OK whatevs my friends like the song so I guess it’s fine.”
I apparently was not yet capable of deciding to outwardly admit that I disliked Narrow Stairs‘ debut single; I saw Death Cab twice on that tour. TWICE. The second time, my friend couldn’t go at the last minute so I went alone…obsessive and weird. Whatever, I had a good time.
Now that I’ve had some time to sit on it, it’s so painful to even listen to the non-radio-edit version of this song. Like…what the hell were they thinking? It’s so monotonous. The piano picks up and you catch a glimmer of hope but then it just goes on.They played the entire intro during their live performance. I just remember looking out into the crowd and seeing the same “when the fack is he going to start singing?” look on everyone’s faces. It’s so awkward to look like you’re rocking out for that fivefuckingminute intro. Especially when you’re in a crowd of indie kids who are awkward enough as it stands.
I love ever-evolving music taste.
Side note: trying to be indie is so fucking exhausting. Life is so much easier when you realize that it’s not worth it to care [so much].
Related side note: I’m aware of how stupid this post is. It’s ok though because I actually don’t care.
Funny-ish side note: “Cath…” used to be my ringtone. I was that committed to the image.
Napanique 