03-23-19
I don’t know if it’s just my own bias, but when I think of passion, my first thought isn’t usually of two lovers in a heavy embraced, but rather the disposition of those suffering from unrequited love. Thought their advances may be dismissed their perseverance has yet to wane, and with it an unrelenting hope of someday feeling that sensation of requited love. I’m sure many psychologists would have a few choice words with that being more pronounced; to be fair again when thinking of passion, though this may be the first thought, the thought of two lovers in heavy embraced isn’t far behind.
The XX have been able to bring the partnered singer element back in a modern way. There is undoubtedly an overwhelming number of bands with multiple singers, but when I think of the way The XX perform, I’m reminded of early Rock n’ Roll/Country Rock where the majority of duets were meant to be played as some sort of novel skit.
This back and forth lends itself to creating straightforward narratives. They may not explore an unfound depth of the human experience; they do present the nuances of familiar situations with such beauty and clarity that it’s easy to see how they’ve continued to grow in popularity. In Heart Skips a Beat Romy and Oliver, (the two singers) are going back and forth about their oscillating periods of attraction. Having been in a few of these cycles myself, I can empathize with the frustration that comes from these broken cycles. Something seems to happen, at least in myself—it’s as if to compensate for the lack of affection from the other person, your desire and passion is turned up to 11. As the intensity of this passion begins to fizzle out so does the relationship. So, you decide to leave, and after a day or two that other person starts to feel the loss, and so do you, but only slightly. Then out of nowhere, they are there for you, passionate, caring, everything you had wanted, so you give it another shot… then a week later you’re back in the same position.
After a few failed attempts the amount of passion, frustration, persistence, really any contributing emotion all begins to diminish drastically to the point that there is little emotional disposition left. This can allow a relationship to simply fizzle out, or just add the last necessary fodder to an ever-looming end.
In some regard, this is creating a passion for the sake of passion. It’s chasing an idealized notion that has been created by unrealistic expectations, in pursuit of staving of loneliness, boredom, or any mixture of lesser responses. Many of us want to live the storybook fantasy, enough to force the conditions as much as we can. This isn’t a measure of taking fate in one’s own hands, but rather a bull-headed response to trying to fill the emotional voids left by something else entirely. Authentic passion burns with an intensity that cannot be subjugated to sophomoric cycles like this.
Lyrics:
Please don’t say we’re done
When I’m not finished
I could give so much more
Make you feel like never before
Welcome, they said welcome to the floor
It’s been a while
And you’ve found someone better
But I’ve been waiting too long to give this up
The more I see I understand
But sometimes I still need you
Sometimes, I still need you
Sometimes, I still need you
Sometimes, I still need you
Sometimes, I still need you
Sometimes, I still need you
Sometimes, I still need you
Sometimes, I still need you
And I was struggling to get in
Left waiting outside your door
I was sure
You’d give me more
No need to come to me
When I can make it all the way to you
You made it clear
You weren’t near
Near enough for me
Heart skipped a beat
And when I caught it
You were out of reach
But I’m sure, I’m sure
You’ve heard it before
Heart skipped a beat
And when I caught it
You were out of reach
But I’m sure, I’m sure
You’ve heard it before
Heart skipped a beat
And when I caught it
You were out of reach
But I’m sure, I’m sure
You’ve heard it before
Heart skipped a beat
And when I caught it
You were out of reach
But I’m sure, I’m sure
You’ve heard it before