Haley's New Songs

[XAtlantic]

In my mind, of course it is cliche - but that person singing "Better" needed just this exact bit of drama to feel free again. Well knowing it is cliche and all, but going through with it as a verbal symbol - even slightly self-effacing maybe - to finally get rid of this huge burden. (I mean, think of a wedding, all the totally cliche things that people do, like throwing flowers, which they do even though it is totally cheesy and falsely romantic and all the worst of it, but still it somehow is part of all, needs to be done, all know it is cheesy and still look forward to it ...). I think the feelings in this song are completely serious, but the way that person chooses to express them is already slightly self-consciously dramatized - not to negate the feelings in any way, or the seriousness, but with a purpose: to facilitate freeing oneself. I think Haley on most if not all of her songs has this humorous element that is always self conscious, always slightly provocatively playing with established patterns - and that never has the function to negate the seriousness of the case, and always has the function to liberate.

Actually, now that I think of it, I think "liberation" is a big topic for Haley - also being liberated as a basis for real connections rather than problematic ones. And that liberation often for her takes the form of an act. And that act in "throwing the ring into the ocean" is what I like about this line in that song, from her - because it shows how she does it all.

Sorry for rambling!