"Yet another early morning and you walk in like it's nothing
Hold up, hold up, hold tight
Ain't no donuts, ain't no coffee..."

~ It's a Wrap, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, 2009


Monday, October 1, 2018

Alphabet Soup


We are once again in a Mariah moment.


With a promotional single released September 13, a lead single to be released on October 4, a new studio album – her 15th – to be released before the end of the year, and a year full of photos in which she seems to be reverse aging, Mariah is once again redeeming some cultural capital, building off the triumph of her NYE 2017 performance.

Two singles released almost back to back in the fall is an almost unspeakable gift, akin to a new Jonathan Franzen 600+ page autumn blockbuster about to plunk into our laps. And so far, so good. “GTFO,” released on September 13 is a lowkey gem, produced by Hotline Bling alumni Paul “Nineteen85” Jefferies and retaining some of that hit’s “wistful tech” allure.



As I basked in GTFO for a few days, I started reflecting on M’s other alphabetically-named creation, “H.A.T.E.U.” from 2009’s Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. I found this to be really enriching comparison as the emotionality of HATEU really brings out the quiet strength of GTFO. HATEU comes from a place of rawness, a place of asking questions you might not be able to handle answers to, a place of incomprehension.



No need to call my phone
'Cause I changed my number today
And matter of fact I think I'm moving away (away)
Sorry the frustration's got me feelin' a way
And I just keep having one last thing to say
And I just want to hold you, touch you, feel you
Be near you, I miss you baby baby baby (baby baby baby)
I'm tired of tryin' to fake through
But there's nothing I can do
Boy I can't wait to hate you

I mean, damn.

On the other hand, we turn to GTFO and find a soul sheerly exhausted by serial disappointment and fuckery. Past sadness, past anger, just DONE: get the fuck out.

How about you take your tings and be on your merry way?
Fly off with a wink, bye bye, baby
How about you scuseami, let me call your valet
You just take your tings and be on your merry way

Byeeeeeeee! #takeyourtings

GTFO is HATEU’s sequel, a wiser and wearier missive to the fuckboys of the world. If it’s any indication of the quality of this upcoming studio effort, I’m here for it. Stay tuned.

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