I was struck still for the first time that I really heard the song "Here" by Alessia Cara. Alessia has a nice talent for rhythm, blues, indie pop and R&B and she's only 19 years old. The song is a little story of her questioning why she is at a certain party and thinking she doesn't belong there. In an interview for "The Fader" she said '"Here' is a song for all the antisocial, awkward, and miserable
party-goers of the world. This one time I went to a party and while
there, I realized how much I hated it, along with every other party I
had ever gone to. We wrote about it the next day."
When I listened to the lyrics I had a couple observations and thoughts. First, she's at the party because her friends dragged her along. She isn't enjoying it, its just the thing to do. So many teens and young adults do so many things because of peer pressure and it being the social norm.
Secondly, yes, she does want to be with her "people" (friends) so she isn't totally antisocial. She is just uninterested, pessimistic and stand offish with people that are smoking, drinking too much and talking about nonsense. She wants to be "listening to music with a message" and "discussing our big dreams".
Truth be told no one belongs at a party like that with people like that. Thankfully, there is someone like Alessia who is smart enough to know not to be getting high, getting drunk, hooking up or talking trash about others. I just wish she wasn't even at the party and was a better role model for the young, easily influenced people that hear this song. Maybe this song will make someone think twice before going to a ridiculously stupid party.
Also, I don't want to read too much into the lyrics, but everyone can relate to Alessia's song because we all question what are meaning on earth is and what we should do in/with life. Why are we "here"? For people with faith like myself, we know why we are here because God tells us through His message to us, the Bible. Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 12:1-5, Romans 8:28, Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 6:33, Mark 12: 30-31, 2 Timothy 1:9, and Ecclesiastes 12:13 are just the beginning of what God says our purpose on earth is. I know why I am "here" and its not to just party my life away.
