#〖 ★ like the sun & the moon ︱melanie / dark 〗

[asinfinitum]

TAGS - SHIP TAGS (I forgot these)

[poppletonink]

TRACK REVIEW: Field Trip - Melanie Martinez

★★★★☆ - 4 stars

I'm an eleven life path, I'm ethereal. I'm the definition of dichotomy, duality. Katarina in the womb for nine months, 'til she birthed me.

The sixth song of the After School EP, Field Trip, is arguably the best. Focusing on identity, and being confident in who you are despite others, Martinez switches fluidly between angelic vocals and rapping segments, with every lyric being spoken swiftly, yet pointedly.

The first lyrics abruptly criticises people who try to control others - “You know I'm not one to take orders from ya” - opening the discussion created by the song, with a sharp statement that we should simply be ourselves, and not take "orders" from others dictating who we should or should not be. Following this, the lyrics draw light to Melanie Martinez’s spiritual beliefs: “You’re not real, just like me, we were never our bodies, we’re just dust, energy”, which fits neatly into the message of the song, and how we should not be insecure of our bodies as they are merely ‘temporary’ (similar to the storyline of the character Fleur in K-12 and the message of Orange Juice alongside it).

Later on, Melanie discusses her Hispanic heritage, and how many people have claimed she is “white passing” and “not a true Latina”. Here, Melanie calls these people out, exclaiming how she feels: “I’m never going to be what you had envisioned”, before explaining that people say ‘blanquitas’ (meaning ‘white chicks’) are more Latina than her. Here, she goes on to snap at those who refuse to recognise her Heritage, asking them in Spanish, “Now do you understand?” (¿ahora lo entiendes?).

The music, itself, has a childish, playful nature about it, contrasting the serious message discussed through the lyrics, with keyboard notes played reminiscent of children’s xylophones. Throughout the song, it can be noted that there is a sound of someone, crying “Ow” in a three-by-three sequence, mirroring how Melanie’s Scorpio and Taurus zodiac signs are in groups of three within her natal chart. The structural rhythm of the drum-pad notes, is similar to that of a heartbeat, tying in to just how personal the lyrics are to Melanie.

Alongside the clear focus on insecurity and others judging people for their true selves, the song delves into a theme of duality, and the large impact that duality has had on Melanie Martinez’s life. She describes herself as the “definition of dichotomy” and discusses the contrast of how her mother had originally intended to name her Katarina (meaning ‘pure light’) while she was in the womb but instead named her Melanie meaning ‘dark’. She also mentions her contrasting zodiac signs – she is a Scorpio sun, but a Taurus moon – after discussing how “my rising sign is all they see”; people view her for who she is on the outside, but she wants people to view her for her true self rather than for who she truly is on the inside.

Overall, Field Trip is a beautifully-written song with a fast pace, and a sharp message – preaching the importance of being yourself, as Melanie begs her listeners to view her for who she truly is.