Summer drives are one of my favorite reasons to be alive. (There are many.) Last year, I drove across town every night for rehearsal for a show I was in. Every night, I’d come around the S-curve through downtown Grand Rapids and come face-to-face with the beauty of our little midwestern city, specifically the huge, reflective Bridgewater place, which sits right on the Grand River. Every night, whether I drove through rain or muggy air or had my windows down, that view would take my breath away.
Last summer for me is highlighted by a lot of ups and downs. I was dating, trying to date, and wanting to fall in love. I was essentially broke, working an unpaid internship, taking a summer class, and working an ill-paying part time job. Those drives through the city were a good way to exhale at the end of the day. I’d listen to a lot of songs that focused on heartbreak and loss (because, brooding) but a few happier tunes snuck their way into my playlists as well. Case in point:
Day Two: Broke by Bear Attack!
I didn’t add that exclamation point for emphasis. That’s part of their band name (think Panic! At the Disco.) Broke is a jaunty tune set to a chugging drum beat and light, breathy vocals. Bear Attack! is a 5-piece rock band based out of California. Their sound evokes everything from The Beach Boys to Fall Out Boy. With their far-reaching influences, you can imagine how universal their sound could be. And it is. When I’m listening to this song in the car with friends, I’ve noticed some of them instinctually start humming along. It’s an easy, catchy tune that could almost be bubblegum pop, if not for its nuance.
While the song highlights the attempts of a young man to win over a girl, its sung by both male and female vocalists. It’s almost like the woman is mocking his attempts with her light voice behind his.
This song makes me think of twilight summer skies and white dashes in the road. It’s hard not to think about – the tune is breezy and the lyrics are fairly simple:
Give me a little time and
take all my money, take all my money
you’ll come around and some day
I’ll be the one you love
While it’s simple, it’s also relatable. We can spend a lot of time waiting for someone to notice us, especially when we’re young. This young man is even claiming he’d let the girl “buy” his love (guess he didn’t listen to the Beatles that much.) He’s not taking no for an answer (consent is sexy, people) and eventually invites her to come to a party with him. She agrees but doesn’t seem to interested. We understand his level of affection in a small bridge that accelerates the song to the end:
And the way you smell like flowers
I could have stared for hours
Three dozen roses sitting in the backseat
couldn’t compare to you
Cute, right? Yesterday our song focused on an infatuation that went wrong. This guy is probably in for the same amount of heartbreak. But for the moment, he’s enjoying a joyride with a pretty girl. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Small moments in life are what keep us living. I’d come around that S-curve at twilight and drive through the city listening to this song, full of hope that someday I’d feel that way. Someday I’d have those moments. But for that moment, I had a beautiful view, and a good song. Even though I was broke, life was pretty good.
Audrey D. DeBoer 