MITSKI: Bury Me At Makeout Creek

 

Easily one of my favourite artists in the industry, I'm writing this article not only from my personal bias but also from an objective standpoint to help people understand why she is where she is. An artist that truly deserves all of her recognition , Mitski Miyawaki is a Japanese-American singer/songwriter that has been consistently producing albums that intentionally leave you emotionally marked.

With a discography of 6 exceptional albums, Mitski has never lacked when writing gut-wrenching masterpieces that truly commemorate the experience of being a first gen immigrant in a foreign country, as well as alluding to the female experience being a POC woman in predominantly white spaces. With songs like “Your best American girl” she touches on the subject of feeling misunderstood romantically and the disturbing reality of coming to the conclusion that she will never be loved how she loves. As someone who was in Japanese household , Mitskis upbringing couldn’t be more different than that of her American peers.She manages to make this extremely difficult personal experience of her navigating relationships in such an isolated environment somehow a song that can be perceived in many different lights even bringing in political connotations with the lyrics.

Mitskis writing style is meticulous , writing in ways that painfully describes her personal experiences yet making it possible for different types of people to relate to her pain. Her writing allows people to enter the depths of her own depression, discreetly dragging us into the pits of her own self loathing but never making it too obvious that she's letting us sit through her own therapy sessions. 

Her favourite topic to write about clearly is love, being someone who romanticises even mundane activities. Mitski spent most of her adolescence watching films and making up scenarios, later realising that real life just isn't like that. This influence is heavy in her work as Mitski uses imagery in her lyrics carefully to paint clear pictures and really convey her intentions when writing. 

I'm mainly going to write about “Bury me at makeout creek” for the rest of this, but I hope that when you finish reading this you will listen to her whole discography.She couldn't make a bad album if she really tried.

“Bury me at makeout creek” is an album of only ten songs and yet Mitski makes it feel as if we're only getting a short glimpse into the real burdens of her lonliness. This album goes through the stages of grief in love and loss. It's incredibly intense, letting Miyawaki showcase a lot of theatrical undertones within her lyrics.Being melodramatic and attentively unhinged allows this album to be extremely loud, both sonically and lyrically.

“Townie” is upbeat and hard hitting; a rock song that is attentive and bold.This song is honest , exposing Mitskis real helplessness and the disturbing fact that this song also speaks on a suicide pact. “I want a kiss like my heart is kissing the ground” as well as “ a love that falls as fast as a body from a balcony” is sinister showing she doesn’t have a healthy attachment to this person. “Townie” is an unconventional love song that's also queer coded “Not gonna be what my daddy wants me to be” which ties in with how Mitski is able to allow her songs to have many meanings even if she only had one in mind.The imagery within this song is violent and invasive giving her audience more than what's expected of a traditional love song. Ending the song on a more hopeful perspective Mitski shouts “I'm gonna be what my body wants me to be” which almost feels like the closing sequence of a coming of age film. Knowing some of her inspiration comes from films, this is not hard to correlate. 

The infamous single “Francis forever” is so popular it's even covered by Marceline in Adventure time which truly carries Mitskis influence on sad girl culture even further into the media. Marceline is almost an animated manifestation of Mistki which I think makes total sense for this cover to have been used. “Francis Forever '' is a tortured love song making it like a tragic poem that should've been read to her lover. It emphasises feelings of weakness and shows that she still doesn't feel worthy of love. This song truly displays Mitskis need for attention and her desire for approval.

Although starting off the album with self confidence and clear autonomy, this mask is removed as the songs go on. Mitski clearly shows how love can destroy one's own self worth, making you codependent and unable to stand alone. “I don't smoke” expresses the emotion of feeling inadequate and alone when missing someone who was so important to you. This hurt can cause terrible behavioural patterns and Mitski clearly points out that this is damage caused by her lover as well as her own doing; continuing to promote her own unhealthy coping mechanisms by mirroring that of her partner. Another song that allows us to be involved with Mitski’s internal dialogue is “I Will”, she speaks on how she would even embody the role of a caretaker for her lover. Leaving her previously mentioned liberation for limitation Mitski latches onto any attention her lover can give her almost as if her self worth comes from this person's validation.This song is dedication to herself, a lover who would truly devote themselves entirely for her… could only be herself. 

Finally, finishing the album with “Last words of a shooting star” Miyawaki puts us in the point of view of a star. Something unique to end off her album, really showcasing her talents and how her imagery is an integral part of her writing style.This song is brooding and morbid, a perfect end to an album that truly depicts the depressing reality of self sabotage in relationships.Mitski is not the first to create an emo album that people can play when they're feeling depressed. No. But this album is definitely an example of where excellence can be made accessing pain thats so exposing. 

- Fatima :)