You are all probably familiar with Gnash at this point. He has danced all over every radio station with his song "I Hate U, I Love U." Some of you may have no earthly idea who this Gnash is and thought this article was about grinding teeth. That is also okay. The point I am making has little to do with the artist and more to do with a few lyrics in one of his songs.
Gnash certainly knows how to make things catchy and sentimental while still keeping a certain edge. I have no problem with Gnash; in fact, I enjoyed many of his songs, until I stumbled across one in particular. That one song that I am here to talk about is "u just can't be replaced."
Normally I am not one to critique someone's lyrics, especially if it is referencing their idea of what love is.
"So what makes this song any different?"
I'm glad you asked. Let's take a look at these lyrics really quick.
Gnash: "You know what my dad always says?"
Girl: "What does he always say?"
Gnash "That love is when all your happiness and all your sadness and all your feelings are dependent upon another person's."
Girl "Uh huh"
Gnash, "So I guess I love you."
(girl proceeds with an endearing giggle as if what he said was just sweet?)
Let me tell you what is wrong with this. For starters, everything. Everything is wrong with this. I do not understand why it is romanticized at all. The girl should not be giggling, she should be running. This is a horrid definition of love. In fact, this is a darn good definition of emotional dependency. I don't think it should be made out to be something that is cute or sweet. In fact, it should be drawn to attention that neediness and control do not relate to love.
The problem with putting all of your emotions into one person is that you forget how to feel anything that is unrelated to them. Anything that they say or do has the power to rule your life. You suddenly cannot create your own happiness and do not know how to act without constant communication with that person. When you are by yourself all you think about is them. Your dreams start to alter to theirs. Your fears mostly consist of your life without that person. And little by little, you lose yourself.
Gnash, you and this girl may think that your dad's definition of love is sweet. I do not.
