By Chelsea Holecek
With indie-pop artist Mitski releasing a groundbreaking songwriter’s dream album Be the Cowboy, she has set an empowering standard—female singer-songwriters are heavily needed in a male dominated music industry. Mitski’s emotional take on loneliness and heartbreak takes us on a journey of utter bliss, transforming our feelings into words that seem so obviously clear.
Mitski croons about the loneliness that accompanies fame on ‘Remember My Name’: “I gave too much of my heart tonight/Can you come to where I’m staying and/Make some extra love/That I can save till to tomorrow’s show.” With fame comes a price, that price entailing revealing parts of yourself you wouldn’t dare share with the world especially. Her spin on modern romance and the all-encompassing infatuation that overtakes us—the haziness of ‘Pink in the Night’ depicts the dream-like state you experience when falling head first into a deeply desired relationship.
The songstress fully takes on an edge of vulnerability that is brave especially for a woman in music—always coming across tough becomes society’s idea of normal. Listeners have become accustomed to the burly strength of male perspectives—don’t cry, don’t whine, don’t sulk—it makes you weak. The softness Mitski unveils in ‘Be The Cowboy’ projects a voice for female songwriters everywhere—you can be soft but still booming with power and you can search for love without letting it consume you whole.
Oftentimes the male gaze completely overtakes the female point of view. We hear plenty about a man’s side of love, what he believes are mixed signals, rejections of affection and missed opportunities. To get a unabashed glimpse into a woman’s perspective of modern love and romance is a breath of fresh air. Mitski doesn’t shy away from the unequivocal truthfulness in her lyrics which is something to remember when we’re naming some of the best lyricists of our time.
In the era of #MeToo and #TimesUp, misogynistic views are slowly but surely being thrown out the window. Shedding light on women’s idea of vulnerability is crucial—letting girls know it’s okay to feel lonely and unsure—it’s normal to feel sad sometimes. Mitksi conjures it up so flawlessly it almost feels like she peered into our minds and read our innermost thoughts.
Women have to be a strong in a world where men have always been favored—labeled as the meanest names in the book when you want to be the best you can be. Every once in a while it’s nice to cry and pout, Mitski lets us know it’s alright to wallow in your sadness, even just a for a little bit. Inevitably thought, we’ll get right back up again like women do with more power and assertiveness than ever before.