The Obsession Begins
I think it is safe to assume that a lot of college students listen to music every day. Whether it’s while they are studying, walking to class, showering, or partying, there is usually some sort of tune playing. One day, while doing some homework, I had one of my many playlists on blast— probably not smart, as I couldn’t really focus. The song “Scott Street” by Phoebe Bridgers started playing. I dropped my pen, shut my laptop, and just listened. This is when my obsession began. One of the lines in the song stuck out to me in particular:
Do you feel ashamed
When you hear my name?
I thought, Who is she talking to? Why would they feel ashamed? My obsession deepened.
I went down a rabbit hole trying to figure out every detail of Phoebe Bridgers’ life so that I could understand who she was addressing in the song. In order to find clues as to who this song might be about, I stalked Phoebe Bridgers’ Instagram page and looked up the lyrics on Genuis. To my dismay, I couldn’t find the answers I wanted to find. I even asked my friends what they thought. They replied with a shrug and asked, “Why do you care?”
An Important Realization
I realized that I care because I was searching for a way to relate the lyrics to my own life. Music has always been an escape for me. If I was not cursed with a terrible singing voice and no musical coordination, I might be a famous musician by now. But I was cursed, so I figured I should stick to admiring the talented artists.
I played the song over and over again— in my room, in the car, in my headphones as I walked to class— and I came to another important realization. It doesn’t really matter who Phoebe wrote the song about. Who do I think of when I listen to the song? Why do I relate to it so much? That’s what I really wanted to figure out, and even more what I wanted to share with others.
After my obsession with “Scott Street” subsided, I started listening to more songs with the purpose of dissecting the lyrics. I spent countless hours listening to music, simultaneously analyzing the deeper meanings— sometimes in my head, sometimes on paper, sometimes out loud. It became a hobby.
The Inspiration for My Venture: IndieLover
I know that many other people share this hobby with me, whether they realize it or not. And I am even more positive that many other people listen to Phoebe Bridgers and other similar artists. I want to find these people, bring them together for the sake of entertainment and collaboration, and figure out the deeper meanings of our favorite songs. Everyone deserves a “Scott Street” moment.