‘Willow’ By Willow. For the Soul
Who is Willow?
Of course, we are all familiar with Willow Smith, as she is the daughter of two impactful celebrities: Will and Jada Smith. But, who is she? Many celebrity children struggle in the public eye that they were born into. On her album The 1st, released in 2017, she expressed these feelings by singing about how difficult it is to stay in tune with her inner self. In an interview with People Magazine, she said that growing up in the spotlight of fame is “absolutely terrible.” From adolescence, Willow has tried to be as down to earth as possible in her default fame. I pride her for her efforts, as she seems to be succeeding. There are not many artists in the scene today as concerned with matters so important as the ones Willow so strongly pushes for.
Willow came out as bisexual, proudly stating that she “loves men and women equally,” giving the LGBTQ+ community her utmost support. She has talked openly about her own struggles with self harm, making young people with similar issues feel less alone. She has touched on her admiration for polyamory, and has even expressed her desire to be in such a relationship. She continuously pushes for the less conventional types in the eyes of society. She is a young woman in the spotlight, whom I would strongly recommend to young girls seeking a role model. She is undeniably her authentic self, and opens up about topics most artists wouldn’t dare speak on for the sake of image. There is a rare honesty within Willow, and it is for that reason I am such a fan of her art.
'Willow' by Willow
Willow’s latest album, Willow, was released this July, 2019. She claims that this album is the most accurate representation of her as an artist, which is why she named the album after herself. She goes on to say that her last two albums were sort of experimental, but this one captures everything that embodies her as a musician. The album was heavily influenced by the use of guitar, synth, and electronic sounds. The combination gave the album an iridescent vibe, giving listeners a psychedelic experience. Willow expressed that she was most influenced by 80’s ambient music, especially bands such as Cocteau Twins and Autumn’s Grey Solace. Each song on the 8 track album offers a unique force to be felt.
- Like A Bird
- Female Energy, Part 2
- Time Machine
- PrettyGirlz
- Samo Is Now
- then (interlude)
- U KNOW- feat. Jaden
- Overthinking IT
As much as I would love to give an analysis of each song, I will pick my top 3 personal favorite songs from the album.
"Time Machine"
The song “Time Machine” was written about which eras Willow would travel to if given the chance. She sings, “If I had a time machine, I’d go back to 1983…” which makes sense, given that the album was inspired by so many 80’s bands. She later goes on in the second verse to sing, “If I had a Time Machine, I’d go back to 1993… Everyone is so disconnected these days, ‘cause everyone is looking at the phone, tryna feel like they are less alone (so wrong), And I’m here to tell them that they’re wrong (so wrong)…”
Willow has spoken before to the public about her dislike towards cell phones and social media. She feels that it is hard to be yourself in a cyber world accompanied by constant scrutiny and judgement. It leads to false representations of ourselves in hopes of pleasing the public eye. In my own experience, I have felt the disconnection with humanity and the growing dependency of digital communication. People tend to lack presence with others who physically surround them, and are more concerned with the cyber world. It is disheartening to have grown up in such a society. But according to Willow, you have one of two options: Attempt to fix it from the inside, or remove yourself from it completely.
"PrettyGirlz"
In the song “PrettyGirlz”, Willow goes into how most of society bases their attraction to women on looks alone. She sings, “They want the girls in the movies, want the girls with the prettiest smile, seemingly perfect life… Little do we all know that the vanity we see, we all share.” To me, these lyrics mean that no matter how hard we try to rise above, we are all victims of vanity. Whether we are placing our own vain desires onto ourselves or the partners we seek out. More than likely, we are guilty of both.
In the second verse, she gives raw and real reasons to desire someone, without that selfish, vain quality we all so shamefully possess. She sings, “I want a girl who’s got a light, that makes me squint when I look in her eyes… She’s alright… want a girl who knows herself, like her favorite book right on the shelf.” She calls upon us to fall for a person’s soul, not their exterior. Our bodies are only brief vessels that, with time, wither and fade out of existence. Look deeper into a person when considering them as a partner. Their soul has no face. Feel people’s energies, and trust those feelings more than how someone looks.
"Overthinking IT"
In “Overthinking IT”, Willow expresses the way overthinking can affect the creative flow and mental wellness. Overthinking is a common side effect of depression and anxiety, which Willow accurately depicts in her lyrics. She sings, “Wanna be here, wanna be there, I’m overthinking it, I’ma need to breathe now, I’ma need to leave now, everything I need, but I know that sometimes, I’m crippled by my mind, I don’t wanna be.”
When dealing with the anxiety of being an overthinker, it can be hard to follow through on obligations. She recognizes in these lyrics that she needs to breathe. But as she continues overthinking, she decides she needs to leave the situation entirely. If you have ever felt the crippling feelings of anxiety, then you understand that, many times, removing yourself from the situation feels like the only option. She goes on to sing, “But I, I got so much work to do, And I, I have so much love to give.”
She is recognizing that her anxiety and overthinking is blocking her ability to work productively, as well as love wholeheartedly. I, myself, struggle with issues involving overthinking. You feel trapped in your own mind, and unable to reach your fullest potential. You start to become your own worst enemy, because at the end of the day, it is always you standing in your own way. She later sings, “After all, you can be anything that you want, you’re a queen, I’m a king, You’re praying to your God.” In the end, she reminds listeners that, despite their struggles, to always remind themselves of the potential within. Ease your thoughts with self love, and give your mind a rest.
Final Thoughts
For me, listening to Willow was a journey for my mind and soul. I needed to hear the messages in her lyrics, as I feel many young women do. We aren’t alone in these hardships, and it is refreshing to have a young artist reveal that. On top of the lyrical perfection this album delivered, the melodies gave this album a dream-like, spiritual experience. The album was flawless, but you don’t need me to tell you that. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend giving this album a listen.
October 14, 2019 @ 3:48 am
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