LogFAQs > #956712357

70. Phoebe Bridgers Kyoto (2020)
from the album Punisher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw0zYd0eIlk

Key lyrics:
I wanted to see the world
Then I flew over the ocean
And I changed my mind

There are few things in life more underwhelming than achieving a lifelong dream and realizing little has changed. With Bridgers depressive lyrics, the horn-heavy Kyoto feels like an inverse of Sufjan Stevens Chicago. Both songs take the idea of visiting a distant city as an act of self-discovery, but where Sufjan found freedom, Phoebe Bridgers gets caught up in the anxiety of her home life. It is a simple yet blunt realization our inner demons cannot be escaped through physical movement.

After the first verse, the song shifts gears almost exclusively to her abusive father. She finds herself in a contradictory bubble, hating him but also fearing for him. Her specific imagery paints a stark picture of a man who halfheartedly tries to connect, and Bridgers sounds frustrated with herself for returning that same energy. Kyoto so perfectly captures the pressure to try and relate to family members, no matter what they have done. Changes in phrasing between the two choruses are so vital, linking the two central thoughts together.

With all these depressing ideas, the fact Kyoto comes off as such an uplifting song is a testament to its vibrant soundscape. The instrumentation grows increasingly dense and energetic as it progresses; while Kyoto did not provide the easy answers Bridgers desires, she has at least learned something. Kyoto in many ways feels like a rejection of her signature brooding. Instead of stewing in her disappointment, she has grown from it. She may end the song by repeatedly calling herself a liar, but the self-awareness of that statement shows room for change that no visit to a city can provide.

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My top 100 games (with write-ups): https://foolfantastic.com/top-100-video-games-project/