Music Review: Mandy Moore "Crush"

Crush
Album: Mandy Moore
Year: 2001

Mandy Moore is lovesick for her best friend in the desirous "Crush."

Misty guitars open the single, setting an uplifting tone. In the first verse, she says that he knows that she's scared of fire and not having a future. He tried out for basketball and musical. He knew people would make fun of him for musical, but he didn't care. She wanted to be in the musical but changed her mind after her friends teased her. He's a popular guy who everyone wants to hang out with. He doesn't even to pretend like the friends in her clique do. He can be himself. She has had many opportunities to talk about her feelings for him. But she's backed out every time. Someone always interrupts them to them a joke or gossip. Whenever he calls her, she follows the advice from her friends. She puts on an act and plays dumb. She wishes she could just be herself.

"You know everything that I'm afraid of/You do everything I wish I did/Everybody wants you, everybody loves you/I know I should tell you how I feel/I wish everyone would disappear/Every time you call me, I'm too scared to be me/And I'm too shy to say."

In the chorus, she says that she likes him. She really wants him to return the same feelings. Each time they meet after class, she gets butterflies in stomach and she can't eat the candy in her hand.

"Oh, I got a crush on you/I hope you feel the way that I do/I get a rush/When I'm with you/Oh, I've got a crush on you/A crush on you."

In the second verse, she says that he turns to her whenever he's had a fight with his parents. However, it means he will talk about his crush which is one of her best friends. She wishes she could tune it out. She would like to be his girlfriend. She's uncertain if he could ever think her more as just a friend.

"You know, I'm the one that you can talk to/And sometimes you tell me things that I don't want to know/I just want to hold you/You say exactly how you feel about her/I wonder, could you ever think of me that way."

The chorus is sung again.

In the bridge, she says it's a secret that not even her best girl friend knows. Her friends would say that he's not her type and he already likes another girl.

"Oh, I wish i could tell somebody/But there's no one to talk to, nobody knows/I've got a crush on you/A crush on you, I got a crush." /blockquote>

In the third verse, she says that he's a tell-it-like-it-is guy. However, she adds that at least she isn't pretending they have a friendship. Even though they may be friends well into college and adulthood, she will always have feelings for him.

"You say everything that no one says/But I feel everything that you're afraid to feel/I will always want you, I will always love you."

The chorus is sung twice to close the song.

Moore and her guy friend have known each other for ages. They grew up together. Their families went on picnics and jokingly planned their "two little one's" marriage. Starting around last year, he visited her when she was sick. He waited on her hand and foot and sat through her favorite movies. It was the most anyone had ever done for her. However, she realizes that something more is going on between them. There's potential for a relationship. He's ignoring their chemistry for his own crush.

Moore's devoted vocals are optimistic and warm. Even if he ends up dating her best friend, she won't hate either of them. She will patiently wait for him to come around. She's not giving up.

The innocent guitar arrangement is straightforward about its merriment. It's also sensible. Adolescent love has its ups and downs. A majority of it being unrequited. There's drama and conflict with friends. Nothing really ever seems sure.

The tender "Crush" wears its heart on its notes.

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