Music Review: Nick Lachey "What's Left Of Me"
Nick Lachey
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
What's Left Of Me
Album: N/A
Year: 2006
Nick Lachey is shattered by the end of his marriage in the longing ballad "What's Left Of Me."
A reflective piano opens the single, setting an introspective tone. In the first verse, he thinks of what could've been. The children they could've had and the life they would've shared. The framed photograph of them smiling and holding each other close feels as though it never happened. He feels if maybe he had done something differently, they would still be together.
In the chorus, he says he's not over her. He can still feel the warmth of her hand upon his shoulder and the strands of hair gracing his chin. When she told him she felt nothing for him, it crushed him. He believes he failed her and wasn't an attentive husband. He offers her the last of his being. It's the only part of him she doesn't have.
In the second verse, he is despondent. It's as though he were ripped apart and his heart has been stomped upon. It's shaken his self-esteem and confidence. Her love made him a better man.
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, the last bit of strength he had is dissipating and the questions he has are suffocating him. He needs her to reassure him that their relationship wasn't a lie. He has to know love existed between them at some point.
The somber strings have a solo.
In the second half of the bridge, only the piano accompanies him as he asks her to acknowledge his pain.
The chorus is sung again.
In the final section, he once again says he's searching for answers.
Marriage was a commitment he intended to uphold. However, his wife thought it was like last spring's Louis Vuitton handbag - stylish and trendy but easily replaceable. He was in denial for a year or so, thinking things would get better. Their conversations became silent and tense as time worn on. With the final goodbye, it sunk in that it was really over. Now, he can only mourn the loss of his dreams with her.
Lachey's grieving vocals are solemn and open. The self-preservation in him is apparent, as he purges each dream with her one by one.
The healing strings peel opens every wound and and tears off the skin as slow as possible.
The sympathetic "What's Left Of Me" is a remarkable comeback which came out of nowhere and a brilliant, well-written PR move.
Album: N/A
Year: 2006
Nick Lachey is shattered by the end of his marriage in the longing ballad "What's Left Of Me."
A reflective piano opens the single, setting an introspective tone. In the first verse, he thinks of what could've been. The children they could've had and the life they would've shared. The framed photograph of them smiling and holding each other close feels as though it never happened. He feels if maybe he had done something differently, they would still be together.
"Watch my life/Pass me by/In the rear view mirror/Pictures frozen in time/Are becoming clearer/I don't wanna waste another day/Stuck in the shadow of my mistakes, yeah."
In the chorus, he says he's not over her. He can still feel the warmth of her hand upon his shoulder and the strands of hair gracing his chin. When she told him she felt nothing for him, it crushed him. He believes he failed her and wasn't an attentive husband. He offers her the last of his being. It's the only part of him she doesn't have.
"Cause I want you/And I feel you/Crawling underneath my skin/Like a hunger/Like a burning/To find a place I'venever been/Now I'm broken/And I'm faded/I'm half the man I thought I would be/But you can have what's left of me.â€
In the second verse, he is despondent. It's as though he were ripped apart and his heart has been stomped upon. It's shaken his self-esteem and confidence. Her love made him a better man.
"I've been dying inside/Little by little/No where to go/But going out of my mind/In endless circles/Running from my self until/You gave me a reason for standing still."
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, the last bit of strength he had is dissipating and the questions he has are suffocating him. He needs her to reassure him that their relationship wasn't a lie. He has to know love existed between them at some point.
"It's falling faster/Barely breathing/Give me something/To believe in/Tell me: It's not all in my head."
The somber strings have a solo.
In the second half of the bridge, only the piano accompanies him as he asks her to acknowledge his pain.
"Take what's left/Of this man/Make me whole/Once again."
The chorus is sung again.
In the final section, he once again says he's searching for answers.
"I've been dying inside you see/I'm going out of my mind/Out of my mind/I'm just running in circles all the time/Will you take what's left/Will you take what's left/Will you take what'sleft of me?/Running in circles in my mind/Will you take what'sleft/Will you take what's left/Will you take what'sleft of me?"
Marriage was a commitment he intended to uphold. However, his wife thought it was like last spring's Louis Vuitton handbag - stylish and trendy but easily replaceable. He was in denial for a year or so, thinking things would get better. Their conversations became silent and tense as time worn on. With the final goodbye, it sunk in that it was really over. Now, he can only mourn the loss of his dreams with her.
Lachey's grieving vocals are solemn and open. The self-preservation in him is apparent, as he purges each dream with her one by one.
The healing strings peel opens every wound and and tears off the skin as slow as possible.
The sympathetic "What's Left Of Me" is a remarkable comeback which came out of nowhere and a brilliant, well-written PR move.