Music Review: Nick Lachey "Resolution"

Nick Lachey

Resolution

Album: What’s Left Of Me

Year:  2006

           Nick Lachey begins his new life – post divorce, in the despondent  “Resolution.”

        An introspective piano opens the single, setting a musing tone.  It suddenly hits him. He’s on his own. He shoves the ramen noodles around in the styrofoam container. His wife – ex-wife, he corrects himself, would tell him he needs to eat something better. However, it hadn’t a chance to go the grocery store earlier in the week. Tomorrow, he will go. Or maybe he’ll wait until the weekend. He has no answer to. He is only taking care of himself now. For a brief minute, he misses her and what they had. Then, he remembers what caused them to break up. He has his future ahead of him – the possibility of a happy marriage with children, a rejuvenated career. So much can happen and it scares him. (“Nothing but an empty page/Breathing in an open space/Captured by your moment's grace again/There's so much I left behind/Even more that waits in time/Everything's so undefined/I'm standing on the edge of my fear/And I see it clear.”)

           In the chorus, standing alone in the kitchen, he tells himself he has to move on.  It was a learning experience. He can take all the mistakes and become a better person from them. Now he has to set his thoughts into action. (“Here's my resolution/I'm letting go/All I need to learn is along this road/And I just want to be the best man I can be/Breathe, it's my resolution.”)

          Since he was in his teenager, he had his life mapped out – married by his mid-twenties, two children by his 30s, and settled in his career. None of it worked out like he thought. He has decided to let things happen instead of forcing it. He has to comfort himself knowing the right decision was made and to trust it. Recently, he met a young woman who he liked. He’s talked to her but haven’t tried to make it into a relationship. He isn’t sure of how feels yet. He cares about her. However, he wonders if she’s someone who he will accept him for who he is and talk to about his problems without any judgements. (“Living life without a plan/Finding solace where I stand/And learning how to love again/And all I want is something real/That I can feel.”)

                  The chorus is sung again.

                  A variation of the chorus ends the single. (“ 'Cause here's my resolution/I'm letting go/All I need to learn is along this road/And I just wanna be the best man I can be/Breathe, it's my resolution/My resolution.”

                    Lachey’s searching  vocals try to find some peace as he second-guesses every decision he makes. He’s a relationship guy and being alone isn’t sitting right with him now. It’s as though he failed, both himself and his ex-wife. He can’t be the person who he was before.

                 The wounded “Resolution” tiptoes into the unknown with its eyes wide open.