Music Review: Haim "Forever"

Haim

Forever

Album: Days Are Gone

Year: 2012

        Danielle Haim attempts to get through her self-absorbed boyfriend in the antiquated “Forever.”

          Echoing synths open the single, setting a remote tone. Her boyfriend tells her they are going out with his friends again. She scoffs and shakes her head. She asks him when the last time they had any time alone together that wasn’t in a car. For the last six months, she can’t recall a spontaneous moment between them or any “just because” flowers. She had to remind him about Valentine’s Day! She’s been spending every day with him, attending his “must” events while she turns down requests to hang out from her friends. Around his friends, he talks about his dreams and doesn’t even mention her. She tells him the relationship has become all about him. She asks him what she has to do to : glue a passport to her naked body? Attach herself to some obscure bucket list building? (“Hey you!/Remember me? Remember love?/Remember trying to stay together?/My time, you took it all/You tried to see/You tried to bring yourself up without involving me/It isn't fair, to have your way/To try and get up and go and na na na na now can't you see/It isn't fair to have your way/But I'm trying to get your attention and I need you to know that.”)

         In the pre-chorus, she says their relationship has become messed up. She needs him to explain his justifications for controlling everything. Although she says she doesn’t expect a truthful answer from him. He’s going to double down and blame it all on her. She’s says she’s not going to put up with it anymore. If she chooses to dump her, then she knows for sure what type of guy he is. (“Hey you! Hey you!/Can't you make this sane?/I know, I know, I know you ain't the one to play the game/Now I know I'm never gonna go your way/If you go, now I know, I know know know.”)

              In the chorus, she says they did work hard at their relationship. However, both figured they wouldn’t last  She can’t no longer give him the benefit of the doubt. She’ll understand if he breaks up with her. It’s not what she really wants, though. She thinks they are capable of fixing their problems and remain together. Her friends used to tell her he was a jerk. She thinks there is good in him. (“Forever we tried to make it right/Together we saw the end in sight/I'm tired of fighting the good fight/If you say the word then I'll say goodbye/Forever I see you and me/Forever I'll try for you and I/No I never believed in their insight/Just another good reason to get it right.”)

           She asks him to tell her what’s wrong, what’s caused him to become distant towards her? She says they are a lot alike and they have similar reactions to things. She would like them to be the considerate couple who took care of each other again. (“I don't want to turn around/So come on baby/Come on and try to let it out/Let go/We're still the same/So come on baby/Trigger the sound, let’s figure it out/Let's get back to where we started out.”)

        The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

        An agitated guitar has a solo.

        In the bridge, she needs a mental break from thinking things through. (“Go go go go get out, get out of my memory/No no no not tonight, I don't have the energy/Go go go go get out, get out of my memory/No no no not tonight, oh not tonight, oh not tonight.”)

        The chorus is sung twice to end the single.

       Haim’s meek vocals murmur, backing off from the anger, afraid to to truly do anything. Haim may sound like Chrissie Hynde but they don’t share the same confident attitude. Nonetheless, everything about the single is borrowed – they inserted Go-Go’s trademark “hey’s” into the chorus and  Michael Jackson’s synths in the bridge.

     The pirated “Forever” steals the collectible vinyl from the record store when the owner isn’t looking.