Music Review: 5 Seconds Of Summer "Amnesia"

5 Seconds of Summer

Amnesia

Album: 5 Seconds of Summer

Year: 2014

            Luke Hemmings misses his ex-girlfriend in the crestfallen  “Amnesia.”

            A pitiful guitar opens the single, setting a woeful tone. He turns his signal on and turns into their favorite gas station. They would stand outside, drinks in their hands. They would laugh at the silliest things to make each other laugh. It was here she broke up with him. She gave him one last kiss on the lips and wished him well. However, she met somebody else. He texts a few mutual friends of theirs, inquiring about the guy, It was who he suspected. He’s a jerk and will treat her badly. He believes she’s next to him in the car, being ignored as he talks to the phone. He is not the most tactful person, either. He hopes she thinks of what she had with him. She’ll look through old birthday cards he gave her. Then, he thinks if she didn’t love him at all. She’s already moved on and supposedly happy. He can barely function. (“I drove by all the places/e used to hang out getting wasted/ thought about our last kiss/ow it felt, the way it tasted/nd even though your friends tell me you're doing fine/re you somewhere feeling lonely/ven though he’s right beside you/When he says those words that hurt you/Do you read the ones I wrote you?/Sometimes I start to wonder, was it just a lie?/If what we had was real, how could you be fine?/Cause I'm not fine at all.”)

            In the chorus, she could hardly say goodbye to him. Her mascara streaked her face, wiping her once blushed cheeks clean. She said she couldn’t help it but she needed something more. He wishes he could have his mind cleared of any memories. (“I remember the day you told me you were leaving/I remember the make-up running down your face/And the dreams you left behind you didn't need them/Like every single wish we ever made/I wish that I could wake up with amnesia/And forget about the stupid little things/Like the way it felt to fall asleep next to you/And the memories I never can escape/Cause I'm not fine at all.”)

           The picture of where she’s playing with her tank top is his favorite. “I’m a pop star posing for a magazine.” He can’t bring himself to delete it. She is not his to look at anymore. Seeing her, though, is only a huge reminder that she’s not there. His friends keep texting, asking him to go out. He refuses, saying he doesn’t like it. He winces whenever his friends bring her up. It’s been six months. He should be over it. It’s as though he didn’t exist in his life at all. (“The pictures that you sent me/They're still living in my phone/I admit I like to see them/I'll admit I feel alone/And all my friends keep asking/Why I'm not around/It hurts to know you’re happy/Yeah it hurts that you moved on/It’s hard to hear your name/When I haven't seen you in so long/It’s like we never happenedWas it just a lie?/If what we had was real/How could you be fine?/Cause I'm not fine at all.”)

               The chorus is sung again.

               In the bridge, he wishes his life was a nightmare. He would have to wake up and return back to usual life. However, it’s not. He wouldn’t take her for granted ever again. He would make sure she knew his feelings for her. (“If today I woke up with you right beside me/Like all of this was just some twisted dream/I'd hold you closer than I ever did before/And you'd never slip away/And you'd never hear me say.”)

               An extended chorus ends the single. (“I remember the day you told me you were leaving…Cause I'm not fine at all/No, I'm really not fine at all/Tell me this is just a dream/Cause I'm really not fine at all.”)

                 Hemmings’ heartsick vocals give people the big, lonely eyes, elicting sympathy. However, by the chorus, he breathes through his mouth and if it was possible, people would be see his vocal cord muscles moving.

            The  acceptable  “Amnesia” will someday gets its wish but right now it has to be patient.