Music Review: Vitamin C "Graduation (Friends Forever)"
Vitamin C
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Graduation (Friends Forever)
Album: Vitamin C
Year: 2000
Vitamin C wonders what life about high school will be like in the idealistic "Graduation (Friends Forever)."
Formal strings open the single, creating a tone of finality. Last night, Vitamin C and her friends hung out and talked. They discussed what college would be like. If they would be married by 25, or still searching for the perfect guy. Would they become the CEO a new tech company which would change the Internet forever? She clings to the hope that only the scenery is changing, not the people around her. She notes that high school's over and realizes everyone will be going their seperate ways. She's afraid she won't talk to her friends anymore. Each conversation is like their last. Before they know it, it will be September.
She remembers the time she and her friends danced on a rooftop or decided to dress alike for a day. She also thinks of how she and her crush finally kissed last June at a party. The idea of breaking up saddened them both. They discussed their mixed feelings: fear of not making it and ecstatic to discover another world beyond their town.
In the chorus, Vitamin C she will cherish the memories from high school. Despite where their lives may be lead them, she and her friends will remain close through it all.
In the second verse, she starts to what-if. What if her friends all become successful? She thinks that as they grow into adulthood, they will forget how to be silly. She wonders if she will know how to diagram a sentence ten years from now. She thinks of the spunk her friends have. They question authority and challenge it when they can. Will they still have the drive or desire to stand up for themselves?
She thinks of Bobby, the guy in math class who passed every test. Will he become a stockbroker? She thinks of Heather, a shallow popular girl who is only concerned about her looks, be able to maintain her tan while looking for a job to pay the bills. She remembers that her life is just beginning. She has much to learn about the world and herself.
After the chorus, Vitamin C wastes some time and adlibs a bit. She switches between "la la la la" and "yeah, yeah, yeah" twice. Her background singers repeat the vow that they will have a lifelong friendship.
The strings become troubled and angsty.
In the third verse, she contemplates the future. Will her friends be cynical after some disappointments? She sees the real world as a frightening place. One mistake and her friends could crush their potential. She thinks if they will be able to do all the adult stuff, like paying bills and taking care of the kids. She didn't think graduation would arrive. It seems like she was just a freshman navigating the halls of the high school only yesterday. They are growing up and she wonders if their adolescence will haunt them.
She ponders if people will eventually forget the fun times.
Children join Vitamin C to sing the chorus sung three times to close the single.
Vitamin C is resistance to change. High school was safe and self-contained. She knew that everyday she would come in and see people she knew. It was like a small town of people her age. Now, she's being forced to move on and leave her comfort zone behind. Given her positive experience, she's anxious that the best years of her life are finished.
Nonetheless, "Graduation" is based on the idea that high school is wonderful and cheery for teenagers. In reality, people are labeled and mocked for not being like everybody else. They are excluded without any reason and threatened for even looking at some girl's boyfriend. Although Vitamin C asks some thoughtful questions, the single's artificiality is unavoidable.
Album: Vitamin C
Year: 2000
Vitamin C wonders what life about high school will be like in the idealistic "Graduation (Friends Forever)."
Formal strings open the single, creating a tone of finality. Last night, Vitamin C and her friends hung out and talked. They discussed what college would be like. If they would be married by 25, or still searching for the perfect guy. Would they become the CEO a new tech company which would change the Internet forever? She clings to the hope that only the scenery is changing, not the people around her. She notes that high school's over and realizes everyone will be going their seperate ways. She's afraid she won't talk to her friends anymore. Each conversation is like their last. Before they know it, it will be September.
"And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives/Where we're gonna be when we turn 25/I keep thinking times will never change/Keep on thinking things will always be the same/But when we leave this year we won't be coming back/No more hanging out cause we're on a different track/And if you got something that you need to say/You better say it right now cause you don't have another day/'Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down."
She remembers the time she and her friends danced on a rooftop or decided to dress alike for a day. She also thinks of how she and her crush finally kissed last June at a party. The idea of breaking up saddened them both. They discussed their mixed feelings: fear of not making it and ecstatic to discover another world beyond their town.
"These memories are playing like a film without sound/
And I keep thinking of that night in June/I didn't know much of love/But it came too soon/And there was me and you/And then we got real blue/Stay at home talking on the telephone/We'd get so excited, we'd get so scared/Laughing at ourselves, thinking life's not fair/And this is how it feels."
In the chorus, Vitamin C she will cherish the memories from high school. Despite where their lives may be lead them, she and her friends will remain close through it all.
" As we go on/We remember/All the times we/Had together/And as our lives change/Come whatever/We will still be/Friends forever."
In the second verse, she starts to what-if. What if her friends all become successful? She thinks that as they grow into adulthood, they will forget how to be silly. She wonders if she will know how to diagram a sentence ten years from now. She thinks of the spunk her friends have. They question authority and challenge it when they can. Will they still have the drive or desire to stand up for themselves?
She thinks of Bobby, the guy in math class who passed every test. Will he become a stockbroker? She thinks of Heather, a shallow popular girl who is only concerned about her looks, be able to maintain her tan while looking for a job to pay the bills. She remembers that her life is just beginning. She has much to learn about the world and herself.
" So if we get the big jobs/And we make the big money/When we look back now/Will our jokes still be funny?/Will we still remember everything we learned in school?/Still be trying to break every single rule/Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?/Can Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?/I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye/Keep on thinking it's a time to fly/And this is how it feels."
After the chorus, Vitamin C wastes some time and adlibs a bit. She switches between "la la la la" and "yeah, yeah, yeah" twice. Her background singers repeat the vow that they will have a lifelong friendship.
"La, la, la, la/Yeah, yeah, yeah/La, la, la, la/We will still be friends forever."
The strings become troubled and angsty.
In the third verse, she contemplates the future. Will her friends be cynical after some disappointments? She sees the real world as a frightening place. One mistake and her friends could crush their potential. She thinks if they will be able to do all the adult stuff, like paying bills and taking care of the kids. She didn't think graduation would arrive. It seems like she was just a freshman navigating the halls of the high school only yesterday. They are growing up and she wonders if their adolescence will haunt them.
She ponders if people will eventually forget the fun times.
"Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?/Can we survive it out there?/Can we make it somehow?/I guess I thought that this would never end/And suddenly it's like we're women and men/Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?/Will these memories fade when I leave this town/I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye/
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly."
Children join Vitamin C to sing the chorus sung three times to close the single.
Vitamin C is resistance to change. High school was safe and self-contained. She knew that everyday she would come in and see people she knew. It was like a small town of people her age. Now, she's being forced to move on and leave her comfort zone behind. Given her positive experience, she's anxious that the best years of her life are finished.
Nonetheless, "Graduation" is based on the idea that high school is wonderful and cheery for teenagers. In reality, people are labeled and mocked for not being like everybody else. They are excluded without any reason and threatened for even looking at some girl's boyfriend. Although Vitamin C asks some thoughtful questions, the single's artificiality is unavoidable.