Overcoming-Self Doubt and Connecting Through Party: "Ever Again" by Andrew WK
Key Lyrics
“People say that we're born with a purpose
And that we're meant to make our dreams come true
But if our dreams start to crumble, they can bury us
Gotta take yourself out and push on through
...
They say that nobody changes
But I'm living proof that they do
Because I found the answer
And you can find the answer too”
Where’s the meaning?
The title of the song “Ever Again” emphasizes that change is possible even in a world full of doubt and the need to never turn back and only look forward. At the core of this notion is battling feelings of self doubt. Andrew WK sheds some light on the importance of fighting this self-doubt - “if our dreams start to crumble they can bury us…Got to dig yourself out and push on through.” These visceral lyrics help listeners understand the power they have to build their own confidence to push back against feelings of self-doubt that can spring up when we believe we have failed ourselves.
Another tough lesson that Andrew WK endeavors to convey is the inter-connectivity between following dreams and believing in oneself. We want to believe that people have our best interest at heart, but that may not always be the case. We will have our critics fighting to instill doubt in us and at times our biggest critic might even be ourselves. Having dealt with these issues himself, Andrew WK focused his new album on this premise in the hopes of creating a space where people don’t feel alone. There are always be people out there who support and believe in you, even when you can’t do it on your own. Andrew WK draws from his own experience and philosophy to develop mantras for his fans to sing together to create that space.
This classically trained pianist has been daring enough to tackle complex issues about depression and self help in indirect and disparate ways throughout his career, using music, and even an advice column in The Village Voice, to spur connections amongst his fans. Andrew WK believes that the act of partying is the celebration of life itself. It can be done alone, with complete strangers, with loved ones, however the experience might mean and look to you is secondary to the importance of engaging in it. His Twitter feed even includes daily affirmations to remind his fans to think of life as a party and remain positive all day long.
Within the past couple of months he released the singles “Music is Worth Living For” and this single “Ever Again”. In a press release, he described this video as "a fantasy in which I get to imagine what it would be like to actually know the meaning of life—a dream in which I've finally returned from the brink of spiritual annihilation, having wrested the ultimate insight from out of the abyss. ... A love that transcends emotion. A love that can't be understood, but can only be deeply and joyously experienced.” If the overall message doesn’t connect with you, the song alone will certainly rock and excite you to the core. After a long wait since 2009, Andrew WK is scheduled to release his newest album, You’re Not Alone, on March 2nd.
Muse Points
- How does negativity affect our daily lives and overall self esteem?
- Negativity can be like velcro - sticking to us from many directions and can be hard to remove. Having emotional weight can also blind us from achieving our goals and can isolate us in the process. However, even though feelings of negativity are natural and will inevitably enter our lives, Andrew WK endeavors to remind us that it can be turned around and even be fuel for a new beginning. Finding a community or resource to solved these self issues is key.
- Why is the idea of “partying” seen as a form of positivity?
- A lot of themes within Andrew WK’s music also center around death - i.e the belief that life is fleeting but acceptance of our transience can also be used to do something great: PARTY! To party is all about celebrating life in the moment, being connected with others, and making the moment count.
- How important is it to discuss mental health?
- In recent years the media has had a fascination with self care. Whether it be taking a moment to do something for one’s self or taking the time to evaluate your happiness. Nonetheless, mental health still has a stigma attached to it that many artists are trying to speak about to normalize the conversation. We are told to take care of our physical health, but still we don’t take care of our mental health as much as we should. This should not be a sign of defeat or weakness but a path to a better quality of life.
Cause Warriors
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
World Hunger Relief, Inc. (AKA “the Farm”) is a Christian organization committed to the alleviation of food insecurity and malnutrition through sustainable agriculture and community development.
Global Angels Foundation is an international charity transforming disadvantaged communities around the world. Our goal is to develop, fund and replicate highly innovative and sustainable solutions across the globe.