on bleachers' 'you and forever' and upcoming 'everyone for ten minutes' album

on 22 may, bleachers will return with a new album titled everyone for ten minutes. it seems that this return was well-curated with an intention of calling its people, to focus on the light and joy of being with everyone you love. the promotions have been consistently sending that message, particularly the message of first single to come out of the album, you and forever, and the thoughtful letters by jack antonoff via email. writing about how it feels that the world's chaos always try to tear apart our joy is timely.

the idea of protecting everyone you love, and your freedom to love. conceptually, this was what drew me to bleachers. there is a certain kind of hurting in which you learn at a breaking point that what people cannot take away from you is hope, as if there is this one unbreakable, tiny light in you. when all of you have been shattered, no sight of end of the suffering, there is this unbreakable spirit that never left you. it can take in many forms, almost as if you might not even notice sometimes that this light is what brought you back to life. to me, it is when i return to myself unknowingly, after days, weeks, months, or years of being in what feels like a hellhole. it is when i find myself smiling and laughing again about things i love, when i do not dread the mornings, when i allow myself to be in love, when i listen to my favorite songs again, when i allow myself to eat without guilt, when i lay down in bed thinking life sucks, but how wonderful it is to live. when i feel the warmth and joy of being loved. how grateful i am to be surrounded by loving people, people who never gave up on me even when i am at my worst.

i remember watching the first movie of wicked directed by jon chu. and there was this one scene that reminded me of such deep-seated strength in all of us. when the witch they all branded as wicked for fighting for what is right, elphaba thropp, was falling/flying down a tower to escape the authorities, she saw her younger self, falling down with her, looking at her, reminding her of who she is and the things she have endured. i found it symbolic that this was happening at a pivotal moment in her life where it was clear that standing up for what you believe has its costs.

and then the noise of everything. everything that feels like a snake of chains trying to get to you. it feels like they get in the way of love. trying to tear you apart when all you want is to come home. the new song you and forever touches on this profound feeling of standing up to all these noises and chains and evil forces to protect your space, your love, your freedom to love, your loved ones.

you and forever: a love song about letting the right one in. won’t cure it all but will make the edges less terrifying. like having a net. the idea that a shift in the right direction makes your dreams feel possible. dreams possible is dreams coming true. something you realize, if a dream comes true, it always was there even when it was just slightly possible. i spend the pre chorus in the song damning anyone trying to pull me down. and those fuckers are around every corner. many forces trying to stop you from doing an inch of good from the darkness of their own self doubt. that’s all trash dogs until you realize that you can close that door and live with the light of your people. i wrote ‘you and forever’ from that place. i’m hurt when i spend my time and emotions on temporary people/machines. this song and this time is not for the casual. - antonoff via bleachers email