Justin likes to paint ideas and feelings with his words, often using lyrics to evoke an abstract image or emotional experience more than tell a straight-forward story. This song is about maturity/time (for example, the second verse talking about a house he grew up in, but only the memories and its charred ruins remain; or the first verse recollecting a halloween drunk compared to the enjoyment he got out of it as a child), how we often look back at our lives with these distinct periods of our existence, when in the grand scheme of things, to the passing world, they may not even notice a difference (which is likely why the lyrics are just passing glimpses of memories), others likely just see the whole. And coming to that realization and decentering from that, embracing that the world will go on without you and to live in the present and be a part of something bigger than yourself, is freeing and beautiful. We has less abstract stuff, too, like Blood bank, Skinny Love, etc., but his music's really vibe-focused and honestly, sometimes he strings words together in his lyrics because they sound good more than they carry specific meaning, though he'll usually make an effort to bring everything around to some larger meaning in the end. TL;DR, don't worry too much about the lyrics, some songs took me dozens of listens to get a grasp on, some I'm still piecing together, it's good to just enjoy the ride
The Blood Bank EP has helped me through a lot of really tough times. It sounds like being in a cabin in the middle of nowhere with snow cover on everything. I think of Skinny Love as Bon Iver’s magnum opus. It’s phenomenal.
No it's not that, it"'s for your personal interpretation, to submerge your psyche in it and link it to your past or present. Plus knowing his story you can make sense of what it means to him vaguely, not that it matters really. Hence the vague metaphors and word play. That's why i think he's "generous artist". he's enriching you with his emotions and awakening yours. It's introspective in nature. You NEED to take it in.
Tbh when I first heard Exile I was actually surprised by how deep he sang there. He usually sticks to his upper-mid register and the falsetto is kind of his trademark style. Cool to see you're getting into his music. I recommend checking out his song Flume!
Thank you so much for doing this! Bon Iver gives the whole vibe of isolation, especially their earlier work. This is the voice that Justin is known for, that's why I think Exile is special even for the people who are already a fan of his music.
I remember going on a road trip to New York like...10 years ago, with a girl that is like a sister to me. And she played this guy. This song makes me cry every time
I envy you getting to experience Justin Vernon’s music for the first time. It’s always such an experience. For another Bon Iver song check out “re:stacks” from his album For Emma, Forevermore Ago. For something equally amazing of his but quite different, check out a song called “I Had A Real Good Lover” by one of his other bands called The Shouting Matches.
Thank you for reacting to this song. I recently discovered it as well and it’s a song that stuck with me. One I will be listening to again and again. The way you spoke about the music holding the space and creating the scene. I so agree. It has such a beautiful, peaceful yet haunting quality. The layers of his vocals are amazing too. The range he has. Wow! I’m very curious to learn more of his work too. Anyways, I really enjoy your channel.
You can listen to hey, ma which has a similar vibe or skinny love is his most popular I think, my personal favourite is re:Stacks because it like takes you over
Pleasssee do more Bon Iver man! Justin is one of my favorite artists of all time. His voice here is what he typically sounds like tbh, he hardly does a deeper voice like in Exile. “And at once I knew, I was not magnificent” always fucking hits me man.
If you wanna react to more bon iver you can check out Calgary, off the same album as Holocene. Or if you want a different sound from his music try 8(circle), 22(over soon) and Re: stacks ❤ I think you'd really like Re: stacks!
You're right, his lyrics can be quite puzzling. I've been a fan since 2012 and I still don't have all the lyrics to his songs memorized, but I have been *mesmerized* by his music. I'd recommend "re: Stacks" "33 GOD" and "00000 Million"
I think the best part of Bon Iver’s music is listing the first few times, not understanding what the hell he’s saying, and it not negatively effecting the experience.
So many people I’ve made listen to this song, have been stumped for a while just like you. Justin’s voice is like that. It makes you feel different. Everything just connects. The only song I’ll never get bored of ❤️
Truth to be told, there some musics that are not that great to be reacted for. Because it sounds too personal. Just like this song from Bon Iver. But I kinda like your reaction. There are moments when I can see it in your face, that some part of the song starts to haunting you. Just for mili second. I know it starts to haunt you. Even if you say you gonna listen to it few more times.
today a Green Day side project released a 25 song album. The Network - Money Money 2020 Pt II: We Told Ya So! You should react to it, it is quite good, although the songs are quite short
So this particular song has the most valuable meaning to me. When I was dating my husband, he knew of this band and played this song as a lullaby to help me to sleep. I decided to use this to walk down the aisle to at the wedding. This is such a powerful song that says that we are both insignificant and magnificent at the same time. The irony of how it is sang is in a low soft lullaby vibe says that you can communicate the same thing without having to be loud or extreme in the other direction. Powerful stuff. 👍
It’s very soothing music, but it’s very dark. I take it to be about drug abuse, but the textbook definition of Holocene is the epoch era of the earth after the last ice age.
@@ohef17 hiii there! Taylor Swift is dropping another album called "Evermore" which she referred as sister album of folklore. It's featuring The National, Bon Iver and HAIM. Edit: I'm shook.