I confess, I’m a new Marina stan, and I don’t know how I’ve made it this far without listening to her music. Thankfully, her single “Man’s World” encouraged me to dive into her full discography while I waited for the release of her album “Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land,” and now that it’s here, I sort of see her as a second mother.
As a notorious gay icon, Marina delivered songs that celebrate and encourage freedom of expression in all its forms. The new record lets people explore themselves and find confidence in their personal identity, defying social norms and labels, striving for the great joy that one feels in the comfort of authenticity. My personal favorite song was “Venus Fly Trap,” not just because of its powerful instrumentals that fit perfectly with Marina’s enchanting and versatile voice, but also because it inspires courage and non-conformity. Although Marina’s lyrics are based on her own experiences and the challenges she’s overcome during her career, they are relatable on different levels, and that makes them magical. I believe this is the perfect coming out song, for anyone out there who needs a boost to take that difficult step.
It’s easy to get carried away in Marina’s impressive vocals and miss the hidden gems in her lyrics. Thoughtfully crafted and charged with social criticism, Marina is an artist who doesn’t hold back and speaks her mind about things that matter. “Man’s World” is a perfect example, considering lyrics like “mother nature’s dying, nobody’s keeping score. I don’t wanna live in a man’s world anymore.” It’s unusual to hear a superstar sing about the environment, but in times like these, it is absolutely necessary. The song also addresses the homophobic history of Brunei, a country where homosexuality is punishable by death and its leaders have consistently attacked the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout the song, Marina details how differently women are treated in a world that has been mostly dominated by men, and as a result of that inequality, we live in chaos and constant violence.
Marina sings, “If you have a mother, daughter or a friend, maybe it’s time, time you comprehend the world that you live in ain’t the same one as them. So don’t punish me ‘cause I’m not a man.”
The message couldn’t be clearer.
Another iconic song is “Purge the Poison,” where Marina continues to highlight how humanity’s actions have caused unprecedented damage to the planet, and it is up to everyone to come together and make up for that damage.
“Need to purge the poison, show us our humanity, all the bad and good, racism and misogyny. Capitalism made us poor, God forgive America for every single war.”
Marina doesn’t care if anyone is upset by the directness of her lyrics, as they speak the truth that many in the music industry choose to ignore. She throws jabs at deplorable people like Harvey Weinstein and praises the Me Too movement for unveiling countless abuses towards women.
The United States is such a messed up country that Marina wrote a whole diss track called “New America” to state her case. My words alone can’t do justice to the lyrical genius of the song, where Marina exposes the privilege of white Americans and the violent history of the so-called land of the free.
“You got a white picket fence and your dad’s got a gun, and when you see the police there’s no reason to run. You got a job and a car and good dental plan, you get health insurance, pocket money, damn.”
The album is a cathartic experience that inspires courage and love but also dives into difficult issues that must be addressed explicitly, using art as a resource to communicate critical ideas. Marina is an expert at that, and the brilliance of this album comes with the balance of songs with their individual functions. Regarding the ballads,
“Highly Emotional People” is a love letter to all those who feel like their emotions are invalidated by society. Marina targets toxic masculinity and slaps it in the face with this song, and then hugs all those who’ve been hurt by this disgusting behavior. She concludes the album with “Goodbye” which is one of the most personal tracks, as it details her past struggles with her identity and the social pressure that was put on her as a woman. Marina rises stronger than ever before with this song, and although she is conscious of her growth and how her past shaped her, she is ready to let that go and become the truest version of herself. That is the Marina that I’ll see perform live at the Coca-Cola Roxy in February.