by Phoebe Hodge, JRN 101 Student
Angel Olsen’s song “Spring” has gone unnoticed for too long. “Spring” was featured on Olsen’s 2019 album, All Mirrors, and has seemingly remained under the radar of social media.
Hearing the song for the first time felt like finding $20 in my pocket on laundry day; it was a pleasant surprise. Olsen’s breathy but angelic rich vocals match the swirly dream-like use of basic instruments.
The slow but eccentric music would lead listeners to believe that the subject of the lyrics would be just as whimsical. But despite the music itself being unique and magical, the dazzling crown jewels of “Spring” are Olsen’s lyrics about the mundanity of settling down and growing up.
Olsen sings about the nature of growing up and how things can change so drastically: “Remember when we said we’d never have children/I’m holding your baby now that we’re older.”
As we age, we find ourselves doing things our past, youthful selves would be shocked by. We all become our parents eventually, no matter how many times we try to deny it.
Olsen accompanies these soulful lyrics with an interesting use of standard instruments. This song has a very peculiar sound, but Olsen is only really using guitar, piano and drums, all of which have some sort of flanger or delay effect. It’s shocking how this song has the ability to make the listener feel like a space traveler cruising through the stars whilst using only the most basic instruments.
Olsen sings about how when a couple settles down, there is a lack of passion between partners. “How time has revealed how little we know us / I’ve been too busy I should have noticed,” she sings, almost as if she is disappointed in herself for not seeing the chasm that has grown between her and her lover. This chasm most likely went unnoticed due to the responsibilities of adulthood–work, money and kids–which tend to occupy the majority of a person’s thoughts.
Ever-changing values are a part of aging, and Olsen describes them with such simplicity and elegance. The music is dreamy and mystical, which is ironic because the lyrics are really depressing.
Funny enough, “Spring” isn’t really the black sheep of the All Mirrors album family. Most of the songs featured on this album have a similar otherworldly feel, but “Spring” is most simplistic in musicality.
It’s shocking how this song has the ability to make the listener feel like a space traveler cruising through the stars whilst using only the most basic instruments.
With the lyrics, “Days that keep slipping/ a life that I’m missing/ I wish it were true love/ I wish we were kissing,” Olsen sings about how she feels as if she’s missing out on experiencing life because she was pressured by society to settle down. Olsen describes perfectly the scenario of meeting societal expectations–getting married, buying a house, having kids–but then questioning, is this it?
Listeners may be mad at Olsen for leaving them with an existential crisis on their hands, but they should be left satisfied with an ending so indescribable it feels like an astral projection.
Angel Olsen beautifully captures the quintessence of conformity and aging in “Spring.” This song is an experience for listeners both musically and lyrically. It stands out among the sea of music today. “Spring” is like skydiving; everyone needs to experience it once.
Velocity 
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