Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Cynthia Alexander: U & I
Cynthia Alexander: U & I
on the island of my senses
U have lost your shape
the shadow of leaves fallen
a bed of limbs in stalemate
a crash of muted waves
in diminishing dimension
but last night in black & white
a dream of lovers' eyes
a song on an old phonograph
a moving photograph of
U & I
sometimes in the dusk
when the sky bleeds certain shades
the color in between us
is the sky that binds us
never-ending you
begin on & on & on
I only know
U are for real
but last night in black & white
a dream of lovers' eyes
a song on an old phonograph
a moving photograph of
U & I
This song was nominated for "Song of the Year" last 2001 Katha Music Awards. The first time I heard this song, I kept insinuating the thought, "why only nominated?" This is one of the best Cynthia Alexander songs I've heard in my Cynthia Alexander-listening life.
One word that came into my mind as I continually and ceaselessly listen to this enthralling piece: nostalgia. It's about an open-ended love affair. Thought the first stanza talks about the lover "losing shape", witnessing "stale love" and "losing senses", the chorus part counterfeits all lost love and paves way for the aforementioned open-ended love affair-- a love that is always there despite intangibility, a love that recurs and recalls despite the call of limitations. As the line reiterates, "a moving photograph of you and I."
Just like how we recall past events and how we treasure great memories, the song leaves to us perhaps, a glint of sweet nostalgia about our respective beloved.
One more thing that I admire in this song is how this open-ended affair is addressed. There is still that faint intimacy and nearness that the persona meanderingly assumes. I admire the audacity and at the same time the meekness that he/she concludes.
posted by Eloisa at 7:31 PM
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