A Love Letter of Sorts
Dear Sara Bareilles,
I’m not gonna write you a love song, but I might just be about to write you a love letter.
I’ve always been hungry for words, a reader, a writer, a lyric aficionado. I adore metaphors. Counting Crows, for instance, they just kill me with the genius of the pictures they paint, the emotions they evoke with words. Not a lot of artists can put their thumb into the hole in my heart and either make it throb almost unbearably or make it stop hurting for a while. You are one of those who has power over my emotions.
Madly in love was I with every single song on your first record, and I hoped so much for a strong second. I wanted more of what was in your head, the same as before, but different. How scary it is to download the new one upon release and know that listening to it that first time, it will be a stranger to me. Blessedly, by now it’s another close friend. Not one who has seen me through a lot yet, but one who I am confident will be there for me through some stuff.
It would be pointless of me to list favorites, as I might as well type most of every song, but I’ll reference just a bit. To be able to sing along with “Maybe nobody loved you when you were young” in Machine Gun is so empowering. The juxtaposition of such a lyric to an upbeat melody… the recipient won’t even know what hit him/her! Reminds me of “There was never a moment, now you know, you ever got within a hundred million miles of my soul” from Patty Griffin. Ouch, right?!
Every word in “Gonna Get Over You” and “Basket Case”, which is more like poetry, are perfection. Some days just what I need and some days, like today, too close to home. Every time I listen, something new jumps out and settles or stirs the dust in my mind. I’ll close with the latest to do so:
“This pair of wing’s worn and rusted
From too many years by my side
They can carry me, swear to be sturdy and strong
But see, turning them on still means goodbye”
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I will check her out. Lovely post, thanks for sharing!
Yeah, I haven’t heard any of her songs so far, unfortunately. But now, I’m gonna go get me a CD.
This is lovely! Thanks for this post. I’ll check her songs online… can you please provide me links. Thanks!
my favorite is “King of Anything” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR7-AUmiNcA
Sweet!
I think that the world needs more love letters to people we’ve never met. Amanda Palmer wrote a gorgeous one; I think you might like it, even if you don’t like The Cure.
http://blog.amandapalmer.net/post/227061643/dear-robert-smith-an-open-letter
Please keep blogging.
I love this! I have to bookmark it to come back and read the second half. Thank you for sharing, and for reading mine!
i like it………>>>>>>>
Voltaire said “appreciation is a wonderful thing; it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well”.
This ‘love letter’ demonstrates that you, Kimberly, have an impressive capacity to appreciate. And this appreciation brings excellence into your writing.
“Not a lot of artists can put their thumb into the hole in my heart…” — this was the most powerful part for me, and a concept that has been on my mind a lot lately (I recently wrote a song about the void in our hearts called “The Quester’s Quest” which you can listen to on my blog if you have the hankerin’ to).
Anyway, thanks for the excellent post, and congrats on being freshly pressed!
Thank you so very much, and thank everyone for the sweet comments! I can’t believe I’ve been Freshly Pressed!!
Writing saves me on many days, and today the affirmation was especially needed. God is good.
PS, I love your blog too, and I’m following you on twitter!
“Not a lot of artists can put their thumb into the hole in my heart and either make it throb almost unbearably or make it stop hurting for a while.”
Wow…powerful language!
I, too, love symbols. In fact, I frequently discuss symbols on my blog (the first chapter, in fact, is about how my marriage ended with a brick — a literal, grey brick with words inscribed on it that would forever change my life). So I can relate to what you’re saying about an artist’s ability to evoke imagery through metaphors and symbols — good stuff!
A fun post, beautifully written!
Mikalee
Thank you! I look forward to reading your blog!
1) Congrats on being Freshly Pressed! How exciting!
2) Oh metaphors… you write my heart. Why is it that sensations & emotions are so much more powerfully felt when they’re given a tangible image? Neat. : )
3) I’m so glad to read from someone else how much they love Sara Bareilles! She’s got the just right mix of soulfulness, word imagery, and “bounce.” Plus, her latest album has been just perfect for setting the mood for my Pilates class participants!
Good job!
Thank you! Wish I could take your Pilates classes.
With you on an artists side, who could be against them? I going to have to check this album out!
God IS good, and i had no idea He was also in charge of Freshly Pressed – congrats
Haha! Maybe not Freshly Pressed, but I sure do try to let Him be in charge of me. Though is often so much easier said than done.
Her first album was epic, didn’t even know about another though! The song that pulls my heart the most at the moment although now over played is Adele — Someone like you.
Lovely post.
I had that on repeat for weeks! LOVE it, great taste!
Yeah some songs just stir your soul… congrats on being freshly pressed
Great post…now following you on twitter! Found you through freshly pressed
Yay! Following you back!
I’m aching to write a song, I think Sarah is a good model to follow!
abbylorenz grab some paper and a pen and write, write, write, whatever your heart tells you to. We are all meant to be creators, so you just create. And there will always be someone to listen to your words. I promise!
I love Sara Bareilles. She has amazing lyrics and such a wonderful voice. Great article!
Brilliant post!
A very unique post! Sara Barailles songs are lovely! I love playing them on the piano.
Congrats on Freshly Pressed!
I adore songs that speak to you. The Counting Crows are one of my personal favorites.and Sara has such gorgeous song lyrics.
Awesome post, I love the closing lyrics.
Loved it.
xD
lovelovelovelovelovelove!!!!
Your language is so strong to begin with, and the fact that its about sara barielles, just, wow. I am so glad I am not the only person in the world that listens deeper into her music. Reading this post even made my eyes water! My favorite lyrics in Gonna Get Over You are “I’ve got a thick tongue, brimming with the words that go unsung, I simmer then I burn for a someone, the wrong one.”
Thank you for this post! I subscribed!
xoxo-JM
oops i mean Bareilles. not barielles. haha
Thank you! I saw you reposted on your great blog, too.
Oh, such a good one. I love “Maybe is a vicious little word that can slay me. Keep me when I’m hurting and make me hang from your hands.” Gah!
It makes me wonder what her muse is. And I think that all of the lyrics to kaleidoscope heart are just incredible. AND I love how she puts “jumpstart my kaleidoscope heart, Love to watch the colors fade.” in Uncharted. Gah! haha
Adored your post. I aim to follow your blog. I hope you might stop by mine and spread the word. The more people I have reading the more likely my chance of doing this for a living.
Great post. Thanks for sharing!
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed and I love your blog! You’re now in my Google Reader and a new twitter follow…Much love!
Very, very well said! Thanks for sharing…. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed…
This is such a beautifully true piece! I agree with everything you said about her! Sara’s music and lyrics are amazing and they have helped me through a lot of rough times, just like Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift is to me, as Sara is to you (: Congrats on getting your piece on freshly pressed! I hope she sees it! True fans for the win! (:
I didn’t listen to her first cd in its entirety, but the 2nd is great. I love “Fairytale” — it’s so witty, and full of…well-thought-out poetry.
If you have never seen her live do so! She was amazing. Made you feel as if you were speaking to your best friend when in all reality she was connecting with the whole audience. Love her lyrics and her voice.
Loved your blog post today as well! I look forward to coming back.
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Just when I think I only like a couple of her songs, I realize “nope, I love them all.” She really does sing poetry & I just can’t get enough. In fact, I have to hold back from mentioning her music every Monday for my Music Mondays!
i couldn’t agree more. i appreciate a good artistic metaphor. somebody who can evoke feeling with words has a real gift. that pop bullsh*t that thrives on rhymey words and repetition and monotonous beats drives me crazy. thanks for sharing! you should check out bob schneiders work sometime…he’s a singer/songwriter but also a poet and artist. shares some of his work on his blog, http://www.stinkinghand.blogspot.com. some of it is very twisted and abstract, but some is really very beautiful.
http://www.icouldntmakethisshitup.wordpress.com
I love your blog, and congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you for the intriguing introduction .. now I must go find her… and hearty congrats on being Fresh Pressed
MJ
love her! (http://herumbrella.com)
Great post! I absolutely adore Sara’s music. I wore that cd out a couple years ago. I can relate to all the songs, and her voice is amazing. Congrats on being freshly pressed on wordpress.com. Cheers!
I don’t think that many people can write bout someone with so much passion !! very captivating !
Wonderfully written, I love her songs too!
Got the last copy at Target today! Love it love it. Thanks for the tip!
Oh I’m so so glad! Hope you enjoy as much as I do!
I am also a bit of a lyrics fiend and I LOVE her! Looking forward to getting round to buying her new album
I love your blog. Im waiting for the next one.
A new artist to add to the list, thanks for sharing! And congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
“So please be kind if i’m a mess”
My favorite by far.
i have to say, that i was impressed, I’m new to this and yours was the first blog i read.
I want to become a writer and I have a lot in my head I want to in front of a medium, your words were were so strong your emotion was exciting, you have a new fan.
please keep writing thank you
!!!!! wow wow!!!!
I really do agree with you; especially when you said songs with metaphors always get to you. I look out for them too, because they give a song so much more emotion, weight and detail that just plain words don’t. And to get through to the core of the song, you unpeel those metaphors. It’s like a journey of discovery and appreciation in itself. And yes, apart from the soothing and powerful voice and looks, Sara Bareilles songs get to me because of their lyrics. Thanks for this post!
Great songs of course are just like great poetry, emotion and a story. You tell it well.
NICE!
Real cute. reminds me of some of my own blogs. I am new so have just started uploading. It is uplifting that some people out there still express their feelings the old fashioned way. As I believe writing can express many feelings words fail. Brill post
Oh! I adore the Counting Crows too…”A Holiday in Spain”…loves! Nice blog:)
Oh yes, great song! Thanks for reading!!
your words are just so potent, I decided yo check her out now. wow. you, yourself is poetry. i’m inspired now..to write, to discover. thank you.
“Maybe nobody loved you when you were young”…so emancipating. wanna shout the wilder side of my vicious heart.
她写得很好，，
wow! the letter was soooo fine! i love metaphors on songs too
have you heard of maria mena and missy higgins’ songs? 
I envy such a relationship. I may just cut in, if you don’t mind, and take Sara for myself, so she can always remind me why we live and love in this mad world. I love her sense of self and position in the world. She’s such a stable human. Humans have flaws and she recognizes them. So, care to make your relationship with Sara a threesome? Because I love her as much as you do.
Really interesting post. I love Sara Bareilles. I have two albums from her: Little Voice and Kaleidoscope Heart, I’ve been listening to her music since Love Song began appearing. Cheers!
This is great! i love when music moves you! Its poetry, feeling. It’s not only catchy it has meaning
Lol I heard Gonna Get Over You in JCPennys today!! But I love Let The Rain!!! She’s probably incredible in concert!
this was perfect. i needed new music. i need poetry. oh – yay. thank you!
There’s something so compelling about Sara Barielles, so real. You clearly appreciate the power of words – glad you got Pressed!
love your blog:P
That’s really lovely
I love your blog!..I am not sure how I stumbled upon it…but I am glad I did!
really cool post..
I’ve never seen so much passion effectively expressed about music. I agree totally.
Great post! new subbie!
So sweet! very captivating ! haha~~~
words are a vibration of thoughts….wealth be yours to everyone!! I wish nothing but the best for everyone…
I’m in love with Sara and her songs too. Not much Machine Gun but the rest are really good. I have lots of favorites, Bluebird and Gravity are top notch for me. Great post
The music and the word are wonderful…
Greets
Maccabros
I enjoyed it! Nice one.. I love Sara B. music too….
This letter was probably long overdue. Sara is awesome. I am totally in love with her, too. Ever since Love Song came out. My all time favourite is King of Anything. But to be honest, if there’s a woman on a piano with a strong voice and brillant lyrics…there’s no choice but adore her. Great post, made me play her songs over and over again
This one’s really great
sweet!
Fabulous post! Glad I stumbled upon you!
Poor Patty Griffin, as much as I respect her as a singer, measuring her soul in miles…so sad. And the lyric about unfolding wings meaning “goodbye”…so sad. But these things don’t scare or worry me anymore cause I know real angels never leave the one they love, care for and watch over….EVER!!! For the not last time….”that’s what “forever” means”. Angels stay with us through all of our permutations, falls, recoveries…we never catch up with them, unless they allow us to seem to (another words: “visit us”). I enjoyed your piece…I feel the same way about heart felt lyrics that have passed the censorship of the soul…and we know intuitively when they have AND when they have not. I’m in love with an artist like that….every word she utters bears this stamp…and EVERYONE who’s ever heard her “knows it”…I’m craving her next album. She’s a very mature and magnificently beautiful woman/man man/woman or “angel”…I don’t worry about her leaving me anymore and I know there’s no rust on her lovely wings….where she flies is her business but I can’t deny I’ll miss her if I never see her in person again. Peace sister. God Bless You.
I like the way u composed it nd how u want to know wat goes on in her head.nice one
Lovely post! (:
love is life to all pea pols
Great post and Congrats on being Freshly Pressed you deserve it;)
loved it
Love this post so much
Great job on Freshly Pressed and thanks for the introduction to a new artist. Love discovering music. I adore Counting Crows’ lyrics as well. you just reminded me of going to their show ages ago. I almost forgot about that completely… Anyway time to go check out Sara Bareilles
Youve inspired me to go listen to her song one more time
She’s great! I saw her back in 2007 (before she got famous) where she opened for another small-time artists and fell in love with her music, her voice, and her relatability and ability to convey those experiences and emotions. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
I bet that was awesome! I saw her play about two years ago and would love to again!!
I have to agree with you completely, her songs are the ones that are sometimes unbearably close to home, and sometimes the only thing that can keep me going.
Exactly! You totally get it!!
This is so good, so beautifully written! I, too, love to pour myself into one’s album, relating it to whatever is going on in life at the moment. Thanks for sharing.
Love it!!
Love it, wating for more songs
Kimberly, there can never be enough love letters in the world, especially now. And you’re really good at writing them, maybe you should give song writing a go, if you don’t already? Great blog!
Thank you so much! I have written a little with musician friends in the past but I’m not musical so that’s definitely not my usual.
Some artists are just able to make music off heart strings, aren’t they? I’ve always found “Gravity” by Sarah Bareilles to be one of the most heart-wrenching tunes written in modern music. There’s a whole list of them that I’m forgetting at the moment, but I wanted to tell you I loved this post!
Music off heart strings, I love that! So true!
Uncharted is currently on repeat on my iPod (together with King of Anything).
Great post – written with so much love and admiration. Keep it up!
Met Sara last summer – your love letter of sorts says it all! Now following you on Twitter
I sort of love Sara Bareilles too! Her songs are lovely! I haven’t checked out all of her songs yet, but the ones I’ve heard so far are great!
Interesting post, Kimberly!
I listened to “King of Anything” after reading this, thanks for the inspiration!
Very nice….
Wonderful! It is great that you decided to share your post with the world wide web and it is obviously one that others can relate to. You might enjoy the band [if you haven't already checked them out] He is We I have their link on my page if you are interested in listening to them.
I post about love/relationships as well ^_^
http://pinataprincess.wordpress.com/
Take care!
~pinataprincess
It is as if you tore my heart out and wrote it in this blog! Music is a huge part of my life and when the music and lyrics are just right it’s sort of like a small glimpse of the way heaven must feel. The way you feel about The Counting Crows is the way I feel about Incubus! <3
Oh, I love Incubus too! Good call!!
We all can share our love. Ask the Holy Ghost in your Prayer. He sees beyond this moment. And he can help prepare us for our journey
Awesome post!!!
So sweet! I love it!
Kimberly,
I love how you describe the intimate relationship that you have with your music. So much mainstream feels shallow and sometimes doesn’t make the connection. But every once in a great while, a true artist will slip through the cracks and yet again fill me with hope that beautiful souls are still among us. (& thankfully so!!)
Lovely blog!
I’m aching to write a song, I think Sarah is a good model to follow!
Since I’ve switched to purchasing songs on iTunes, I haven’t heard a whole album in years. I heard a few songs on her Little Voice album and ended up buying all the songs (one of two albums I’ve got all of). I’ve already gotten a bunch on this new album and I can see myself getting the whole thing soon. There is something about her words that catch you. The emotions… I adore Come Round Soon and Between the Lines, they just get me.
“I know real angels never leave the one they love, care for and watch over….EVER!!! ”
“Angels stay with us through all of our permutations, falls, recoveries…”
–I hope the wing won’t worn and rusted，and never say goodbye.
this is exactly what in true lovers’ heart.
but i was sad when i heard her songs.
great writing, hope that i can also write great things like this. Been long since i’ve really done poems from my random thoughts. This will be my catalyst to start and continue what i really love to do… writing. Thanks
I love her music and could not agree more with you!
very cool.
I love.
visit: http://www.biadgb.wordpress.com
kimberly, I love this post. It made me love words again. Recently, i am totally captivated by Muse’s Starlight song. All the words bell on my ears that it feels like a zhair. Thanks for the saying words which most of us can’t.
Music is so powerful!
I love this post!
i still love letters until now…and this one is so nice. Keep it up.
Kimberly,
I am thrilled that I found your blog, as music lights me on fire also. If you like great lyrics, you might listen to Bob Schneider. We buy his albums and then my son and I play it over and over with the words in hand. And, if you have heard of him, and don’t like it, well that is cool too.
I will keep reading and look forwrad to the next one.
Kathy
I think we might be soul mates
Love the post, well written
Sara rocks…and so does your blog!!
Have a great day.
Mr. Bricks
This is a lovely post. You are a brilliant writer, your language is so powerful!
Thanks for sharing!
I love Sara Bareilles! For the past weeks, she’s been the only artist I’ve been listening and singing to!
So glad I found your blog and that you have been “pressed”, I will be back to read your thoughts often.
lovely post…loced the idea…and surely im going to be listening to some new songs now,the ones you mentioned
I am a Chinese. Nice to meet you .
Absolutely beautiful writing
Lovely blog
I wish someone would write me such a letter!
Awesome post.
Fantastic!!!
she does write such fantastic songs doesnt she?
This some good inspiration for musicians!
I love music myself and am planning to record my first single soon. Have been looking for someone to write me words for more songs, but it now looks like I can even do something myself! Thanks to your article!
reviewsquare.wordpress.com
Your love letter in so beautifully written. It’s the first I’ve read on WordPress, and I’m amazed. I, one day, wish to write one as beautiful as yours. I just wish I have a way with words, like you do.
Thanks for the posting. I’ll check it out. Cheers:)
Thank you for that sweetheart xo
Love it! This is how I feel about Amy Winehouse.
This was a lovely read! Keep being awesome!
I adore your passion for life, your love for music, and the ability to keep love so pure. Thank you for this inspiration. These days, it’s the little things that keeps me going.. thank you for lifting me up today
I also want to write you a love letter. A lot of people nowadays listen to music for the catchy melody, without stopping to realize that the lyrics are actually worthless, even disgusting sometimes. It’s good to know that there are people who still appreciate good music, and not bottle it up.
Thanks!
Thank you so much! And so clever, love it!
You know, I forgot all about my old Sara Bareilles CD. After reading your post, I’m determined to find it and then download her latest album. Thanks for restoring my love for her music!
Good taste, Sara Bareilles is an absolutely great artist! I really like her songs.
Its true sometimes some lyrics make home in your heart and refuse to move. It happens with me quite often. You wrote it amazingly.
I’ve never listen to Sara Bareilles but I’m sure I will after reading this post. As for the power of strong lyrics, I agree wholeheartedly with you. Some lyrics just…dig deep into your heart and just stay there…. It’s a wholly different feeling.
Congrats on being freshly pressed.
bookmarked cos i will be reading this again , thanks
Ah! I adore her! So very glad I found this post as not many of my friends love her music the same way I do. I was just sitting in my bathroom singing “Morningside” the day before yesterday
So nice to read a post from an appreciator of good music… love Sara, and love the Patty Griffin shout-out as well, she’s da bomb!
I will try her songs later.
Oh yes, absolutely, LOVE LOVE LOVE Sara and her amazing ways with words. She got me through the thick of a nasty relationship with her song, “Gravity.” Every time I hear it now the pain is fresh in my mind but a healed heart allows me to sing outloud with passion! Lovely post!
http://thediaryofsugarandspice.wordpress.com/
She’ a great singer. Nice post!!
Love the post and congrats on Freshly Pressed!!!
-Linda
Beautifly written. Thanks so much.
–Morgan
i love your love letter to her. i also enjoyed every song of her.
true that: it would be pointless of me to list favorites, as I might as well type most of every song.
She is truly a lyrical genius. I adore every one of her songs.
Lovely post =) It rings with me what you said about emotions in songs and its power it has over some of us suckers. Thanks for sharing.