MAR 28
KELLEY COLE - "TWENTY SOMETHING TEENAGER" | REVIEW
BY LUNA CARDOSO
With Twenty-Something Teenager, a song beautifully conveying the melancholy experience of growing up too quickly, Nashville-based indie musician Kelley Cole takes center stage. Cole delivered a song that appeals to anybody torn between adult responsibilities and youthful fantasies by fusing the anger of pop-punk with the grounded storytelling of country.
The song's lyrics juxtapose the stresses of maturity with the purity of youth. Lines like "When did playing in the park turn into drinking in the bar?" and "When did I put away my dolls, my bright pink overalls?" describe the instant when pressures to grow up fast replace the happy days. The chorus erupts with an intense energy, demanding: "I want, I want, I want it back." While the verses are gentle and sentimental, overflowing with childhood memories.
The song, however, is a refusal to let go of the wonder of youth rather than simply reflecting on the past. "When did looking in the mirror turn into my biggest fear?" and "When did growing older turn to growing colder?" are two of the most moving phrases.—realizing how adulthood and self-doubt can drain us. But instead of sinking into melancholy, Cole delivers these lines with a mixture of defiance and longing, making them a call to action for anybody who still wants to believe in the wonder of youth.
Kelley Cole has created an incredibly relatable anthem with Twenty-Something Teenager that addresses the conflict between reality and nostalgia. This song is for anyone who, while dealing with the obligations of adulthood, still wants to paint their nails, have sleepovers, and feel like a princess. This song, which is sincere, emotional, and refreshingly honest, demonstrates that growing up does not require us to abandon our younger selves.
