Everybody Says I’m Beautiful
I’ve decided to procrastinate doing my taxes and instead make a new blog post with a new song, “Everybody Says I’m Beautiful.” Okay, so this song is arguably not related to the theme of hypochondria, but I have a strong inclination to include it in this piece. Why is that? Maybe it’s the final song of the piece — the grand finale (finalé?) — and I have to figure out how to get from the more obvious examples of hypochondria to this more-general body-image theme — looking in the mirror, seeing my body fall apart. Hmmm…. There must be a connection. What do you think?
The instruments in this song are: clarinet, percussion (tambourine, snare drum, triangle), piano, violin, and cello.
Everybody Says I’m Beautiful
Audio has been removed.
Download Score (PDF)
My hair is no longer blond
My lips are no longer red
And that totally breaks my heart
I’ve got almost no hair on my head
I look a little more dumb than smart
I’d almost rather be dead
Than watch my body fall apart
My mommy says I’m beautiful
My daddy says I’m beautiful
Well, everybody says I’m beautiful
What a sight I am to behold
I couldn’t look any queerer
The end is ever nearer
I’m getting older
Every time I look in the mirror
My mommy says I’m beautiful
My daddy says I’m beautiful
Well, everybody says I’m beautiful
My boyfriend says
My girlfriend says
Everybody says
Corey – I’ve just listened to all the songs in the order that you sent me, and it seems to me that this man, the singer, is singing various songs to different people in his life. His lover (the doctor?), parents, siblings, and various versions of himself. Perhaps even moving through time (songs to family when one is young, then songs to a lover, then a different kind of a song to a parent, from an older perspective). It’s a tremendously lonely series of songs (I’ve always thought hypochondria a particularly lonely affliction – it’s just you and your betraying body); I feel that instead of the songs moving him closer to these people, it isolates him further. I don’t mean that a narrative should be imposed on top of the peice, but when I hit this last one, I thought: Of course! He is finally all by himself now, and this is a song to comfort him, alone in his room.
Corey replies: Hi, Emma. I think you’ve noticed something that is evident but not obvious, if that makes sense. I’m not sure that “Everybody Says I’m Beautiful” will be the final song, though. I suppose it could be. I’m working on one right now that might be the final song, but I’m not sure it’s going to work, so I might abandon it. If “Everybody Says…” is not the final song, what do you think the trajectory might be from there?
It seems out of place in this cycle.
Like, I think there’s already a kind of hidden structure emerging in these songs: on the one hand, the speaker narrating his medical and family history (12 Yr Old Scotch, Ritalin, What Will It Be), and on the other hand, describing his present conditions, neuroses and concerns (Deep Down Inside, Sometimes a Migraine, etc). I feel like you’d be getting too conceptually diffuse if you start venturing into more general issues of body image.
I think this song ties in with the rest of the work only insofar as they both have to do with your Grand Themes of insecurity and alienation. My vote is (are we voting? We’re not voting), save this song for another collection.
Corey replies: Thanks, Dan. This is helpful to hear that you feel there is a structure emerging. Perhaps this song will be saved for an encore. I have a special wish to end by spraying my bald head with hairspray.
I like this song very much!
Corey replies: Thanks, Steven!