There's a moment in Will Wood's "I / Me / Myself" where the lyrics paint a picture so vivid, it feels like a whispered confession. "I've been feeling lightheaded / Since I lost enough weight to fit back in my skin," he sings, and immediately, you're drawn into a deeply personal space. It’s not just about physical change, but the internal reckoning that often accompanies it. The song, particularly the "2024 Edit" featured on "The New Normal!" album, delves into the complex, often contradictory nature of identity.
Wood has a knack for taking these profound, sometimes unsettling, explorations of self and wrapping them in melodies that are both catchy and disarming. He talks about "flower petals and feathers" tethering him, a beautiful, almost whimsical image, juxtaposed with the starkness of "formaldehyde" in his tea for his "feminine side." It’s this blend of the poetic and the clinical, the light and the dark, that makes his work so compelling. You can almost feel the internal tug-of-war as he questions, "While I whittle my bones until I'm brittle, am I pretty now?"
What resonates so strongly is the raw vulnerability. The lines, "For some reason I find myself lost in what you think of me / And too confused to choose who I should be," speak to a universal struggle. We’ve all been there, haven't we? Trying to navigate external expectations while figuring out our own internal compass. The recurring wish, "I wish I could be a girl, and that way you'd wish I could be your girlfriend, boyfriend," isn't just a simple statement; it’s a complex expression of desire for acceptance, for a specific kind of connection, and perhaps, for a different way of being perceived.
Interestingly, the "2024 Edit" also introduces a shift: "I've been feeling lighthearted since I gained enough weight back to c-c-c-c-cover my bones." This isn't a simple reversal, but a continuation of the journey, showing that self-discovery isn't a destination, but an ongoing process. The song acknowledges the internal conflict, the "contention between myself / And this body that they stuck me in," and the societal pressures, like "the privilege of being born to be a man." It’s a candid look at the layers of identity, societal roles, and personal desires that shape who we are, or who we aspire to be.
With a BPM of 171, the music itself often carries an energetic, almost frantic pulse, mirroring the internal turmoil and rapid shifts in thought and feeling. Yet, the melodicness and valence of the track allow for moments of introspection amidst the energy. It’s a sonic landscape that perfectly complements the lyrical journey, inviting listeners to not just hear the words, but to feel the emotional weight and complexity behind them. "I / Me / Myself" is more than just a song; it's an invitation to reflect on our own multifaceted selves.
