After 3 weeks of barely sleeping bc my dog was dealing with a health issue that kept us both up, I can finally reflect on the full impact of Still Life and the WeekofNastalgia that song inspired. One, I've never seen so many reaction YTers crying in reaction vids. Two, I've never cried over a song like that myself. Three, even if I didn't know BIGBANG the bittersweet, sad-but-hopeful farewell to the past that it was would have gotten me. It's a gorgeous song.
I think it's a song everyone who has aged out of their 'youth', no matter what that means to them, or has had to say goodbye to a major phase in their life, would find meaningful. It's so deep, so emotional, so beautiful. TOP's moment of turning to face the camera, mask off, after everything he went through, with the lyrics "For Life"-- I don't have words. What a powerful moment. BIGBANG are forever my favorite musical artists.
I reflected on my life more with this song in one week than I have in a long time. But it was good. I wonder how many of us move forward bc we have to but never give ourselves the time to really say goodbye.
I realized I've moved on from so many things, people, places, phases, even ideas about myself--good, bad, confusing, hard, sweet, wonderful, painful, tedious, exhausting, terrifying, minute moments of my life--but hadn't let myself mourn, reflect, remember, bury, or let go of once and for all. Still Life was a prompt to do so, and the soundtrack of that for me.
Goodbye to the past segments and themes of my life. It's a beautiful, haunting song. But it also felt like a new beginning.
I love BIGBANG's humility, I love their musicality, I love their lyrics and the passion for and maturity of their sense of music. What a group. Once in a generation. I hope so much we get more of their group music, but I can't wait for whatever they do. TOP's wine, potential record label, and first solo album are incredible endeavors I will fully support. I can't wait to hear a full album of his music, on his terms.
I recommend listening to Still Life if you have ever had to say goodbye or to move on. Or if you, like me, are standing on the edge of the rest of your life and are feeling all at once hopeful, sad, exhausted, finally excited, scared, but ready.
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