Written by Marilù Ciabattoni
Discovered via Musosoup
Who has never felt unfit for a romantic commitment? I sure have.
Jewelia’s “No Lover” is an honest anti-love song that surely reflects the situation of many people right now. By anti-love song, I’m talking about the curious instance of not committing to a romantic relationship despite perhaps desiring one deeply.
“No, I don’t need a lover / Don’t need no games,” she sings in a very brillante, very high-pitched tone in the chorus that kick-starts the song. I believe that the lines, “I got a million issues / And you’re not one of them,” subtly hint at Jay Z’s notorious “99 Problems:” “I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one.” I also love that minor chord on the repetition, “I got a million,” which ends the chorus on a cliffhanger.
Unlike the first verse, the second one allows us to breathe with slower rhythms before starting again at full blast. I love the addition of the filtered “one” after “I got a million,” which resolves the tension mentioned previously. It’s a tiny detail but I think it adds a resolution to the chorus, apart from being rather unexpected.
The bubbly production of the song strongly contrasts with its lyrics: it’s like we’re listening to the artist fall in love instead of rejecting love. The line, “I don’t need a lover, I need a friend,” is so relatable that I might almost believe it’s sincere, while it’s actually not. Listening to the lyrics, we feel like we’re in the artist’s head, going through her doubts, dilemmas and insecurities. Overall, “No Lover” is an enjoyable pop anthem to sing along to.
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