About Being a Music Aficionado/Adele's Set Fire to the Rain

Most of the people around me know that I am a certified music aficionado. I just can’t live without music. You won’t see me going out without my iPod and earphones in my pocket. It brings meaning to my boringly usual life. Aside from my peculiar inclination to music, it is my ability to sing that gives it an extra flavor. Singing has been my outward expression of letting things emancipate from within me whenever I find spoken words too limited. It has been my refuge whenever I’m at my most vulnerable; My source of hope whenever I feel so despondent; and my cohort whenever I feel extremely alone.

One thing I love about music is its ability to invoke memories. It may not be so much of being mushy and overly nostalgic, but a simple demonstration of how our brain associates information so that recollections are like chains strongly wrap around each other- thus securing the integrity of our long-term memories, is something that makes it more sensible.

I’m quite sure many of us have had the experience of childhood memories flashing before our eyes whenever we chance to hear Ghost Fighter’s opening song, or more commonly, lovers lamenting over foiled promises of eternity upon hearing love songs, which even by their perfect symphonies could induce a flood of both happy and painful memories. Music has a way of returning us to the past. I think in a way or two, human beings are predisposed to be sentimental creatures. Although we may not be fond of revisiting long forgotten experiences, our brain always presents the forceful opportunity to do so.

So to further hit home with the point of being nostalgic, and mushy at that, here is the song which greatly reminds me of my most bittersweet memory to date- Falling in love for the first time and eventually having my heart blown into pieces in the end.

"Set Fire To The Rain"

I let it fall, my heart,
And as it fell you rose to claim it
It was dark and I was over
Until you kissed my lips and you saved me

My hands, they're strong
But my knees were far too weak
To stand in your arms
Without falling to your feet

But there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew.
All the things you'd say
They were never true, never true,
And the games you'd play
You would always win, always win.

[Chorus:]
But I set fire to the rain,
Watched it pour as I touched your face,
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name!

When I lay with you
I could stay there
Close my eyes
Feel you here forever
You and me together
Nothing is better

'Cause there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew,
All the things you'd say,
They were never true, never true,
And the games you'd play
You would always win, always win.

[Chorus:]
But I set fire to the rain,
Watched it pour as I touched your face,
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name!

I set fire to the rain
And I threw us into the flames
Where I felt something die
'Cause I knew that there was the last time, the last time!

Sometimes I wake up by the door,
That heart you caught must be waiting for you
Even now when we're already over
I can't help myself from looking for you.

[Chorus:]
I set fire to the rain,
Watched it pour as I touched your face,
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name

I set fire to the rain,
And I threw us into the flames
Where I felt something die
'Cause I knew that there was the last time, the last time, oh, oh!

Let it burn
Oh oh ohhhh
Let it burn
Oh oh ohhhh
Let it burn
Oh oh ohhhh

Set Fire to the Rain is the third single of the British Singer/Songwriter Adele ripped from her sophomore album 21. The song vividly describes the contradictory elements of a relationship and the impossibility of letting go. It could easily be depicted on the lyrics of the song, for example, in the lines ‘Even now when we’re already over, I can’t help myself from looking for you’ and ‘I set fire to the rain, and I threw us into the flames’.

The way I understand the song, it talks about abruptly ending something bad, something that you should have done a long time ago and then finally just pulling all your cards off the table and taking the power back to yourself. Ultimately, the song is a very emotional one because it's about how, despite her personal weaknesses in a relationship, and the power someone has/had over her, she was able to recognize that he was bad for her and was, ultimately, able to "set fire to" what was between them, burn it down, and push him out of her life for good.

This is some sort of a liberating song. Having the courage to detach from something you hold important, but at the same time, destructive for you is undoubtedly a long row to hoe. With well-crafted lyrics and Adele’s magnificent voice and mourning vocals, the song truly became a masterpiece, and at the same time, a panacea to those who were experiencing the similar dilemma. 

Set Fire to the Rain for me is so personal, and honestly there was a time that I really thought Adele had intentionally written this song for me. I have been in the same situation, wherein I deeply fell in love to someone whom I found so undeserving of my loving in the end. Getting rid of my love for this person was terribly hard, as hard as setting fire in the middle of a rainstorm, or lighting a candle over gushes of strong winds. The gnawing pain after the breakup has tormented me for months. I really thought I will not be able to escape such infinite hole of despair, but thanks to Adele’s album 21 (esp. track no.5). It really helped me hurdle such difficult tragedy.

But having experienced such a downfall, I began having reservations about forming an intimate relationship with somebody. The pain that I have experienced has dulled my heart. I had this epiphany that love is not worth the tears. I know it is not normal to feel this way, but I believe shooing love away as of the moment will enable me to appreciate much greater things that life has to offer.

                     "Even now when we're already over, I can't help myself from looking for you"