As we begin the fall semester and Michigan gets colder, it is a good time to snuggle up in a nostalgic blanket and return to our roots. For some of us that may include those early 2000s hip hop anthems, for others, it might consist of the days of being bad at eyeliner but having a good taste in music. 

One of the highlights of that era is Mayday Parade, and it is impossible to forget about the staple “A Lesson in Romantics.” 

Album Highlights

“Black Cat” 

Starting with an underrated one, this song is very unique in the department of lyrics. Most “emo” songs of the 2000s usually have something to do with being sad, heartbroken, in love, or all three simultaneously. This one is telling some sort of story in the form of a song about heartbreak. That is not where the fascination with this song ends. 

A guitar solo towards the end of the song drives this gem home. If you need any reason to listen to this song, this guitar solo, and the lyricism is the reasons.

“Jersey” 

It is nearly impossible to not talk about this 2007 masterpiece without mentioning the reason I got into this band in the first place. Aside from the personal connection, I love the lyrics that are hard to forget. Even though they are the most stereotypical lyrics of the time, they are undeniably some of the most iconic. For example:

“I’ll be fine, I swear. I’m just gone beyond repair.”

I don’t think anything else needs to be said beyond that. 

Musically, it is very earwormy. It is one of those songs that if you do not finish listening to the song back to front, it will be stuck in your head until you do. There is a reason that this is one of their more well-known songs.

“I’d Hate To Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About”

Mayday Parade is known for their complex lyricism, but at the end of the day, this song takes the cake. In summary, this song is about someone in a relationship trying to move on from a wrong that their partner had done in the past, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to forget about it. This does not necessarily have to be about a romantic relationship, making it stand out from the other tracks.  

This song, musically, is what drives the feelings in the song home. The booming guitars and the pure emotion behind the vocals are what make people’s eyes prickle with tears. 

Overview

Mayday Parade sure knows how to write an iconic record, and this will be on repeat for years to come.

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