‘Twenty-Two Parade’ is a song about the reality of growing up, by Brighton based pop artist Tabi Gervis. With funk jazz sounds, pop lyrics and bright video you would expect a song filled with optimism, right?
Well, you get that to an extent. The song definitely highlights remaining hopeful and and pursuing what you want, but in the midst of all the upbeat lyrics and fun visuals there is doubt. Doubt about it not working out, about choosing the wrong path in the years that are supposed to be your best. There is an expectation in society for everyone to know exactly where we should be heading, to have a plan in place but this is unrealistic. You cant predict every derail, every challenge you might face or how you will deal with it and ‘Twenty-Two Parade’ is a song that reminds us we are not alone in not having everything figure out. And this lyrics is my favourite:
“I don’t know, where I will go. But I hope there’s signs”
It is a lot easier when a decision is made for you, which is why being a kid was so much simpler! Even though at that time we wished all the decision making was up to us, but those kid versions of us can be forgiven. They didn’t know what was coming! Now that we are left to our own devices, we look for signs to guide us in the right direction. Even if we sometimes miss the right ones.
For Tabi this song is about devoting to music whilst not knowing if it will work out.
“‘Twenty-Two Parade’ came from waking up each day, going to work and putting my heart and soul into my music ‘Hoping for the next big thing’ to come around the corner and help me on my way but still with that voice in the back of my mind saying ‘maybe it WILL never happen.”
I think I am free to say that quiet a few of us creatives feel like this at the moment.
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