Nate Ruessโs first solo album is a compilation of songs that focus solely on the subject of love, in one way or another. The album begins with the trackย โGrand Romantic (intro),’ which is short, sweet and a great startย of whatโs to come; an even better intro to the following song: โAhHa.’ โAhHaโ is the second single Nate released from the album and is,ย in some ways, a counterpart to the hit Fun. song, โSome Nights.’ ‘AhHa’ takes the following well known lyrics from โSome Nightsโย and puts a spin on the song:
โOh, itโs for the best you didnโt listen, Itโs for the best we get our distance (oh oh woah oh), Itโs for the best you didnโt listen, Itโs for the best we get our distanceโ
Nateย does this toย show that this is his solo album and preemptively dispels any potential comparisons to his solo work and the band Fun.
Towards the end of โAhHa,’ Nate Ruess is reflecting on his past decisions in a note to his mother, telling her thatย heโs ready to let out the โGrand Romanticโ thatโs been kept within himself. Again, this lyric is a breakaway from Fun. and foreshadows the following songs on the album.
โMom, I think theyโre trying to keep the grand romantic in me, Now that we got bottom lines, But mom, I think Iโm ready to free this grand romantic in meโ
The remaining 10 songs on the album follow the theme of a โGrand Romanticโ and tell a story from one song to the next. The third song on the album, โNothing Without Love,’ is the beginning to a failing love story, but one that may be worth the fight. He refers to both himself and their relationship as a sinking ship in a storm; a metaphor that can been seen in other songs throughout the album.
โThree years at sea after the storm, On this sinking ship that love had put me onโ
The fourth song on the album, โTake It Back,’ begins with yet another metaphor, comparing the love to two ships. This song tells the story of lovers drifting farther apart, and wanting to get back to where they were, but both are struggling with the task.
โWell we’re just two ships passing through the nightโ
โYou Light My Fireโ is the fifth song on the album and is a little more upbeat then the ones before it. This song is more about the reasonย a failing relationship is being held onto; even though the lovers may be drifting apart, their fear of being alone and the fighting might be the only thing holding them together.
The Sixth song on the album, โWhat This World Is Coming Toโ (featuring Beck), continues along the storyline ofย a failing relationship and shows a bit of the selfishness of holding onto something that has beenย taking a big toll on both sides. On one end, we see the female counterpart bruised and beaten down,ย yet on the other side,ย the male isย holding on because she has made him who he has become by being his inspiration and solace through some dark times.
โI watched as your wrist began to bruise, Threading ribbons, weaving patterns, Beautiful and blueโ
โYou know that I can’t stop thinkin’ ’bout you, You’re the source of everything I do, You brought faith to songs I sing, So I went and bought a diamond ring, I wanna spend each night here with you, Yeah you took everything I was, And you turned it into something I’ve becomeโ
Following โWhat This World Is Coming Toโ is the song, โGreat Big Storm.โ Here we see yet another comparison to the sinking ship in the storm.ย The song suggestsย the realization that maybe itโs time to let go because the fight has become unbearable on both sides, yet, neither is ready to cut the cord.
โBecause we’re holding our own in a great big storm, And though we’re cutting it close, We won’t let goโ
โMomentโ is the eight song on the album which brings theย part of the story where the relationship ends. Its sad for both ends, especially for our male character. It shows a realization that some things that may have appeared to have been right, have been wrong all along. This is a sad part of the story and may even show a bit of vulnerability from our male side.
โWell, I’m fine, I just need a moment of your time, To get all my things and let go, Well, Iโm fine, I just need a moment to say goodbyeโ
The next song on the album, โIt Only Gets Much Worse,’ starts with another metaphor to the storm and shows the regret to ending the relationship, along withย the potential outcomes of the future. This song is sad, slow and goes straight to the heart. Itโs beautiful and tragic, making it one of the best songs on the album.
โAnd no, I didn’t mean to let you go, I didn’t mean to bruise but I lost control, What didn’t mean a thing destroyed us bothโ
The tenth song on the album is โGrand Romantic,’ and again, it is a slow, tragic yet beautiful song. In this song, we hear our grand romanticโs pain and struggle since ending their love.
โAnd I, I just wanted you so bad, I don’t know where I’m going, don’t know who to trust anymoreโ
โHarsh Lightโ is the next song on the album and shows our male having a bit of fun at a bar by becoming very inebriated. In a way, this could be a song about him finding happiness again by going out and having fun, yet, it could also be a song about putting his pain into the bottom of a bottle.
โMy eyes are drained from the one that got away, So tonight I’m going out, tonight I’m gonna stay out, In walks eighty long boots, looking for a date, I would make the first move, but I’m too drunk to enunciateโ
The twelfth song on the album is entitled โBrightsideโ and is the last piece to this love story. We see our male character convincing himself that leaving was the right choice, yet at the same time, thinking thatย on โthe Brightside,โ maybe things could have worked out. The song is a perfect end to a wonderful album, and leaves us wondering what will become of the two loves weโve learned so much about.
โYou know, I think it says a lot, That I could wake myself up from this dream, Grab the things that are most dear to me, And although I could have loved you better, I had to get the fuck out of the bedโ
โOh God, I wish that I was on the bright side, These friends of mine could spend the whole night dreaming, While you’re holding me tight under the moonlight, Just you and me, babe, we’ll spend our whole lives singingโ
Overall, this album andย it’s story is truly a work of art. Itโs beautiful and tragic. Itโll bring you up and take you down.ย Thatโs what is so genius about it. Anyone can enjoy the songs Nate has created for us and anyone can feel the pain; maybe even the joy in each lyric. One can only hope that this is not a tragic love story that Nate Ruess himself has experienced, however, if this is true a true story, to the girl who broke his heart, we thank you.
