Jesse Jo Stark
Home.
Granted, it could be construed as a noir or, if you’re rude, creepy home. But when I first heard Jesse Jo Stark’s song Deadly Doll, it reminded me of home.
That was back in 2017.
Now Stark has returned with Lady Bird (2019) and I’m home again.
Spoiler Alert: As you’d expect, this critique reveals the song.
Plot
Deadly Doll
It was the lyrics to the second verse that really caught my attention.
Baby’s gone mad
Driving round and
Faded in June
Drunked out on doom
Granted that a top-level listening to the lyrics brings the obvious conclusion that this song is about a woman’s heart being broken by someone. Or something.
After the 50th listening, that Something could very well be what this song is about: Home.
As of March 2020 we’ve all spent enough time in our homes that this may be an obvious conclusion. But back in 2017, it took some time to find the story. And time is what you want to spend with Deadly Doll.
With our shared mad rooms that haven’t witnessed a proper cleaning in ages. Faded paint. And that drunken-out doom on a cold spring day.
Am I reaching for my home metaphor? Take a listen or 50 for yourself and see if Stark’s song doesn’t remind you of your home.
Lady Bird
I’d love to kill you, but you look like an angel still
Street lights up our faces, winding down the hill
We’re back in our mad room at home and after two years, it wants to kill us. It’s a bit like the Overlook Hotel trying to kill Wendy by channeling Jack Torrance.
You said “I love you, please, I’m completely fucked if you kick me out”
That doesn’t matter to me, I’m trying to get well
I won’t let your love drive me straight to hell
If you kick me out.
Yes, the you could be a person. But dig deeper, and the You becomes the same Something from Deadly Doll.
Although in Lady Bird, there’s some resistance from the protagonist–let’s call her Wendy.
“…trying to get well.”
“I won’t let…”
Wendy is growing. Further proof of her willingness to feel worse in exchange for her home feeling better.
We’re too big for love
I love you to feel better, but now I feel worse
Maybe there’s hope for our home even if it means giving up on ourselves.
Directing
While Stark has a co-conspirator for Lady Bird in the form of Thomas Hunter, she clearly remains in the driver’s seat.
Sparkly Stuff
The huge sonic feel of Deadly Doll gives way to the intimate feel of just vocals and piano for Lady Bird. Paradoxically, Lady Bird almost certainly took more work to record because with the simple arrangement, there’s no place for Stark to hide her vocals.
While both songs have a different sonic feel, great care was clearly taken during the recording, mixing, and mastering process.
Ending
There’s hope for our protagonist and our antagonist. The question for both Stark and our home: Does her California dream grow lighter or does it continue along in the dark.
Real Cole Johnston Score
4 Star out of 5. As good as these two songs are, Stark is just getting started. I can’t wait for her next EP.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez