Blog 6

The artist I chose to write about is Mitski. She is a singer and songwriter. I would write about some specific songs she has written. The songs I would use are from albums made in 2016, 2012, and 2014. The one specific song I am most certain about is from 2016 called, “Your Best American Girl.” I believe Mitski wrote this song with her experience in relationships where she didn’t feel “American” enough or white enough for her partner as a Japanese-American woman. The music video shows her getting fixed with makeup and hairspray wearing a nice suit while the male interest – the “all American boy” is in a dirty t-shirt. Despite the difference, she still is interested in him. A white woman suddenly intervenes and basically takes the white man away from Mitski and she’s left sad. This music video and song hold a lot of meaning, but the major thing it represents is people of color in relationships dating nonpeople of color, and how it can sometimes be very toxic or have racism embedded in it. Someone actually commented, “as someone who’s getting out of their ‘I wish I was white’ phase this is such an empowering song to hear thank you so much!” Which I think says a lot about being a young woman(man) of color in America, not even in dating just in general. 

I chose this song because I have always loved it and I knew there was such a deeper meaning behind it, so I think this paper would help me analyze it and enjoy the song more knowing its full meaning. Also- the meaning itself is something people may struggle with that is really unfortunate but really important to be talked about. My potential thesis statement would be – Mitski’s song “Your Best American Girl” attempts to expose the truth about race and how it can affect people’s relationships.”