music review: love is a four letter word

If I wasn’t already convinced before, Jason Mraz’s new album has convinced me that the man is surely an old soul. Every single song is filled with so much heart, and the words strike a chord that only genuine feelings can evoke. And, oh, how some of his words make me swoon.

Throughout the years I’ve had various friends who will know the entire melody to a song, but somehow don’t know a single word that the song consists of.

In my mind, listening to music without paying attention to the words is unthinkable.

Music, for me, is something that I feel, that resonates through me, and that I can relate to. It is what I cling to when I need uplifting, what makes me ridiculously giddy on days where I’m feeling on top of the world, and is something I can always rely on to remind me that I’m human.

I feel like every single song on Mraz’s new album serves to remind all of us of what’s important in this life: the people in our lives and our interactions with them. It sounds simple, really. Yet, he does it in such a way that makes it so that you can’t help but smile to yourself as you listen, because you’ve been there, or felt that; you know.

The mixture of slow and fast paced songs is balanced so that regardless of the mood you’re in, there is surely something on the album that is fitting. I do, however, find myself listening to a couple of songs a bit more than the others, so I’ll let you in on what I consider to be the gems of this album.

To start, his song ”Living in the Moment” has this upbeat catchy tune coupled with words that just make you thrilled to be living. Here is my favorite verse from the song:

“I’m letting myself off the hook for things I’ve done
I let my past go past
And now I’m having more fun
I’m letting go of the thoughts
That do not make me strong
And I believe this way can be the same for everyone.”

Now, the next song that I’m stuck on makes me smile every single time I give it a listen because it really is so very swoon worthy. It’s called “The Woman That I Love,” and this verse pulls on my heart strings every time:

“No, I don’t mean to change you
You’ve got it under control
You wake up each day different
Another reason for me to keep holdin’ on
I’m not attached to any way you’re showing up
I’m just gonna love you like the woman I love”

Whether this is the type of music you typically listen to or not, I urge you to give it a listen. I’m constantly surprising myself with new music discoveries that I never would have fathomed liking.

I think if you listen to this album with an open mind, you’ll be pleasantly surprised where it takes you.

So here’s to happy listening.

Take out those head phones, place them in your ears, and allow yourself to feel the words. Every. Single. One.