Michelle Branch’s Hotel Paper album is another platinum success which came and went. This album took a different turn in terms of songwriting. This album has a theme of independence and spirituality instead being filled with just love songs as her sophomore album from 2001 was. The romantic theme was not as stretched out on this album as it was on the previous album. A change in topics is what led to this album’s success. It also helped that the album was released during pop-punk’s rising success of the early 2000s. The pop market was at a high point.
Are You Happy Now? was a moderate hit which should have been as big of a hit as Everywhere was. The song had that loud pop flair and was perfect for fans of all ages to relate to.
The song begins with a girl telling her man not to walk away and treat as if their relationship was nothing. She knows it meant a lot to both her and him. Well she knows he’s a liar and he don’t care about her. She knows it's just no use when all his lies become his truths. So she doesn’t want him to act any differently. Verse 1 discusses this fairly well.
[Verse 1]
No, don't just walk away
Pretending everything's okay
And you don't care about me
And I know it's just no use
When all your lies become your truths
And I don't care
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
He lies so much that his lies become the truth. All this is because he’s never actually told the truth. She gave up on trying to win him back. She asks him if he is happy living his life without her in it. She finds this very unfair. When he left her, he left her with nothing.
Either way, she is through playing games. Done playing his game. She discovers that he’s not a good guy as he breaks her heart all over again. Verse 2 explains the tricks and games he’s played.
[Verse 2]
You took all there was to take
And left me with an empty plate
And you don't care about it, yeah
And I am giving up this game
And leaving you with all the blame
'Cause I don't care
The girl asks him at the end of the chorus at the very end fo this song two questions. Or have I been replaced Are you happy now?
One of These Days explores the mysteries of bus stations.
Michelle watched the bus station. She saw the bus pulling on through. She don't mind saying a part of her left with left. She tried being honest but that left her nowhere. Michelle didn't notice and didn't care. So one of these days she won't be afraid of staying with him. She hopes and prays. Waiting to find a way back to him. Wouldn't that be nice?
The mystery part of this song is her wondering what things would be if he were with her. Waiting to find a way back to him. Did Michelle ask for too much? Was she not deserving one second of his touch?
Tuesday Morning is a dark depressing spiritual song. The song takes place in a past memory of a Tuesday morning.
Michelle remembers stormy weather. The way the sky looks when it's cold. So unaware of the world. She was with someone. Content with walking. Michelle asks to be driven home tonight because she does not want to feel alone to night.
Michelle was finding out who that person was in the dark of that Tuesday morning. She took their picture while they were asleep and then paced around the room. If she had known then that these things happen, would they have happened with them?
The chorus at the very end has a spiritual vibe when they are trying to find each other.
[Chorus]
Tuesday morning
In the dark
We were finding out who we are
Tuesday morning
In the dark
We were finding out who we are (Who we are)
Whole wide world
Who we are
Who we are
Whole wide world
Who we are
Finding Your Way Back is a song about giving up. Everybody's got their reason for giving up. Michelle used to get away with so much. Now she can't get away. She even thought that it was simple. When everybody's got a reason, she feels like giving up. What if that says too much?
I rate this album 4/5****.
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