“I could be a pretty girl / I’ll wear a skirt for you”
Hearing this lyric in sixth grade walking to school was basically my alarm clock. Putting in headphones on my old blue iPod touch and going into a new chapter in my life. I remember finding this song on Youtube clicking around looking for another song to add to my playlist. Adding numerous songs from Lana Del Rey’s “Born To Die” album and Melanie Martinez’s “Cry Baby” album I wanted another song to dance to in which I stumbled onto Clairo.
Middle school was a bunch of ups and downs where you start to care what people think of you. Face acne appears, you start finding new friend groups, and maybe even crushes actually start to matter.
In a way, this is the beginning of life.
Seeing the change from elementary school was kind of scary. When you find out middle schoolers have a class for literally every single subject and teachers who were more on top of you when it came to turning in your homework.
There were other little things that changed from elementary school to middle school. Break wasn’t called “recess”; your name pin gets moved down to a warning after you talked too much about nothing to the girl next to you; going on field trips and being told to “walk at all times and keep hands feet to yourself.”
I discovered Clairo around the beginning of 2019 coming back from winter break in sixth grade right before my life turned upside down when COVID hit.
I like to think 2019 was just a moment in time that gave me stories I’ll pass down to my kids because of all the random things and eras.
The quirky vsco phases and colorful indie core that consisted of high saturation and contrast filters with inches of black eyeliner that led me here to this point.
Listening to Immunity was life-changing, singing to the lyrics that Clairo probably wrote in her bedroom just like every one of us and turning these little projects into an actual album.
Songs like “Bags” and “Sofia” were on repeat. “Sofia” brings you to a visual of what it’s like to be inside your head for too long while liking the same gender.
For many years, impressions were all I worried about in middle school. I was scared of what others would say about my preferences that ultimately didn’t matter.
Having a connection with lyrics that understood exactly what I was thinking got me through awkward talks with my friends and parents.
”Bags” on the other hand has a way to bring you in with the melody and tune clairo created. Crushes were a big thing in middle school, this song brings out the uncertainty and feelings I felt when I realized I did in fact like someone.
This song brings me back to when I was laying on my bed against my pillows blushing at the little things that person would do.
Being stuck at home with nothing to do and nowhere I could go because places were closed down, I would play this album back and forth.
Bored at home, getting tired of being alone I found Clairo as a way to help me express myself when I was feeling isolated. Going through change mentally and physically can be tough when you realize you’re doing it by yourself.
More than halfway through high school, you realize you’re having less and less time to worry about little things that don’t matter such as that pimple on my face, an outfit that doesn’t really match my shoes or even a random guy in the hallway. You’re at the point in your life where things become more serious.
I was summoned into the counseling office to talk about my graduation process, my counselor told me everything was on track. “There is no wiggle room,” my counselor told me. This opened my eyes and made me realize it really is time to start looking forward to my future.
With the SAT’s coming up, psat’s just passing, taking AP classes to get that boost, having conversations about colleges and getting asked “what are you doing” instead of “ what do you want to be when you grow up” had me thinking about where time has gone.
The lyrics Clairo puts in her songs makes you see her more as just a singer, more than just a role model. She is a girl just like me, finding a way in life and paving the way to be at a point in life where comfortability is key.
The lyrics make me feel as if she sees me the way I see myself like “Blouse” and “2 hold U” where she sings thoughts I’d only say in my mind.
Going through phases and events in my life that have changed me as a person realizing that I am not the same girl I was in sixth grade and neither is Clairo—when I first discovered her way back when and we both grew up together.
