I totally agree that this version of How You Get The Girl feels very different from the album and the tour one! Associating it with the perspective of the guy is such an interesting thought, I have to let that sink in a bit.
I hear it differently; to me, it sounds still somewhat emotionally attached, but also sarcastic, wry, a little sad a little mad a little jaded but not broken or vengeful, like post-divorce mimosa brunch with the girls, like, one more look back before moving on. Like, "yes, bravo, that's how you got me, saying all these things when actually, you were still the exact same person who will never follow through, saying all these things that I actually did feel, and actually did mean."
It also makes me think of how in the vault songs, one theme is him not saying he is in love, and how big of a deal that was to her. So not to get too parasocial and biographical, but, I kind of think that to me, if I'd been involved in an on/off thing with a guy who's always withholding, and then later he did this, I'd be glad of it even if it didn't stick because at least I'd be done waiting.
faoat
2025-06-01 10:37:02 +0000 UTC
You should read the letter on her website about her owning her life’s work.