Brooklyn Michelle - Grief (Video)

Before we get into this, I would like to sincerely apologize to Brooklyn on behalf of the entire team for not getting this to her sooner. I haven’t dreaded writing a review more than this one, as I’ve genuinely avoided it since its release & not because it’s a bad record, it’s just that devastating from an emotional standpoint but that only speaks to the power it holds. When Brooklyn first sent me this record 3 years ago, when it was still in its demo stages, my grief over losing my father was still relatively fresh, as was hers. Flash forward to now & it still has the same impact it had on me then. In those three painful years it took for her to finally be able to release this single, it’s a helluva way to get back to one of the many things she does best. We don’t have to dwell on the legalities that prevented its release, as I’m sure she’s just relieved to finally be able to move past it. She could’ve easily returned to music with another Pop hit like “Retail Therapy” or “Coulda Shoulda Woulda”, “They Don’t Get It”, etc etc but instead, she took a risk in releasing some of her most personal work to date & you just have to appreciate it.

I feel a lot of people tend to forget that artists are human beings as well. Sure, we put them on a pedestal but records like this, should remind you that they’re still on a level playing field with the rest of us, they still experience a lot of the same things we do. I’m not sure if this was intentional but we’ll start with the cover art. You remember how she used her own painting of herself for her last EP “Facade”? Well I find it brilliant that she did the same for this single but drained out the color. If you don’t know, it’s an art piece she created which coincided with her channeling her grief through her musicality. I feel that portrait alone represents her finally willing to face all the complicated emotions surrounding her “Grief” instead of the distractions she indulged in prior but if you ask her, she’ll tell you it holds even more meaning that honestly, only she can explain. 

Next we’ll get into her production on this record, which just further reinforces the feeling of all the noisiness of the fun being drowned out, as you can only distract yourself for so long cause at some point, you’re gonna have to be alone with yourself, with nothing more to do, which is usually when it rears its ugly head. The violins off rip just yank you by the heartstrings & submerge you into the water with her. I’m not too privy on precisely what instruments are being used but I assume its drums after that which lead us into the record. Each hit indicative of a step closer into the ocean you see in the video & I don’t mean that to be grim by any means but with everything she’s had to endure these past few years, I wouldn’t blame her for having any ideations. When the chorus comes in though & the productions swells up & those emotional vocals of hers surge through like an artesian well, you can’t tell me you don’t feel as if though she’s gasping for air. It’s a definite cry for help if I’ve ever heard one. 

Brooklyn’s lyricism throughout this record just feels like she’s sinking within as she watches the “ships in the night” slowly & painfully drift from out her reach, not a lifeline in sight. All of us at some point have or will experience grief & loss but it’s different when you not only lose a parent but when you lose one you had a complicated & damn near non existent relationship with. I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy & I’m certain everything that preceded his death, which she touches on in the second verse, she wouldn’t wish that on hers either. It damn near almost derailed her entire life & career. Her father is not the only person she’s lost though & I love that she was brave enough to touch on all of it, from friends to former lovers, I mean, that’s a lot to ask one person to carry for the rest of their lives. I love that she even briefly touches on her addictions when she sings those opening lyrics as well. Time is so precious & as an addict myself, I too tend to reminisce on how much easier life was when we were just wasting it away. It’s funny how aware of our own mortality humans are yet we do a pretty good job of speeding that up. I can’t even blame her breaking her sobriety after experiencing back to back to back losses. Anyone who struggles with any addiction understands how difficult it is to not relapse whenever life shows you just how cruel & unfair it can truly be. It’s like it’s giving you an excuse to stay stuck in that cycle. 

Nobody is the same person after losing someone they held dear. You’d be amazed how many people exit your life when they realize this. They don’t understand that “Grief” & the depression it brings is not just feeling sad or having the blues, it’s not something you can just pretend isn’t there & switch off whenever people get uncomfortable with you as if they’re the ones who are experiencing it. They don’t get that, you can still grieve over everyone from parents who weren’t there to exes. You’re not just grieving the person, you’re grieving what could’ve been, as she belts out this sentiment in the second verse, which unfortunately is like she’s screaming into the void all the things she wish she would’ve said had she known their time here on Earth was limited. That’s typical of us though, to assume tomorrow is promised so we put off telling the people we love even something as simple yet powerful as “I love you.” but even if they can’t hear it, I like to believe that somehow they do know. I’m not a faithfully devout as she may be but maybe God heard her outside the church in the video & shared the message with his angels or maybe it’s all falling on deaf ears but regardless, I’m just grateful she was actually able to let it all out in the form of a painfully poignant yet gorgeously record that’ll surely help many people, as it has already helped me for sure. Music is truly all healing & records like this, make the fun records I mentioned before, feel all the more deserved. 

I’ll leave yall with this; Rest easy to the great Jacob Mundaca. I never had the privilege of meeting him personally but his legacy on our community will continue to live on through not just his own contributions but through artists like Brooklyn who are working diligently at keeping his spirit alive & forever immortalized through records like this. I actually have a funny story concerning the two of them that maybe I’ll share one day given her permission but until then, make sure you always have some tissues on deck whenever you decide to play this record.