MmmBop

So my flatmate left the television on this morning, and I was just about to reach over and turn it off, when the MmmBop video came on.

I sat down in front of the t.v., crosslegged, bowl of porridge in my hand forgotten, and was completely captivated. I don't know when the last time I saw this video was.... but it is adorable.

Little Zac with his braids and adrogynous Taylor in his adrogynous clothes and dorky Isaac.... too cute for words. It is a random montage of the boys playing in their living room, playing around on random blue screens, running around the beach, roller blading, and one random exceprt of them pretending to plant a flower (plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose).

I'm tempted to try and write out the lyrics from memory (yes, I had them memorised... once). In fact I've written out the first 7 lines, but seem to have forgotten the rest, though I would happily paraphrase.

You have so many relationships in this life
Only one or two really last
You go through all this pain and strife
You turn your back and they're gone so fast.

So hold on to the ones who really care
In the end they'll be the only ones there.
When you grow old and lose your hair...

As always, I am struck by how unfrivolous these lyrics are, despite the fact that the song itself is only remembered as a catchy nonsense tune ("mmmbop, what does that mean?!"). In fact, I can answer that question, it is a moment in time. They sing "in an mmmbop they're gone".... and in my interpretation that means "in the time it takes to say mmmbop they're gone"... but shorter.

But, I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again. As annoying and dumb as most people think the song is, the lyrics apply to my life.

Plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose.
You can plant any one of those
Keep planting until one of them grows
Which one will, no one knows

(again, quoted from memory and quite possibly paraphrased). Pertaining to relationships, which is what the song is about, I have always taken these lyrics to mean that any relationship might last, and you're not going to know which one it is. Case in point.... when I was hanging out at Eamon's a few weeks ago and we were being nostalgic. I turned to him and said "but you know, out of all those people, I really didn't expect to keep in contact with you". And he said "yeah, me too". And yet, he is the only one who I still talk to, who is still always there for me, who I give presents to at birthday/christmas time. If you had asked me then, in 1998, I would've said without hesitation "Elaine and Danni". Yet Elaine didn't even get in contact with me when I was in the USA to meet up, and Danni is married.... and I learnt that off facebook.

Anyway. I suppose I will re-read the lyrics and post them here.

You have so many relationships in this life
Only one or two will last
You're going through all this pain and strife
Then you turn your back and they're gone so fast
And they're gone so fast
So hold on the ones who really care
In the end they'll be the only ones there
When you get old and start losing your hair
Can you tell me who will still care
Can you tell me who will still care

Mmm bop.... etc.

Plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose
You can plant any one of those
Keep planting to find out which one grows
It's a secret no one knows
It's a secret no one knows

Mmmbop....etc.

In an mmm bop they're gone.
In an mmm bop they're not there.
In an mmm bop they're gone.
In an mmm bop they're not there.
Until you lose your hair. but you don't care.

(repeat chorus)

Can you tell me? you say you can but you don't know.
Can you tell me which flower's going to grow?
Can you tell me if it's going to be a daisy or a rose?
Can you tell me which flower's going to grow?
Can you tell me? you say you can but you don't know.