Official髭男dism - Pretender

When I was in college, I really loved Official髭男dism's 'Pretender.' Even though I didn't understand Japanese at all, I kept playing it on repeat. Even now, when I hear it occasionally, I still think it's a great song. It was only later that I truly understood what this song was about. 'Pretender' is actually about a relationship where 'you like each other a lot, but you know you're not compatible.' It's not that the love faded, nor that someone did something wrong. It's about slowly realizing that some people, no matter how much you like them, you just can't end up with them. I think the hardest part of this song isn't the heartbreak itself, but rather that clear sense of helplessness. You know the other person is great, and you know you genuinely liked them, but in the end, you just have to accept, 'We might not be the destined two.' The melody sounds so upbeat, but the lyrics are saying goodbye to a relationship that had no future. Before, when I didn't understand Japanese, I just thought the melody was nice. Now, listening again, I realize some songs are strange— The song hasn't changed, but the more the listener experiences, the more stories it seems to hold.