Like Everybody Else
Lennon Stella
The Struggle for Authenticity in a World of Expectations
Lennon Stella's song "Like Everybody Else" delves into the emotional turmoil of feeling ordinary in a world that constantly demands exceptionalism. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of loneliness and the pressure to be better, which is a sentiment many can relate to. The opening lines, "Run fast, run away, run straight into the loneliness," set the tone for a narrative of escape and isolation. Stella reflects on missing out on social connections, symbolized by the night her friends got together without her, which underscores the pain of feeling left out and disconnected.
The chorus reveals a deeper internal conflict, where Stella grapples with the realization that she is not as unique as she once believed. The lines, "Been drilled in my head forever, be better, turns out I’m just like everybody else," highlight the societal pressure to stand out and the subsequent disillusionment when one realizes they are just another face in the crowd. This is further emphasized by her aversion to mirrors, which metaphorically represent self-reflection and the harsh truths it can reveal.
Stella's lyrics also touch on the superficiality of social settings, where appearances and status seem to matter more than genuine connections. The verse, "Everybody in this room is too hard, too pretty, I’m tired, I just wanna be nobody," captures the exhaustion of maintaining a facade and the desire to escape from societal expectations. Ultimately, the song is a poignant exploration of identity, self-worth, and the universal human experience of feeling ordinary despite the pressures to be extraordinary.