Phonograph

Vlad Holiday's 'Phonograph' is a poignant exploration of nostalgia and the enduring nature of love. The song opens with a reference to a tune that sounds old, like a phonograph, immediately setting a nostalgic tone. This imagery evokes a sense of timelessness, suggesting that the love described in the song is both classic and enduring. The mention of hearing the melody every time the narrator sleeps indicates that these memories are deeply ingrained and ever-present in their mind.

The lyrics describe the relationship as a 'classic romance,' one that is intense and consuming, as evidenced by the lines 'We’ll get so high we never stand a chance.' This suggests a love that is so overwhelming and euphoric that it feels almost unsustainable. The repetition of 'over and over, over and over again' emphasizes the cyclical nature of the narrator's feelings, indicating a willingness to endure emotional highs and lows for the sake of this love.

However, there is also a sense of impermanence woven into the song. The line 'it’ll fade out like a worn out cassette' introduces the idea that, like old technology, even the most cherished things can become obsolete. This juxtaposition of timeless love with the inevitability of change adds a layer of melancholy to the song. The narrator's admission that they 'only breathe so that I breathe with you' underscores the depth of their emotional dependence, making the potential loss even more poignant. 'Phonograph' thus captures the bittersweet essence of a love that is both timeless and transient, filled with moments of joy and inevitable sorrow.