“Know that it isn’t right, but you could be my one and only.” What alt-pop artist Clairo (Claire Cottrill) is referencing is her attraction – her same-sex attraction. On her mature debut album, Immunity, she tackles a host of topics, including two songs that explore sexuality. The aforementioned quote hails from the first of the two songs, “Softly.” On “Softly,” Cottrill questions her feelings towards a particular, nameless girl before asserting at the end, “And I don’t care what they say / … Baby, I’m doing it differently.” That’s where our song at hand, the energetic “Sofia,” comes into play. Essentially, she atones for hiding sexuality by being overt about it and embracing it.
Who better to explain her intent with “Sofia” than Clairo herself, via tweet:
“‘Sofia’ is about my first ever crushes on women I saw in the media. People like Sofia Coppola, Sofia Vergara, etc. This was my way of making a celebratory song about this discovery while maintaining the cheesy/corny lyrics you’d normally find in songs where you profess your love.”
“Sofia,” hence, screams ‘liberation’: “Sofia, know that you and I / Shouldn’t feel like a crime.” Where Clairo was less confident on “Softly,” “Sofia” finds her happily expressing herself without any reservation… for the most part. The added wrinkle are the references she makes to societal perspectives on same-sex relationships, as well as, quote “internalized feelings of sexuality.” Wow! On the second verse, she sings, “Honey, I don’t want it to fade / There’s things that I know could get in the way / I don’t want to say goodbye / And I think that we could do it if we tried.” Far too often, the things mentioned by the artist make relationships difficult for members of the LGBTQ+ population. The big takeaways? Don’t be afraid to embrace who you, and don’t let society or those “internalized feelings of sexuality” hold you back from a potential meaningful, loving relationship.
You can learn more about Clairo here:
About The Curator - Brent Faulkner
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype (https://themusicalhype.com). When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event.
