The Tortured Beauty of Longing | Like You Do | Joji


With his unique blend of melancholy lyrics and chill, lo-fi tunes, Joji also known as George Miller, has created a name for himself in the alternative pop and R&B scene. One of his standout tracks, "Like You Do" audibly captures a much more intimate and tortured side of the artist.
"Like You Do" is off Joji’s critically acclaimed album, "Nectar." This song uncovers the depths of pain of holding on to an unrequited love, and Joji’s execution of his message is nothing less than profound. Joji's masterly use of his music as a platform allows listeners to really empathize with the feelings he experiences.
The track starts off with a slow, elegant piano melody complemented by Joji’s earnest and somewhat tormented vocals. The lyrics "If you can't love me at my worst, You're not getting me at my best" demonstrate a raw and sincere exploration of his insecurities regarding love and acceptance. His words resonate, capturing the desperation and sadness one feels when love is only one-sided.
Throughout the song, Joji paints a hauntingly beautiful picture of unreciprocated affection and its accompanying heartache. He yearns for reciprocation as shown in the lyrics, "Darling, won't you stay? I don't want anyone else". The melancholic tone, combined with the powerful lyrics, make "Like You Do" a heart wrenching ballad that listeners can deeply relate to.
Joji's lyric "I can't stand these nights alone" most vividly depicts the cold, stinging loneliness that comes with unreturned love. These words carry immense emotional weight, and they provide a moving insight into the singer’s desperately yearning inner self.
However, despite the mournful theme, there is a bizarre beauty to this song. Such an oxymoron is a testament to Joji's musical genius: how he can convert the complexity of his feelings into a gripping melody, thereby taking his listeners on an emotional rollercoaster ride with him.
The ever-evolving music sphere provides us with an array of different sounds and genres, but it's the innate ability to connect with a listener on a deep, personal level that sets "Like You Do" apart. Joji, with his sincere, emotionally charged lyrics and melancholic arrangements, has successfully brought to life a song that encapsulates the profound pain of unrequited love like few others, and that is truly a remarkable achievement.
In a broader perspective, "Like You Do" demonstrates the power of music as a universal language capable of shifting emotions and creating connections. Undeniably, Joji’s creation powerfully proves that music not only transcends geographic boundaries but also effortlessly resonates with our shared human experiences - love, loss, and longing.
