By Rosemary Derocher
In a word, “I Wanna Get Better” is anthemic. Bleachers, the side project of fun.’s Jack Antonoff, has created something not only shoutable and danceable, but also incredibly meaningful. I’ve known this since I heard it for the first time in February, and it was only affirmed when I saw Bleachers live this past Thursday (Sept. 4) at Webster Hall. They saved “I Wanna Get Better” for last, and it was the perfect closer. The crowd and the band were slightly weary from a brilliant (albeit tiring) show, but that only made the timing even better. “I Wanna Get Better” was made for those moments when you’re on the cusp of something and the moments where you need a push to get you going. It is three-and-a-half minutes supernaturally blessed with the ability to lift you up in a way that reaches out to you, rather than expecting you to meet it halfway.
There are literally millions of songs in this world that were written with the intention of helping someone feel better. A quick Spotify search finds playlists with titles like “Lighten Up, Man!” and “Mood Booster,” among others. If you are in a bad mood for no reason, or if a problem is bringing you down, any old up-beat music will probably work. “I Wanna Get Better,” on the other hand, digs deeper. It moves beyond “getting happy” or “lightening up” and into far more daunting territory: change.
The chorus isn’t about the moment where the sun comes out and everything is okay; it’s about the point where the storm has reached such a fever pitch that something needs to be done. Jack Antonoff is shouting, “I didn’t know I was broken ‘til I wanted to change” from the midst of his struggles rather than from some kind of “other side” where everything has been overcome, and that’s part of what makes the song so special. It’s an entire song about realizing that you can fight back when you’re stuck in a rut. If you want to get better, whether that entails opening yourself up more or leaving your room more or what have you, then it will most likely be hard. That doesn’t mean that you can’t give it your best shot. Putting your mind in the right place to move forward is more than half the battle – it’s practically the whole thing. “I Wanna Get Better” is an all-out raucous celebration of this moment, because it’s a moment that deserves it.
Musically, it’s the kind of song that drives me insane because it’s so simple (the song uses three chords almost the entire time) yet so perfect. I’ve been listening to it for almost two hours while writing this column, and still I can tell you that, when I finally finish it and get off my bed, it will make me dance with abandon. I will not suddenly become more aware of the world around me, nor will I be less afraid of the uncertainty in my life, but I’ll feel more confident in my ability to do something about these things I struggle with. And, that’s what Bleachers is going for.
Rosemary Derocher is a Culture Columnist for The Fordham Ram.
