For as long as I remember, music has always had this effect of saving me from my emotions.
Some of my earliest memories were where I became aware of just how messed up things in the world are and how the supposed adults in my life, who were supposed to be in charge, were the very culprits who were the cause of me and my siblings' suffering on a daily basis, and that there was nothing I could do but to bite my lips until they bled. But music made it bearable.
Wish by Day Aches is such a song. It's perfection. It's the perfect song to get lost in. The song is also a perfect example of how and why I fell hard for shoegaze and its many various forms and sub-genres.
The song blends heavily sculpted guitars with ethereal vocals, paired with lyrics sung in a way that makes you feel emotional longing, like you're trapped in someone's grasp, yet you're nowhere near feeling complete. Hopelessness in the situation and the ever-pressing sense of grief.
So much is the situation that you just can't help but feel like running away, escaping from this sinking situation, never looking back. The future is uncertain, but it's better than whatever this is right now.
Yet even with all of these, you remain trapped in the situation. Because familiarity is comfort...no matter how hurtful it is, even pain can become a friend.
The video of the song is a mash-up of various scenes, most of which come from various anime. I have deep respect and admiration for anime. It bridges what's not possible in live-action media and spreads the wings of creativity.
Which leads me back to my opening statement. This song is perfection. And each time I listen to it, more than a year later, I can't help but be moved by its grandeur.
