“mercury in retrograde” by Baula – A Song Feature

 

     Baula, a Swedish/Icelandic duo, may not garner as much attention as Avril Lavigne or Sturgill Simpson, but they unquestionably claim the top spot in our ranking of the surprisingly large number of songs with the title "Mercury in Retrograde" (only Baula shuns the use of capital letters in the title). Mercury in retrograde refers to the optical illusion in which the planet appears to move backward in its orbit when observed from Earth.
 
     In astrology, Mercury is identified as the planet of communication and internal monologue. Baula's explanation of “mercury in retrograde” is fitting:
   “The song dives into the psyche of a person so lonely and desperate for community that they are led into the jaws of extremism. Something that is equally frightening and sad.”
 
     The lyrics of the song are included in this post. The chorus advises: “You never wanna feel alone  // You’re never gonna be alright // You never wanna feel alone // Nothing seems right.”
 
     The members of Baula are Karolina Thunberg and Ísak Ásgeirsson. They released their debut EP, “Drought,” in 2019. The album is characterized by its somber tones of Nordic melancholy. In contrast, “mercury in retrograde” hits the ground running with invigorating power percussion by Ásgeirsson. The alluring vocals from Thunberg soon join, and the song never relents. Around the 1:13 mark, a more relaxed synth enters, but the drumming continues to drive the song at a frenetic pace. There is a darkness to “mercury in retrograde,” but the vehicle isn’t careful as it maneuvers through that darkness.
 
     The duo is heading toward the release of an album. According to the Baula website, the album will be “an exploration of inner destruction and how it can manifest, in relation to oneself, to one’s loved ones, and to complete strangers.”
 
     “mercury in retrograde” by Baula

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baulatheband
Website: https://baula.se/

“mercury in retrograde” by Baula
Living fast, dying slow
Reading up, all alone
Everything makes sense
This will not end well
 
On the screen, in your mind
Overwhelm, modify
Words that somehow devastate
Steadily unmake
 
You never wanna feel alone
You’re never gonna be alright
You never wanna feel alone
Nothing seems right
You never wanna feel alone
There’s never anyone around
You never wanna feel alone
Nothing seems right
 
Living life in total silence
 
In a daze, on repeat
You devise, and commit
Speech is silver, silence gold
So the thoughts take hold
All the same, out of time
Resolute, electrified
Mercury in retrograde
It cannot end well
 
You never wanna feel alone
You’re never gonna be alright
You never wanna feel alone
Nothing seems right

You never wanna feel alone
There’s never anyone around
You never wanna feel alone
Nothing seems right

You never wanna feel alone
You’re never gonna be alright
You never wanna feel alone
Nothing seems right

You never wanna feel alone
There’s never anyone around
You never wanna feel alone