Never Aphrodite

by @orinthebard

Never Aphrodite
orinthebard
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Liner Notes

For the #oraclechallenge in the forums. I got this card.

[...]

Probably one of the more personal songs I'm going to post this FAWM. I spent SO much time changing the key because I don't know what my range is anymore. I think it will take some voice training for me to have full power in my range again.

#trans #acousticonetake #baritoneukulele

Lyrics

I've never been an Aphrodite
Never wanted to be
The mirror girl was someone
I did not know how to be
Every other year I'd cut my hair
Cuz it felt like a lie
And every other other year
I’d grow it one more time

And I always felt ugly
To be honest, I still do

Cuz I’ve never been an Ares
I don't know how to be
I don't wanna live at the gym
Or count protein calories
I'm more like Haephestus
With my body in pain
But I'll work at my craft
All through the night
Into the day

It's okay to be ugly
But then people don't think you're real
They don't want to know about your inner life
Or how you feel
It's okay to be ugly
Just take a look at me

I'll never be an Aphrodite
And you can't make me be
You can take away my hormones
Or deny me surgery
But I'll never be an Aphrodite
Ask middle school me
The bullies call you a man
Til you say you wanna be

I don't mind being ugly
Long as you know that I'm real
Conceptualize that I'm a human being
And I feel
It's okay to be ugly
Come be ugly with me

I’ve never been an Aphrodite
I’ll never be an Ares

I'll never be an Aphrodite

Comments

[avatar]
@leslie333
This is a wonderful song. Profound lyrics beautifully sung.
[avatar]
@nicooolegrace
this is so real, thanks for your vulnerability... beautiful genuine song, i'm always deeply appreciative of music that's born from a place like this. lovely singing and playing too <3
[avatar]
@karan
I wish this song could melt all the un-empathic hearts out there!
You have forged a profound statement of beauty and authenticity. Thank you!
[avatar]
@willow1
The breathlessness in the recording when you sing ‘feel’ a few times is truly something for my ears and heart.

“ They don't want to know about your inner life
Or how you feel”

I find this song beautiful and courageous.
[avatar]
@wurzelfrau
God this is already one of my favourites this year. I love this on so many levels. And all the love for the Hephaestus lines <3
[avatar]
@tawny249
I think my favorite thing about this song (and there's a lot to appreciate) is the little trills in your voice at the ends of certain lines. They're so genuinely emotional, and I wanted to highlight how cool your voice is. You may not be used to it yet, but the lower key sounded great for you.

By the way, I'm cis and I still really really relate to a lot of this song. I've never been an Aphrodite either...and Hephaestus sounds about accurate to me as a comparable mythic figure, at least in terms of chronic pain and creative energy. So, kudos for writing something specific and broadly relatable at the same time. ❤️
[avatar]
@yam655
You've got a real tear-jerker here. Well done.

I like to think that there's a costume that looks best on everyone. The person who looks best as the well-muscled fighter wouldn't look nearly as good in a cleric or wizard's robes. The rail-thin person may not be initially trusted to be a good chef or cook, where the stouter person may have no problems. Some people look great as everyone's idol and princess, and other people look great as the socially awkward witch.

If everyone has a costume they look best in, then it's just a matter of finding yours. Sometimes body modification is possible and helpful, but other times the goal needs tweaked. The key thing, though, is that everyone can be beautiful. Everyone. Not cookie-cutter and all the same, but all different shapes and sizes and abilities and roles.

I know that was a bit of a ramble. I seem to live in a world a bit different than most people. It's a world that seems far, far more beautiful than the world a lot of people live in. The thing is: If the perception of beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then it is a skill that can be improved.

Again, it's a lovely song and a real tear-jerker.
[avatar]
@writeandwrong
Wow, this is truly incredible! You've done an amazing job here. This is a topic that really deserves attention, and the way you've tied it together with the card you were given is nothing short of brilliant. The lines are perfectly crafted, seamlessly blending the prompt with your own creative spin. Masterful work! I hate bullies so this for the win! Thank you for participating in the challenge! 😄
[avatar]
@bradgates
Who cares what you look like when you can write, sing and play this well! Be who you are, not what you think other people think you should be.
[avatar]
@geekysoprano
"The bullies call you a man
Til you say you wanna be"
These lines hit hard, and are so true. Sending love and strength your way for all of the experiences you've captured here. Haephestus is such a powerful deity to reference as well -- here's to being true to yourself and seeing your strengths regardless of societal norms, while also holding the grief of the way that society causes so much harm for those of us who don't fit within its expectations.
[avatar]
@alyxanderjames
I see you, friend. 💜 You've captured something really beautiful and poignant and relatable here. Cheers to being real and not fitting into the visions society says we're supposed to fit!
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