Paprika

### Next

"**Paprika**" is a song by the band Japanese Breakfast from the album *Jubilee*, it was released on June 4th 2021.

## Background

Paprika is the opening track from the album Jubilee and also served as the 4th single for the album. Michelle describes the song as *"the perfect thesis statement for the record"* due to it's large, over-the-top production.

Paprika was written during a trip to the Poconos in September 2019, on the same day she wrote Posing For Cars, after Michelle Zauner took mushrooms to unlock some writers block and had "really vivid dream about having a really long braid that came unraveled." Michelle named the song Paprika after the 2006 Japanese film *Paprika* by Satoshi Koi, since the song reminded her of the song 'Parade' from the film.

On May 21st 2022 Japanese Breakfast performed the song live on SNL alongside Be Sweet. 11 days later on June 1st 2022, a live performance of the song was featured in Hulu's AAPI Heritage Special.

## Song Credits

### Writing and Production

* **Written by:** Michelle Zauner
* **Produced by:** Michelle Zauner & Craig Hendrix

### Instrumentation

* **Vocals:** Michelle Zauner
* **Bass:** Craig Hendrix
* **Percussion:** Michelle Zauner & Craig Hendrix
* **Drums:** Craig Hendrix
* **Synthesizers:** Michelle Zauner & Craig Hendrix

* **String Arrangements:** Michelle Zauner & Craig Hendrix
* **Violin:** Molly Germer
* **Viola:** Veronica Jurkiewicz
* **Cello:** Carolina Diazgranados

* **Horn Arrangements:** Michelle Zauner & Craig Hendrix
* **Saxophone:** Adam Schatz
* **Trumpet:** Aaron Rockers
* **Trombone:** Adam Dotson

### Technical

* **Engineering:** Craig Hendrix
* **Additional Engineering:** Alex Santilli & Eric Bogacz
* **Mixing:** Jorge Elbrecht
* **Mastering:** Heba Kadry

## Lyrics

**Verse 1**

Lucidity came slowly

I awoke from dreams of untying a great knot

It unraveled like a braid into what seemed were thousands

Of separate strands of fishing line

Attached to coarse behavior, it flowed

A calm it urged, what else is here?

**Chorus**

How's it feel to be at the center of magic

To linger in tones and words?

I opened the floodgates and found

No water, no current, no river, no rush

How's it feel to stand at the height of your powers

To captivate every heart?

Projеcting your visions to strangers

Who feel it, who listen to linger on еvery word

**Refrain**

Oh, it's a rush

Oh, it's a rush

**Interlude**

But alone, it feels like dying

All alone, I feel so much

**Verse 2**

I want my offering to woo, to calm, to clear, to solve

But the only offering that comes

It calls, it screams, there's nothing here

**Chorus**

How's it feel to be at the center of magic

To linger in tones and words?

I opened the floodgates and found

No water, no current, no river, no rush

How's it feel to stand at the height of your powers

To captivate every heart?

Projecting your visions to strangers

Who feel it, who listen to linger on every word

**Refrain**

Oh, it's a rush

Oh, It's a rush

## References

1. ↑ Japanese Breakfast: The Jubilee Interview - The Matt Wilkinson Show (Apple Music), June 7 2021
2. ↑ The Story Behind Every Song On Japanese Breakfast’s New Album *Jubilee* - Stereogum, June 4 2021