Nobody (single)

## Overview

**Nobody** was the second single released preceding *Be the Cowboy*, on June 26, 2018. It was released through Dead Oceans alongside a music video.

The single art was shot by Bao Ngo, and designed by Mary Banas. Similarly to the art for the other singles from *Be the Cowboy*, the art for *Nobody* plays into the motif throughout the album of Hollywood movies with the *"Mitski stars in..."* tagline.

The photograph is heavily reminiscent of the closing shot of the music video for *Happy,* the second single from previous album *Puberty 2*; This similarity to the single art for *Nobody* may suggest that the two songs are in some way linked, which could make sense- both the song and video for *Happy* end with the protagonist having lost the stability in their life, being left with nobody. However, this isn't addressed at all in the video for *Nobody*, so it may be a sort of 'inside joke' with fans or even a coincidence.

As with the art for the other *Be the Cowboy* singles, Mitski does not make eye contact with the viewer, signifying the emotional distance between herself and others that is explored throughout the album.

Lyrically, Mitski outlined in an interview with Genius that the song was written over the winter holidays after she'd finished touring in Asia and Australia; she had decided to stay in Malaysia where she had spent a lot of her childhood, but had not been prepared for how isolating it would feel to be away from everyone that she knew while they were in a different time zone spending time with friends and family. Explaining the chorus, she stated:

> "I am too proud to be hysterical to other people, but the chorus was [laughs] literally me in a semi-fugue state on my hands and knees on the floor just crying and repeating the word 'nobody,' and then I was like, 'Let me use this pain, exploit it for money!'"
>
>

## Music video

*Main article: Nobody (single)/Music video*

Directed by Christopher Good and starring Mitski, released on June 26th 2018.

The music video features many surreal elements (read: there's a lot to unpack here) and incorporates a vibrant color palette of mostly blue and orange. As Mitski's (or rather, the character she plays, who we'll refer to as Mitski) surroundings become more confusing and frightening as the video goes on, Mitski's reluctant acceptance of her bizarre situation adds an element of comedy to the video.

The video is full of strong imagery relating to loneliness, isolation, and the feeling of being "nobody"- for example, the bed next to Mitski in the beginning of the video has an orange in it, the word 'orange' infamously not rhyming with anything. Mitski receives a faceless portrait of herself and is constantly surrounded by faceless cardboard cutouts of people, suggesting an inability to connect with herself and others, being unsure of how she fits into the rest of the world.

Though some of the imagery may be purely for style, it allows the viewer the opportunity to decide their own interpretations. Mitski drinks sand out of an hourglass with a clone of herself- this could symbolize anxiety over running out of time to find where she belongs. She has a giant diary under her bed filled with tiny diaries that read simply "nobody"- could represent uncovering the deeply hidden truth that really, she *is* nobody, as we all are, and having to learn to accept that. She awkwardly holds hands with flailing arms that emerge from the walls of her house.

At the end of the video, the camera pans out to reveal a film set, and Mitski sits down in a director's chair. The unexpected ending suggests that however much frustration it is causing her, Mitski's loneliness is of her own construction.

## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

My God, I'm so lonely

So I open the window

To hear sounds of people

To hear sounds of people

Venus, planet of love

Was destroyed by global warming

Did its people want too much too?

Did its people want too much?

[Pre-Chorus]

And I don't want your pity

I just want somebody near me

Guess I'm a coward

I just want to feel alright

And I know no one will save me

I just need someone to kiss

Give me one good honest kiss

And I'll be alright

[Chorus]

Nobody, nobody, nobody

Nobody, nobody

Ooh, nobody, nobody, nobody

[Verse 2]

I've been big and small and

Big and small and

Big and small again

And still nobody wants me

Still nobody wants me

[Pre-Chorus]

And I know no one will save me

I'm just asking for a kiss

Give me one good movie kiss

And I'll be alright

[Chorus]

Nobody, nobody, nobody

Nobody, nobody

Ooh, nobody, nobody

Nobody, nobody, nobody

Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody

Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody

Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody

Nobody, nobody

Nobody, nobody

[Outro]

Nobody, nobody

No

## References

1. ↑ https://deadoceans.com/news/mitski-nobody-single-video/
2. ↑ *https://yesismore.us/Mitski-s-Be-The-Cowboy*
3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G30AtDEc5Do
4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qooWnw5rEcI&list=OLAK5uy\_kPXuJ0JHp9Vg9Zi-hGZIgpSq0y0i9Q0ow&index=9
5. ↑ https://genius.com/Mitski-nobody-lyrics