Stephin Merritt, the jack of all trades and founder of The Magnetic Fields, is now gaining traction via a song that has gone semi-viral on TikTok. “Andrew in Drag” by The Magnetic Fields, released in 2012, is a song about a man who falls in love with his friend’s drag persona even though it was a one time gig. It is “a tragic love story” said Merritt in an interview with The guardians how I wrote… series.
The band’s most successful work is 69 Love Songs which is an album that is its name. 69 Love Songs contains beautiful songs such as “I Don’t Want to Get Over You,” “The Book of Love” and “All My Little Words.” Merritt is known for his shockingly deep voice that I can only describe as soothing and one-of-a-kind.
I like to consider myself a big Magnetic Fields fan, so here is my official introduction for all who are interested. My favorite non-acoustic song is “Strange Powers” off of their 1994 album Holiday. The powerful love song juxtaposes beautiful things with not so pleasant things, such as a romantic starry night compared to Thai sex workers, which I find to be beautiful and comedic. These lyrics are put over a synthy repetitive rhythm making this love song more potent and upbeat. The unique and strange lyrics of love provide a poetic nature to the song as a whole.
The next song I want to introduce you to is another love song with a very different way of conveying the power of love to listeners. “All My Little Words” off of the 1999 album 69 Love Songs is backed by the same two chords strummed on a steel string guitar and an intermittent violin. The lyrics are heartbreakingly magical. This song never fails to give me a sorrowful pit in the depths of my stomach.
“I Don’t Wanna Get Over You” is a song made for the aftermath of a breakup. The funky synth combats the lyrics that symbolize a loss from the heart and the desperation of trying to get your lover back by becoming all the things they are. This song is kept very deep in my heart, only let out when I am ready to bellow the lyrics with tears in my eyes. The lyrics are very self explanatory: Merritt is experiencing a loss that he was not ready for, he wants his lover back and doesn’t want to move on to someone new.
“Come Back From San Francisco” sung by Shirley Simms with back up vocals from Merritt is about long distance lovers separated by dreams and maybe even fate. The electric guitar and bass provide a subtle yet beautiful backing for Simms’ clear, well-enunciated lyrics.
These four songs hold a very special place in my heart and so do The Magnetic Fields. All of these songs feel like a bright Saturday morning. I highly recommend you listen to these songs and then expand to their other music.
