Times Like These

The Smashing Pumpkins were one of my college bands. In the early 90s, it was all grunge, all the time. I couldn’t stand most of it. Nirvana irritated, except for a few songs here and there (I did like Heart Shaped Box). Alice in Chains? Forget it. Pearl Jam? Eh, I liked Alive, that was about it. But the Smashing Pumpkins … they were different. They had some pop to them. The first time I heard Today, I was in my friend’s dorm room. That jangly beginning, the faux-happy lyrics, the whole sound was great. I admit that I like their lighter music better, although some of the darker music, like Bullet in Butterfly Wings is good too.

This song takes me back to a time when I really did think that relationships could be perfect … While I don’t believe that today, the lyrics still get to me: “But please, you know you’re just like me, next time I promise we’ll be perfect.”

I know
We’re just like old friends
We just can’t pretend
That lovers make amends
We are reasons so unreal
We can’t help but feel
That something has been lost

Perfect
You know this has to be
We always were so free
We promised that we’d be
Perfect
Perfect

I love me some epic music, and “No More Drama” by Miss Mary J. Blige certainly fits the bill. There’s pain, anguish, emotion … and with lyrics like “no more waking me up in the morning with your disturbing phone calls,” you know this shit is real. My friend Chris and I will quote this song to each other at work or when one of us is having a personal crisis. Mary J. heals all.

So tired
Tired of these drama
No more, no more
I wanna be free
I’m so tired, so tired
Broken heart again
Another lesson learn
Better know your friends
Or else you will get burned
Gotta count on me
Cause I can guarantee
That I’ll be fine

No more pain
(No more pain)
No more pain
(No more pain)
No drama
(No more drama in my life)
No-one’s gonna
Make me hurt again

Why’d I play the fool
Go through ups and downs
Knowing all the time
You wouldn’t be around
Or maybe I like the stress
Cause I was young and restless
But there was long ago
I don’t wanna cry no more

No more pain
(No more pain)
No more game
(No more game
Messin with my mind)
No drama
(No more drama in my life)
No-one’s gonna
Make me hurt again
No more tears
(No more tears
I’m tired of cryin everynight)
No more fears
(No more fears
I really don’t wanna cry)
No drama
(No more drama in my life)
I don’t ever wanna hurt again
Wanna speak my mind
Wanna speak my mind

Uh, it feels so good
When you let go
Of all the drama
In your life
Now you’re free
From all the pain
Free from all the game
Free from all the stress
So bye your happiness
I don’t know
Only God knows
Where the story ends
For me, but I know
Where the story begins
It’s up to us to choose
Whether we win or lose
And I choose to win

No more pain
(No more pain)
No more game
(Tired of your playin’
Game with my mind)
No drama
(No more drama
In my life)
No more, no more
No more, no more
No more tears
(No more tears
No more cryin every night)
No more fears
(No more waking me up
In the morning
With your disturbing phone calls)
No drama
No more in my life

No more drama
No more drama
No more drama
No more drama
No more drama
No more drama
No more drama
No more drama
No more drama
No more drama in my life
So tired, tired of these drama