'Helium' by Orbit 17: Got Me Writing Again... and Other Thoughts

Author

Pranay Pareek @pranaypareek

STREAM HELIUM

Over the span of a decade, I moved away from home, across four different cities, on two sides of the planet. Each era with its own aspirations, tests, and friends. School friends, college friends, work friends. Good ones, best ones. Sometimes they left, other times I did.

And each time we promised that— we were just a text away, that we would speak on the phone more often, and we'd see each other again soon.

Time slipped by. My life changed, their's didn't. Their lives changed, mine didn't.

Distance didn't help, time zones didn't help.

This song comes so close to describing so much of what I've felt this past decade: No matter how many times you leave, it never gets easy.

A sinking feeling in your stomach the day before, but you have to pack your bags. Check in, carry on.

You want to make it to the airport in time, yet you don't want to get there soon. One more selfie, one more hug, the last one before you head for security. Check in, carry on.

By now, you probably have a few guesses on what the song is about. Good chance I've heard them play this song at their shows, but it never registered the way it did until I finally sat down with my headphones.

First listen: "This is unlike any of their other songs"

I love it.

Second listen: "Hmm this is taking me to the same place Pinback's Seville or Oceansize's Meredith did"

Uhh, I didn't expect it, but I guess I'm all locked in now.

Third listen: "I need to read the lyrics"

Wow, why do they speak to me so much?

Fourth listen: "I hope their Bandcamp has a note about the song"
"A song about all those friends we've made but left behind or outgrown. The ones that made huge impacts on our lives, and that we think of from time to time, yet haven't spoken to in years." (https://orbit17.bandcamp.com/track/helium-2)

And it all made sense.

What do I think about the song?

Helium got me writing again. It made me think about what I want my voice to be.

It's known that people often break down and cry when they view Mark Rothko's paintings. He once said, "I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions——tragedy, ecstasy, doom..." 

If a piece of art, when distilled to its essence, still carries a sense of emotion. If a piece of art moves me, haunts me, comforts me with the fact that I'm not alone in my experience, that is good art.
Like this song.