Bridgers’s unfiltered take in the form of sharp songwriting is a message that she was able to reclaim some of her independence and passion for music, even after she was in a relationship where both were jeopardized. Yet the existence of this song suggests that Bridgers was able to break free from Adams and his toxic behavior, taking back what belonged to her - her musicality - which she possessed all along. By pursuing relationships in which he could take advantage of his influence in the music industry to exploit women, Adams took away the musical independence of these budding female artists and left many of them with a disillusioned attitude toward making music. While the lyrics to “Motion Sickness” offer insight to the nature of Adams’s unacceptable behavior, the existence of this song reveals Bridgers’ strength. By detailing her own relationship with Adams, Bridgers corroborates other similar accounts of female musicians who were in the same position of being Adams’ pretty musical project instead of his partner - how he promised to bolster their careers while allegedly trapping them in a toxic, harassing relationship, essentially forcing these women to choose between their well-being or their musical career. Lyrics like “There are no words in the English language / I could scream to drown you out” reflect the lasting trauma that can remain after a hurtful and exploitative relationship and acknowledge that abuse is not a trivial matter, but rather an unabated constant that taints future experiences.īridgers’s experience as told through “Motion Sickness” seems to describe another iteration of Adams’s tendency to exploit female musicians. The titular lyric, “I have emotional motion sickness / somebody roll the windows down,” alludes to the emotional turmoil of an abusive relationship - a sick-to-the-stomach, visceral sense that something is amiss along with the knowledge that it would be difficult to break free. It’s part of the larger picture of how Adams exploited the power imbalance between himself and promising female musicians.īridgers directly confronts her relationship with Adams. Taking these revelations into account, “Motion Sickness,” is no longer just a song that describes one circumstantially incompatible relationship. In a recently published exposé by the New York Times, Adams was accused of emotional abuse and sexual harassment by several women, one of whom was Bridgers. It’s a poignant yet scathing reflection of a past relationship with Ryan Adams, a musician and the owner of the record label PAX-AM known for his successful solo albums and his cover of Taylor Swift’s “1989.” In “Motion Sickness,” Bridgers vividly addresses the pain and the aftertaste of an imbalanced relationship with Adams.īut “Motion Sickness” has deeper implications in light of the recent allegations against Adams. Phoebe Bridgers’ 2017 single “ Motion Sickness” has all the hallmarks of a typical indie song: absurd and specific lyrics, ethereal vocals, and experimental instrumentals.
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