Music Review - Scott A. Flaxman – “Love of Strangers”: When Strangers Believe in Your Vision
Not everyone will understand what you're trying to create, and sometimes the hardest part is accepting that those people might be the ones closest to you. That's the subject Scott A. Flaxman tackles in “Love of Strangers,” a song about an artist who gets more support from strangers than from the people who know him best. It's a frustrating situation, especially when you've put so much of yourself into something and hoped the people around you would see what makes it special.
The first verse tells the story of an artist sharing his vision, only to have it picked apart by someone who seems more interested in the flaws than the idea itself. The line about being left “holding my own applause” says a lot. He's proud of what he's created, but there's nobody beside him willing to share that feeling. Anyone who's ever been excited about a project and had that excitement knocked out of them by someone else's reaction will know the feeling.
The chorus takes a different turn. Strangers don't have the same history with you, and they don't always come with the same expectations. They can judge what you've made on its own merits instead of comparing it with the person they think you should be. That's an interesting point, particularly for artists who are trying to do something different from what friends or family expect of them.
Things get more pointed in the second verse, when the narrator is called obsessed and told to give up if he can't feel secure in his work. It's not difficult to see why he's frustrated. Creating something takes time, and confidence doesn't always come easily. Having someone close to you dismiss the whole effort can sting more than criticism from a stranger. Here, Scott A. Flaxman captures that uncomfortable mix of disappointment and anger without hiding what the narrator thinks of the situation.
The bridge is where he finally decides he's had enough. He's done sending messages and trying to explain himself. The image of an empty dining room set against a packed theater makes the point without much subtlety: the people at home don't see the value in his work, but an audience does. It's a dramatic contrast, and it fits a song about reaching the end of your patience with people who refuse to understand you.
What we find interesting about “Love of Strangers” is that its message goes beyond music. Anyone building something of their own, whether it's an artistic project or a completely different ambition, can end up facing the same doubts. Support doesn't always come from where we expect it, and sometimes it's easier to connect with people who have no preconceived ideas about us.
Scott A. Flaxman doesn't try to make the narrator's frustration particularly comfortable or diplomatic, and that's part of the song's appeal. “Love of Strangers” speaks to anyone who's tired of defending their ideas to people who have already made up their minds. Sometimes, we'd rather spend our energy on the people who understand what we're trying to do than keep asking others for approval.
Checkout the YouTube Music video and find the message that goes beyond music !!
You can give a listen to “Love of Strangers” below and make sure you give a follow to stay tuned with Scott A. Flaxman's future releases
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