Music Review // The Bobby Tenderloin Universe "Marigold"

 

The fun thing about The Bobby Tenderloin Universe is that as much as this song "Marigold" can sound like a slow and unfolding country type of song, there is also some underlying sound which presents different vibes as well.  As the song comes in with these slow, almost spiritual type of sounds it has what feels like banjos just walking us through the verses.  Vocals kick in to both speak and sing at times, which comes out somewhere between Lou Reed and Butthole Surfers, but really does also feel like a pastor delivering a sermon.

There is a whimsical nature to this song as well.  A sound like a music box is in the background and it can feel lighter at times as well, especially when the background vocals come in and sing "bum bum bum bum".   I wouldn't call it pop or say it's for everyone, but there is this somewhat trippy way about this song.  This goes with the idea of it being sermon-like, but it also just feels like something you might hear a cult leader sing to his flock in a strange movie that I can't even begin to think who might direct it.

While the music itself could be described as bizarre, the lyrics generally tend to focus on the nature side of things, as they discuss ladybugs and butterflies, and of course a marigold is a type of flower.   But then the chorus goes into the line: "Fill my mind with marigold / I'm crying / I'll tell you why / Flowers die when lovers lie alone"  This is a lot to unpack because it makes me wonder what we are filling our minds with exactly but the idea of flowers dying because lovers are alone is also an interesting concept.  

I've always felt like flowers were not an appropriate romantic gesture.   Nothing says "I love you" then something that has been cut from the ground (essentially killed) and will shown sign of decay in a manner of weeks, right?  I like to think that this song, "Marigold", touches on that a bit.  Like how a relationship not tended to will wilt and fade just as well.  But this is such a strange trip, one not everyone might want to take but I do so enjoy it.