Music Review // Bernadette Connors "White Magnolia"

 

For as long as I can remember, I've never really cared about flowers.  I like them in the sense of going out into nature and seeing them, but the idea of giving a bouquet to someone felt cruel because you're killing the plant but also most flowers aren't meant to be kept alive in such a way and so they die in a short time.  I do find it interesting that different flowers mean different things- if you were to create a bouequet- and maybe if I did so more I would understand these meanings more.

As far as the "White Magnolia" goes a quick Google search tells me that this is the color of magnolia which is related with purity, luck and stability.  In that way, when you think of this song and Bernadette Connors singing lines such as "Why oh why do you take your time" and "Why oh why can't I make you mine", it just feels like this is that expression of just wanting to have things go your way, to have some good luck for a change.  There is also a bit about how these flowers can be used in a bridal bouquet, so perhaps you can even relate the song with that.

Musically this is one of the more interesting songs that I've heard.  Through a classic rock type of sound comes some feelings like this could almost be gospel.  I'm hearing Blind Melon in the music and then it takes off into this big musical breakdown.  This really shows the soul and as it comes back, I'm left thinking about how there are elements of Janis Joplin within here as well.  This just feels like it's from a different time, as it creates a sound for both past and present tenses.  It reminds me of when music had more heart.

Whether you are familiar with all of the flowers and what they mean or not (I am not) you can still take something from this song.  First off, it is something you can truly appreciate musically because of the bits and pieces put together to give Bernadette Connors this unique sound.  But also it can just be, lyrically, about that longing and want for something that perhaps you can have but you just have to be more patient about it.  It is not bad to wait, but it is also something most people don't like to do, so you can always listen to this song until your luck changes.