Lovesick and the Happily Depressing Feelings of Lovely Loneliness it Brings

I love The Happy Fits. A bold (and most definitely biased) statement to start off an album review, but I’m sticking with it. They have a song for any sort of mood I’m in. Am I totally head over heels? There’s a song for that. Am I rotting into a pile of self-pity on my bed because of being head over heels? There are plenty of songs for that. Lovesick, along with being the group’s most recent release, has many tracks that fit this pattern of.. well, love sickness: it is the name of the album after all. In this review, I’ll be going over my four favorite songs off of Lovesick, and, hopefully, convince you to give it a listen sometime.

Do You See Me? serves as the perfect opening of an album centered around unrequited feelings. The Happy Fits explore the fluttery pit in your chest that being in love brings, the chorus simply being “I think I love you/ I think I love you/ Honey, do you see me?” A simple, yet damning question for many. The instrumental being a lonely violin slowly accompanied by the rest of the band, as Langman’s (the band’s lead vocalist) voice simmers along the line of heartbreak and hope. Do You See Me? also briefly covers the internal conflict being in love with someone can be, the lyrics “It’s been a long time/ Tried to not want you,” and “A tragic upset/ self help books up next/ I read them in your voice/ Oh god I’ve got no choice.” The lines perfectly sum up how some people, no matter how hard they try, can’t get rid of their feelings; seeing and hearing their beloved wherever they go.

As the solemnly comforting intro fades, we’re suddenly smacked in the face with an upbeat shout and a volley of instruments that remind me of a mid-2000’s Disney Channel Original Movie. But this isn’t the House of Mouse, not at all, this is Everything You Do, and it’s feeling is simple: all encompassing infatuation. If each track serves as a different “phase” of a crush, then Everything You Do is the pining phase. The bombastic delivery of “I can’t get my mind off loving you/ Cause I’m in love with everything you do” serves as a much more hopeful spin on lyrics from the previous song, as the singer is much more open to these blossoming feelings; though, from the lyrics “And if the stars would all align/ Then would you love me?/ Would you be mine?” hint at the fact that Langman knows he stands no chance, as normally the stars aligning guarantees success, but, in this scenario, them aligning would only give him a fraction of a chance. Everything You Do also serves as the debut to two new members of the band, Nico Rose and Raina Mullen, the latter performing the final chorus of the song.

Cruel Power, while the same tempo as Everything You Do, carries a much more negative connotation—something the title very clearly implies. Throughout this track, Langman wrestles with his feelings, them bordering onto masochistic as he begs his beloved to “Break [his] heart a million pieces/ Kick [his] shins, and laugh when [she] leaves [him]. ” One doesn’t necessarily incorporate these, frankly, unhealthy habits in a love song, but it ultimately accomplishes the goal Cruel Power sets out to do. The track takes place in the position of someone craving any part of a romance, even a break up, no matter how badly they have to get hurt to feel it. It completely twists the idea that to be hurt is to have loved, and holds a mirror up that no one wishes to see themselves in. In the song’s bridge, we get insight into the beloved’s point of view—or, at least, Langman’s perception of his beloved—and she is very aware of what she does to Langman, seemingly satisfied with the feeling she gives him. “So happy that we can be friends/ You’re holding on to the bitter end.” These lyrics show that, no matter what, no matter how many times he gets friend zoned, Langman can’t let go because he loves how the pain feels.

Jumping forward to track 6 of Lovesick introduces us to Miss You, whose theme is self explanatory via its title. Mullen takes the primary vocals on this song, with Langman only joining during the chorus and bridge—the latter of which will be discussed later—and she peforms. The lyrics cover the standard bases of someone missing their beloved; keeping track of their boarding times, wearing their sweater, feeling them despite the distance. It’s in the chorus where the feeling ruptures the surface, launching out into a boisterous “I’m gonna miss you/ If it’s the last thing that I do,” bleeding into a “Tell me you wanna/ Just stay here with me.” Mullen knows that her lover has to leave, implied by the lines “Get in the car now/ Let it take you away,” but wants the reassurance that, if they could, her beloved would stay with her. It’s a feeling I know all too well (which is the reason why I love this album so much), you care about someone so much, that the moment they leave you know, and you feel every second of it. The feelings bubble and rise as the distance increases, “Ten thousand miles of open road/ Ten thousands miles of blue” separating Mullen from her love, with her thoughts pluming into “Ten thousands words and marigolds,” before declaring “I’ll find my way to you.” A simple, yet powerful promise; even if the recipient isn’t there to hear it. This bridge creates a sinkhole in my chest, as it makes me think of the person I care about and the distance between us, and how I’d do anything to bridge that gap.

The album shifts into a softer, more delicate flow in I Could Stare at You for Hours as Langman returns to admire his beloved’s beauty; citing that “[He] could lose [himself] for days,” just by looking at her. The melody feeling like a trance or lullaby, the same comfort Langman’s beloved brings him. However, there is still sadness seeping into the song, with Langman singing “If you knew how much I loved you/ Would it all excite you or would you run away?” The hesitance is still there, as, in everyone’s case, Langman’s deepest fear is being left alone. He’s happy as long as he gets to be with her, even if he’s “delusional,” as long as he gets to “dream it all of [her].” Overall, I’d say that this track is the most beautiful, though I might be biased, as it is the first song I heard off the album. It’s just that, between this and Miss You, I just feel the most seen by the lyrics. But I suppose that’s what art does: it makes you feel.

I hope that this has convinced you to give The Happy Fit’s Lovesick a listen, as it’s my favorite indie album to date. The ability to feel and embrace the warmth of love, despite all the pain it might bring, lingers throughout the entire album—even in the more negative tracks—perfectly describes the album’s thesis. So, if anyone asks you what it feels like to be lovesick, you now have the perfect album to show them.