Why Andrew?
Ms. B
My first introduction to Andrew McMahon’s music was in high school, when a friend of mine told me about his obsession with a new band, Jack’s Mannequin. He played me “The Mixed Tape,” a pop song with a punk feel and lyrics that instantly captured my heart:
This is my mixed tape for her;
It’s like I wrote every note with my own fingers.
Though I didn’t realize it at the time, that first encounter with Jack’s Mannequin began a love affair that would last a lifetime. I greedily listened to every Jack’s Mannequin song I could get my hands on, and eagerly anticipated each new album the band produced. I still remember the searing pain and sadness I felt when I learned that Jack’s Mannequin was to be no more — perhaps a slightly dramatic reaction, but a genuine one.
I don’t know if it’s possible to pinpoint the source of my deep love for the music of Andrew McMahon. Perhaps it’s because, as a pianist myself, I appreciate the role that piano plays in his songs. It could be the emotional pull from the truth of his lyrics, from the poetic beauty of “Rescued” to the raw rage in “If U C Jordan.” Maybe it’s because it’s easy to sense his reason for making music: he writes because he must write, because making music is as much as part of his nature as breathing.
Though my friend’s obsession with Jack’s Mannequin faded over time, mine has remained and strengthened. This past November, I had the incredible opportunity to see Andrew perform live in Detroit under his newest project, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. He shared with us a song he wrote about the excitement and anticipation he experienced when he learned that his wife was pregnant with his daughter, “Rainy Girl.” He gave the audience this deeply personal part of himself freely, and I will be forever grateful for the bit of musical genius he shared with me that night.
Andrew McMahon at a concert. Digital image. Rock Is a Girl's Best Friend. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Rainy Girl (Shabby Road Sessions)." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web.
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