“I grew up, you grew down, we found out / Everything matters now (Everything) / We grew up while you let yourself down / I want out.” Alex O’Connor, better known as Rex Orange County, is totally stressed out. Growing up isn’t easy, being famous isn’t easy, and being away from someone you dearly love is quite arduous. Much of his 2019 album, Pony, where “Face to Face” hails from, deals with the anxiety and stress that have plagued the British singer/songwriter. While the fame aspect is more exclusive, O’Connor seeking to eradicate stress and atone for a turbulent, taxing period mentally, is quite relatable.
Rex Orange County has a sole confidante (his girlfriend), to help him to atone. On the first verse, he asserts, “She calmed me down that night I freaked out.” While she has what he needs, there’s added stress given long distance at times due to his career:
“She was like eight hours ahead
Two different countries…
And you couldn’t see me, call back, repeat
That’s all thanks to poor connection.”
Essentially, not being able to always interact ‘face to face’ with the person he later characterizes as “My only friend” is a reason why he musters up such troubled lyrics as, “Everything makes me wanna quite while I’m ahead.” On the chorus, his dedication to his girl remains apparent, while also lamenting and fearing long distance relationships. On the second verse, anxiety continues to rear its ugly head. “You were occupied, I was in the shower,” he sings memorably, “You were unaware, I was fully clothed.” A deep lyric, O’Connor seems to be covering up and holding in a lot. Given his small circle (“I unplugged, then I dipped on my friends / My world got so much smaller this year”), his reliance on his ‘ride or die’ to comfort him is vital.
The big takeaway? Stress and anxiety are no joke. Rex Orange County seeks to get to a better and healthier place, ultimately doing so by the end of Pony. Even though “Face to Face” is bright and set in a major key, the matters at hand aren’t nearly as happy.
You can learn more about Rex Orange County here:
About The Curator - Brent Faulkner
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype (https://themusicalhype.com). When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event.