Anna Nalick - Catalyst
Anna Nalick is an American pop (and maybe country) singer-songwriter originally from California. I came across her when I saw her video for Breathe 2 AM, which was her breakout song (the video for the song can be found here). Anna may be considered a “one album wonder,” since it’s been four years since her first album (which did resonably well, by the way) and despite insistent rumors, has yet to dish out her sophomore album. I read somewhere that she was overwhelmed by the success of her first album and had a bit of a nervous breakdown, but I’m not entirely clear and all of it could be just rumors. Anna is young, twenty-five years old, and enormously talented, so I’m sure she’ll dish out her new material eventually.
One of my favorite songs by Anna is Catalyst, coming off her debut album, Wreck of the Day. The song has Anna singing about a relationship not going well and that’s holding her back from pursuing her dreams. In the song, L.A. is a metaphor for those dreams and Anna still hasn’t entirely given up her hope of going there. Since she knows the relationship she is in is holding her back, it would be the very thing that’ll force her to move on, making the person she’s with the “catalyst,” hence the title.
L.A. lights never shine quite as bright as in the movies
Still wanna go?
‘Cause something here
In the way, in the way that we’re constantly moving
Reminds you of home
So you’re taking these pills
For to fill up your soul
And you’re drinking them down with cheap alcohol
And I’d be inclined to be yours for the taking
And part of this terrible mess that you’re making
But me, I’m the catalyst
When you say love is a simple chemical reaction
Can’t say I agree
‘Cause my chemical, yeah, left me a beautiful disaster
Still love’s all I see
So I’m taking these pills for to fill up my soul
And I’m drinking them down with cheap alcohol
And you’d be inclined to be mine for the taking
And part of this terrible mess that I’m making
But you, you’re the catalyst
You’ll be the vein
You’ll be the pain
You’ll be the scar
You’ll be the road, rolling below
The wheels of a car
And all of the thoughts, on God
Don’t know if I’m strong enough now
You’ll be the vein
You’ll be the pain
You’ll be the
Catalyst
These L.A. lights, no no,
They don’t shine quite as bright as back in Frisco
Do you wanna go?
Still wanna go
- moises
