A native of New Jersey, Sharon Van Etten has been a staple on the indie music scene for almost a decade. Following the release of her 2014 album Are We There and subsequent tour she decided she need a bit of a break from the music world. Her time away saw her give birth to her first child, return to school, and begin an unexpected acting career. Van Etten returned earlier this year with her latest album Remind Me Tomorrow and the single “Seventeen,”
This song is Van Etten reflecting on both her youth and how New York city has changed over the years. We all have landmarks in our lives that transform us back to our youth and it can be difficult to see time has moved on and these places belong to other people now. Van Etten is singing the song to them, as well as the younger version of herself. She is both romanticizing being a teenager while also remembering all the loneliness and confusion at the age from not knowing whats in store. The sound of a track is reminiscent of something out of the The National’s catalog. That is until Van Etten takes the climax to a level Matt Berninger could only dream of reaching with his vocals.
“Downtown hotspot halfway through this life
I used to feel free, or was it just a dream?
Now you’re a hotshot, think you’re so carefree
But you’re just seventeen, so much like me”
Van Etten is currently on tour in support of the Remind Me Tomorrow, and you can check out her website to find out when she will be in your town. “Seventeen” is a strong contender for song of the year and you can check it out down below. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Songs That I Like 