Drive: In Context
My name is Ikaika Gunderson, and I am the guitarist and the main songwriter for Flamango Bay. Our song Drive came out recently and I wanted to talk about it, as well as discuss songs, writing, and interpreting art.
To me, Drive is outdated. We wrote it four years ago in our freshman year of high school. It was one of the first songs that we wrote that we actually loved. Drive was an indicator of what was to come: a rock-based musical sound, cryptic yet accessible lyrics, and catchy melodies. Drive is about persistence. It’s about looking at a goal with confidence, knowing you’ll accomplish it against all odds. When I wrote it, I was full of optimism and passion. As a 14-year-old Aries sun, I prided myself on my passionate, energetic nature. But the more I look back, the more I can look at this song as a snapshot in time; a historic artifact of who I used to be. Now that I’m older, I notice little things that have completely different connotations than they used to.
When I wrote Drive it was meant to be an anthem— an ode to a part of myself that I was proud of. I loved that I was reckless and goal-oriented. Looking back, that “drive” part of myself can be problematic. It is stubborn and impatient and addicted to adrenaline. The first line, “Some things are better misunderstood” is a dumb philosophy that has gotten me into some pretty fucked up situations. Another line: “Just look at me, I’m planting the seed, I’m ready to try this,” is a nod to my self-centeredness, my impulsiveness, and how willing I am to start things (despite never finishing them). My “Drive” mentality has hurt a lot of people and caused a lot of problems. I accepted this part of myself while neglecting the part that was logical, strategic, and adaptable. I thought of myself as a stereotype instead of a unique human being.
I know I just completely ripped on Drive, but that doesn’t mean that I dislike the song. I still love it, and I still love the part of myself that Drive was written about.
I think a lot about how other people will interpret my lyrics, and how the meaning of art fluctuates so much. There will never be only one meaning. I wrote a song with one intention and now four years later I have a completely different meaning attached to it. In another four years it will probably have a whole different meaning to me. This is just me. So many people can listen to Drive and attach different feelings– I can’t even comprehend this. Art is an extension of an artist, but how people interpret art is a valid extension of the art consumer. Art means nothing, everything, and something all at the same time. Drive wasn’t meant to be looked at in this way; it was meant to be an upbeat song to be happy to. But I didn’t know what I know now.
Links to Drive: