If you ever thought you met the one and they ghosted you a month later, or noticed the distinct differences between them and their online profile after meeting them in person, you'll know that dating in this generation is a modern tragedy.
“Unattached, heart was racing on a one-way track” describes the initial feelings of falling for someone, but realizing it is only one-sided. “I got lost in the feeling and felt nothing at all” is the contradiction that these feelings have on each other, sometimes you give your all into pursuing a relationship that you end up becoming numb in the process. “Made my part/ Won’t get crazy over one-night stars” is acknowledging that you’re fully aware of the risks you took for the relationship to work and how quickly feelings start to creep in. The “one-night stars” can represent how modern relationships can be superficial, quick, and can be over any second with the possibility of only lasting for one night. “Just the time that we live in/ The writing’s on the wall” call out the generation we live in and its dating flaws. Dating now isn’t the same as it was back then, and it might not ever be the same again. The writings on the wall show that the fate of the relationship is obvious. There are clear and obvious signs that things aren’t going well, and there’s also a possibility that something bad will happen, almost like predicting a bad omen. You can’t fix the writings on the wall regardless of how often you try, they will always be stained. The only way is to paint over them, which in this metaphor would mean starting fresh and leaving the writings (past hurt and heartbreak) covered up so that it would never be noticeable to the naked eye.
The chorus starts with “So here we go again/ A night to feel alone” which is going over the cycle of relationships now and how they don’t really work, and that it’s another night to feel alone because the relationship didn’t work out. Relationships are like going on a rollercoaster ride, there are ups and downs meaning something can be going smooth and then suddenly throw you for a loop. “Guess it’s gonna be a modern tragedy/ And I’m supposed to start again” is comparing dating to a tragedy, which in this generation isn’t exactly wrong. A tragedy could be a play on words because it is a type of play. Tragedies touch on the conditions of society and how they lead to a depressing outcome. “A face, a name, a ghost” is the person going back to being a stranger in your life, they hold no significance anymore because the relationship is over. “But the grass wasn’t greener” symbolizes that maybe things weren't always great on the other side and even if being in a relationship looked magical to some people, it is not always what it seems.
The song has an upbeat tempo and is a great dance-electronic pop song, which is what Cheat Codes is known for. “Modern Tragedy” is a perfect way to describe the dating scene nowadays. It’s genuinely a nightmare, where I often wonder how things ever got this bad. The dating landscape is very different today– social media and everything being public contributes to that as well as dating apps– it’s almost like selling yourself. The song has an interesting beat that is definitely a unique sound. It starts out more techy and as the song builds up, the more typical dance beats are added. The leading bass and driving percussion make the song what it is. Julia’s voice is breathy and it almost sounds like she’s losing hope as she sings.
Trevor Dahl, Matthew Russel, and KEVI (Kevin) Ford are the three members that make up the multi-platinum electronic trio Cheat Codes. The trio started to release their music in 2014 and are based in Los Angeles, California. Their 2016 single “Sex” (which samples “Let’s Talk About Sex” by Salt-N-Pepa) really made them well-known in the music scene. Their 2017 single “No Promises” featuring Demi Lovato peaked Top 40 on the U.S., U.K., and Australian charts. “Modern Tragedy” is their eighth collaboration and single release this year. Julia Church is a singer-songwriter from Durban, South Africa but is now based in London. The dance genre isn’t new to Church. She’s been featured on a number of dance records and worked with famous electronic acts like John Summit, Diplo, Sub Focus, Kaskade, CamelPhat, Gorgon City, and Robin Schulz to name a few. Her music has topped Billboard charts, club charts, and radio airplay charts with streams amassing over 300M. She’s also written for a lot of artists, and even writes for some of the most recognized names in music. Not listening to this song would be a “Modern Tragedy”, check it out and give it a listen!
Written By Alexa LaMalfa
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