Review: "My Friends Don't Like You" - MNERVA

Getting your friends and significant other to find mutual respect can be difficult, especially when your friends seem to be against the flourishing relationship you share with your partner. Perhaps it’s simply because they believe you deserve better. However, at times, it could be out of pure jealousy. Jealousy that fogs up their senses, a nebulous cloud hindering their ability to truly discern your relationship. This sense of jealousy they contain taints what was once a friendship, creating something contentious and fabricated. It makes us realize that these people we had once considered friends were never truly looking out for us if they don’t care enough to recognize and commemorate the happiness of a love that's vehement. “My Friends Don’t Like You” by MNERVA is a song that touches common ground with a similar debacle. Our singer finds himself in a friend group where they don’t seem to share the likeness of his partner, which inspires the lyrics of this alternative-like song. “They hate how our spark turned into a flame”, “they wish they were happy too” are lyrics that indicate these friends are jealous of the relationship, and are merely too unhappy with themselves to reveal in their friend's newly found love.

The song opens up in a way that sets a very clear stage, it reels the listeners in almost immediately, catching our attention as the drums and riffs of a guitar create the perfect blend of sound. It then meticulously decreases as the voice of our artist settles in, which creates an open opportunity for his voice to be the main instrument, the message of the lyrics getting across to us in a clear and perspicuous way. As the song unfolds, I can’t help but notice how beautifully our singer's voice pairs with the instruments, creating a song that allows us to not only reflect on the lyrics, but enjoy the song for what it is, which is simply just music. Those who like alternative pop would undoubtedly find interest in a song like My Friends Don’t Like You. Not only do the lyrics hold meaning, but it’s a song that can be played essentially anywhere. I find the lyrics to be admirable, despite the bitter feelings the friends feel against the relationship our singer has– he disregards their jealousy and doesn’t allow it to spoil the relationship he has with his partner.

MNERVA, the artist behind this exceptionally crafted song, is a singer and songwriter based in Washington, D.C. He had moved to Nashville with a soaring dream to enter the music industry, wishing to make an impact on music and what it means to have a fervent passion for making music. After finding himself pelted by his incessant anxiety and self-doubt, he discovered the true meaning of transferring the depths of his emotions to his lyrics. Tying realism to them along with genuine emotion that can translate to those who also relate to such impactful words. Many of his fans took a fond liking to the authenticity of his lyrics, finding that they could share in vulnerability and embrace the sense of comfort that his music conveys. His songs take a profound step into the realities that a plethora of us face with our struggles, not only comforting us with a sense of reliability but with a sense of hope and optimism. As MNERVA continues to touch the heart of other listeners, I can’t wait to see what he has in store for his fans, MNERD’s, and the entire music industry!

Written By Rosalyn Sanchez

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