We live in a world where it's a very common experience to look in the mirror and pick apart every flaw we see. It's common to want what you don't have and compare yourself to the people that do. It's easy to stare at the mirror’s reflection and not recognize who you are staring at. Living in a world where social media and society’s beauty standards influence our decisions, we can easily get caught in that trap and want to change ourselves to fit the stereotypical ideals we see. Gaining confidence and learning to love yourself is a tough journey, but one that is very fulfilling in the end. Sarah Gray’s “Stranger” shows the vulnerable side of how these thoughts can significantly impact your life and how quickly you can lose yourself and become a stranger you don’t even recognize.
The song opens with “look at the mirror right away when I get up/stare at my face/stare at the things that are messed up” which takes us through the dread of waking up in the morning and staring at a reflection we aren’t happy with. “Wanted to be like the girls who have it together” is a lyric that shows how Sarah really feels about herself. She believes the girls who “have it together” have everything figured out and all the things they desire. While looking in the mirror, she examines herself and lists all the things she wants to change. She’s losing control of her thoughts and letting them get the best of her.
Sarah sings “It’s hard to recognize me when I look in the mirror” and that “I’m supposed to like this feeling/The thrill of what’s a risky decision,” which is saying she feels pressure from society to conform to its standards and subsequently lose herself in the process. When she says “Is it easier to just not cry?” it sounds like she is suppressing her true emotions. Maybe if she changes herself she will be happy and then the sadness will inevitably go away. “Losing control of my life/…I’m my own stranger” is one of the most powerful lines in the song. She is acknowledging that she is a stranger in her own body and that she let her insecurities and the pressure she felt to change consume her. These thoughts not only have a physical impact, but also a mental one. She sings about how the thoughts eventually become the only thing she thinks about and finds it hard to think positively about herself. These thoughts also make you crave validation from others, and you don't want them to see what you see in the mirror. The insecurities win the war, but at that point you’ve lost the fight a while ago.
“It’s strange how reflections show unfamiliar faces in my eyes my stranger” is the out-of-body experience of looking at your own reflection and feeling like you will never be enough. You see through your own eyes what these thoughts have done to you, and it’s sad to not only go through this but to actually see it take over your life. In her eyes, she isn’t enough and she believes there’s “no room for her” anywhere.
This song comes from a very honest and emotional experience that many people, especially young girls go through. It’s an experience that I’ve personally gone through myself, and while listening to the lyrics, I empathized with what she’s feeling because I understand exactly what she means. “Stranger” by Sarah Gray is about feeling lost in your own body and not having a strong sense of self. Her tone could be soft at times and powerful at others. She sings some of the lyrics to make it sound like she is talking to herself in the mirror. You can really hear the raw emotion in her voice, and the piano and subtle guitar notes contribute to that.
Sarah Gray is a rising pop singer-songwriter from Philadelphia. She’s taken her talents to Nashville where she writes and releases vulnerable music that’s easy to relate to. She’s dominated the live music scene, and has played at iconic venues and festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival, The Bluebird Cafe, and The Basement. Sarah was a two time semi-finalist in the International Songwriters Competition. She even has over 2,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Sarah is continuing to work on more music that touches on real issues that many people struggle with. Don’t be a stranger, give Sarah a listen and check out her other singles!
Written By Alexa LaMalfa
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