No. 006 - Matthew Sweet's "Divine Intervention" changed my life
Evan Trusewicz on Tiny Tim, being nine years old, and anime music videos.
This Song Changed My Life is an independent music publication featuring essays from people all around the world about the songs that mean the most to them. Created by Grace Lilly, supported by readers.
• 4 min read •
Both of my parents were musicians and visual artists. They encouraged their children to be the same. And it worked, for better or worse.
We loved to draw. We loved to create. We loved music. We really did. The stereo never caught a break.
We three kiddos all had our favorites, but generally agreed on what to play. When we were very young, it was a compilation of screwed-up tunes like Tiptoe Through the Tulips, Monster Mash (still slaps), and Flying Purple People Eater.
When our mother couldn’t stand it any longer, she’d play the radio for something new. Saturdays we woke up to her cleaning the house blasting The Boss (required by law as residents of the state of New Jersey). Most nights our dad would play his acoustic guitar and haunt the house as we tried to sleep.
When I’d reached kindergarten, we’d formed enough opinions about the record player that our parents had no choice but to take us to the store and sort it out. Unfortunately, I was in the undesirable position of middle child, which meant I was forced to accept my older brother’s choice. I have no memory of the trip to the store, or the record.
So, finally (finally!) at the age of 9, it was my turn to pick the tunes. My interests had led me to take up tap dancing, so on the day of my first dance recital, I was buzzing.
It was exciting, but what had me feeling electric was receiving a gift from my mother: a tape of my choosing. I knew what I wanted; the album was called Girlfriend by Matthew Sweet.
I had seen the video for the title track on MTV; cutscenes from anime, noodling guitar solos. It was cool.
She brought me to a very small Sam Goody and picked it right up. At home, I laid on the floor with head against the sofa and slipped the cassette into my Walkman. As it played the first, unheard song, I felt as if I already knew it by heart.
I don't know where I'm gonna live
Don't know if I'll find a place
I'd have to think about it some
And that I do not wish to face
I guess that I'm counting on his
Divine intervention
I cannot understand my god
I don't know why it gets to me
One day my life is filled with joy
And then we find we disagree
All depending on his
Divine intervention
It was all mine. Really got a 9 year old gears' turning, too. It became well known through the household that I was obsessed with that tape. It was stolen during a sibling rivalry that resulted in my first panic attack after my sister's decision to launch said tape had jostled it into an unplayable state.
In another earnest interaction, my brother said "you really love this shit" and he was correct. Ultimately (with some divine intervention??) the tape began playing again. Oh, and funny thing — “Divine Intervention” is one of my least favorite songs on the album, but I recognize the power it held, and won’t forget what it did for me. ◆
About Evan
Evan Trusewicz is a multidisciplinary artist based in NY.
Instagram @stillwilderness
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