Some birthdays are a time for celebration. And on some birthdays, the harsh realities of the passing of time just hit you. When I was 20, I melted down because I didn’t think I could be a hardcore fangirl anymore (I was wrong). When I was 35, I freaked out wondering whether being child-free really was the right choice (it was). Last birthday I spent a good hour crying about whether my hands suddenly looked old (probably not). So I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who faces these seemingly random crises. In “22 & Blue,” Kaylah Thomas bemoans her newly single status and feelings of failure to launch.
“‘22 & Blue’ is about a birthday that should have felt celebratory but instead became the beginning of an emotional unravelling,” she explained. “It reflects that uniquely disorienting period in your early twenties, when everyone around you seems to be moving forward while you’re trying to make sense of your own heartbreak. It’s a song about the confusion, messiness, and quiet grief that often accompanies growing up, especially when reality begins to look different from the future you imagined for yourself.”
This pop gem comes from Kaylah’s upcoming album Good Grief, a deeply personal body of work exploring heartbreak, healing, identity, and the five stages of grief. I can’t wait to hear it!
Image used with permission from Kaylah Thomas