La La Lost You : A Reminiscent Episode of The One That Got Away

source : Pinterest (an illustration for this song)

These last weeks my brain is stucked with one or two songs. One of them is La La Lost You by Niki. For you that's still not familiar, Niki (shorten from Nicole Zefanya) is Indonesian singer around her early 20s, who is making a career with 88rising labels currently, and obviously made her way to US music industry. One of her long listed songs is La La Lost You which is aired in 2019, and has 2 versions, the original and acoustic one. Personally I'd prefer acoustic version since the song's meaning can be felt better.

Interpreting the title only, it is a quite sad or maybe bittersweet song of losing significant other. This single is mainly talking about a girl who is reminiscing her ex which turns out to be the one that got away. Here is the lyrics :

While I'm on Sunset, are you on the subway?

While I drive, are you gettin' on the L-train?

I mean, Manhattan's nice, but so are Malibu nights

The first verse is describing how far they both are. They are living a very different life now. Using two big states of USA in the background, as we know New York (Manhattan) and Los Angeles (Malibu), even both are equally famous, has a very distinct ambiance. It is clear that the girl is a Malibuites, enjoying sunset and beach, and of course, driving free along Malibu beach line. And as the ex, as a New Yorker now, going here and there using trains on subways.

You would know if you stayed

You would know if you put up a fight

She regretted his past decision to leave and just giving up on fights. And maybe, she might regret her act also for letting him did that.

Your toes turn blue in winter, I'm gettin' red, rum

Does the trick for all of the things left unsaid, I'm

Missin' our drunken 2 A.M. Strolls in K-Town

Once again she's comparing their life now. While he curls himself at winter in Manhattan, she's still enjoying sun and getting rums. She remembers how they killed the night under Malibu lights. And the memories go on..

Now you're chasing fake highs in the Upper West Side

And fuckin' on Brooklyns in Brooklyn

Your Chelseas in Chelsea

Hope that eases the pain

So you remember to miss me

She realized that not only their places are so contrast, but also his feeling change along the time. She told us that he moved on with two or three uptown girls, only to last one night stand. Maybe that way he can forget their hurted past, and remember her without an ache.

And you sold your car

Now you walk for miles

Bet your feet feel numb

(Crosswalks in my mind are shaky, so please hold on tight)

The representation of the ex giving away his past life (the convenience of driving in a car), showing that he'd like to do anything to let her go, and keep moving forward. Although it has a high cost. Walking for miles and feeling numb is a way of saying somehow life is not comfortable and tiring at one point. And the absence of her in his life may caused a numb feeling or hard to fall in love anymore. Or maybe, it's just showing how expensive New York for living 😁

source : Pinterest

All my demons run wild

All my demons have your smile

In the city of angels

In the city of angels

Hope New York holds you

Hope it holds you like I do

While my demons stay faithful

In the city of angels

So enough with the man. But how is she doing now? It is told in above part.

The thing with a break up is you need to move on or you will keep in the same hole thinking about the broken relationship. I believe this moving on phrase is so easy for anyone who is leaving. They left the place and started a new life anyway. But what about the person left behind? I don't think so.

It is unclear whether she did her best to move on or not. But saying from where she stands, her statement of reminiscing their past memories through Malibu lanes or places, she remains living in their unsuccessful effort. And finally she told him that  sometimes, his faces are coming to her. His smile is at anything she sees. 

Summer's endin' now and the nights are coolin' down

Remember last winter when we would drive around?

Silverlake, Hollywood, pretty little white lies got me good

Thought this was love, I was misunderstood, mm

When she looks at one particular place, she might be remembered their moment which took place at the very same spot. How cozy they both were at the moment, now when she reckons she could swear they would last only to find out it becomes a memory.

Feelin' low on the low, drivin' through NoHo

If I'm honest, I'd call, but I'm trying to let go

Driving through NoHo, can mean something which she's travelled on their history. NoHo or North of Houston Street is an official historical district in NY. Actually it's a good phrase to define how she's missing him, who is a New Yorker now. She's telling the temptations for calling him, to remind him that they might have a chance once more. But she always calls it off as she remember that they're not the same as they were anymore.

And I hope you're happy, livin' life in taxis

But you'll always have me, you'll always have me

In the end, she's just hoping for the best of him. Hoping he heals himself, despite his attempts of finding new love, which is described as living life in taxis or everything is temporal and none is last. But if one thing she can be sure, she's always have a place for him eventually.

Losing the one that got away is always a complex feeling. We once so sure of this relationship, and now it's just slipped away. There are so many chances we can make to rebuild it, but deep in each other hearts, we just knew it was never meant to be. 

Stream now : NIKI - La La Lost You (Live) | Acoustic Sessions