From the very first beat of this song, I immediately felt some unique old-school vibes- a light flavor of 80’s pop, mixed with a very contemporary sound. That edgy, yet soft, guitar riff in the beginning sets the tone for Parks’ “I Don’t Want to Know You.” Its subtle energy seems to symbolize the sentiments unmasked in these emotionally-charged lyrics.
On the bottom of the ocean floor
Another wasted night
Staring down the empty trophies
I’ll take your hand in mine
But I don’t want to know you baby
I love how elusive the lyrics are. The songwriter could be talking about a number of situations; it’s left up to the listener to interpret the song in their own way, relevant to their own situations in life. Such poetic verses give this song a mysterious feel, like you want to know what’s going on beneath the surface. The lyrics and melody work together in such a way that each aid in defining the other, to create a beautiful little indie-pop gem. At times, you find yourself bopping your head to the beat. As the song builds up energy in both melody and voice, you may capture that energy into yourself. The best kind of music transfers a feeling to their listeners, and I believe Parks’ “I Don’t Want to Know You” has certainly completed this task.
It has everything you look for in this kind of music- catchy lyrics that tell a story, a delightfully quirky melody, a soothing voice, and a subtle retro vibe. Parks’ “I Don’t Want to Know You” is a lovely addition to the indie-pop genre.
I love 80’s movies and television, and this song seems like it should’ve been part of a movie soundtrack during that time. Just imagine- Molly Ringwald walking away from Judd Nelson at the end of The Breakfast Club, with “I Don’t Want to Know You” playing. Even though she’s intrigued by the bad boy, she probably never talked to him again because doing so would ruin her “social status;” she doesn’t want to know him, as much as her soul secretly does. This is such a great song because it can be interpreted differently depending on the situation. This song could have just as easily been part of Back to the Future, any John Hughes movie, or even the classic late 80’s T.V. gem, 21 Jumpstreet. Maybe I’m just weird, but I love imagining stories in my head when I’m listening to music, and “I Don’t Want to Know You” certainly gives me some rad retro vibes to work with.
This is the type of song you can play back and feel something different every time. If you’re in the midst of new love, you’ll embrace this song with feelings of hopefulness for the future, even if in the back of the mind you know the person you’re talking to may not be the best choice. Or, perhaps you’re simply frightened of starting a new journey with someone, and this song may help you understand that struggle. If you’re getting out of a breakup, or recently lost a friend, this song may help heal your wounds and feel connected again, because the songwriter shares his own angsts and insecurities with you.
No matter how you’re feeling, “I Don’t Want to Know You” may help you get through it, or at least give you a lovely tune to bop your head to for a bit.
This song has that indie-pop feel, making it the perfect tune for anyone to catch a vibe with. Personally, I’d be surprised in Parks doesn’t see some major success in 2019. Their lyrics are that ideal mixture of relatable and unique- impossible to not appreciate. The main idea of this song- not wanting to know a lover- is a very relatable concept for anyone who’s ever experienced love.
