The Paper Kites’ “Give Me Your Fire, Give Me Your Rain” brings on the full nostalgic vibes for an era I’ve never experienced though always wished I could: the 80’s.
The first notes are upbeat and makes me feel as though I’m part of one of the quintessential 80’s movies, like The Breakfast Club or St. Elmo’s Fire. It’s beautiful when a modern band can invoke those 80s feels and not be cheesy about it. The retro feeling infused within this song creates great emotional urgency that brilliantly showcases the song’s story.
The Paper Kites formed a beautiful concept for a song. It’s so poetic and natural, yet brings on the feels with its dreamy, almost other-worldly magical essence. The message infused throughout The Paper Kites’ lyrics is one of acceptance- understanding the flaws of a significant other yet loving passionately anyways.
It’s an unbiased view of falling in love with the whole of a person- living in the moment with the other person and appreciating all the small moments that make up a relationship.
I can fan a fire
I can keep it from burning away
But what’s it gonna take to stop the silence?
I could live as a liar
Say that I’m turning away
But giving up won’t give up desire
The gorgeous vocals create a peaceful and tranquil vibe that invokes an almost existential feeling within the listener. Listening to this song transports you to a magical place. It is delicate yet powerful, depressing yet uplifting. You melt into the song as it soothes your mind and inspires your imagination. It’s crazy how the mind can latch onto something when new or interesting forces enter the equation. While the narrator of this song seems a bit obsessed with his lover, this fixation is seemingly overlooked because of his unwavering passion and dedication. There may be fighting, disagreements, or unhealthy interactions within the relationship, but the devotion felt by the narrator is too strong to let the relationship fade out.
Don’t want to feel it without you
Don’t wanna feel it with nobody else
Give me your fire, give me your rain
Give me a little love from you
This beautifully pure vibe could change anyone’s mood, making them feel both optimistic and relaxed. People in relationships could learn a thing or two from this song- sometimes it’s better to fight for something that’s seemingly broken in an attempt to fix it, instead of giving up and expecting something better comes along.
The elegiac lyrics piece together a vivid visual aid for the listener. I love when small moments are fashioned together to create a delicate picture of a story we are only allowed a quick glimpse into- like when you’re driving down the street and you see a couple kissing on a corner, or a family playing on their front lawn. You see a hint of these peoples’ lives as you drive by, but that’s it. They go on with their lives, and we go on with ours. Such moments remind me of this song, with pieces of moments stringed together to form a subtle glimpse into this story.
Watching windows, watching stars
Coloured lights and empty bars
All the houses in the yard
All the streets and passing cars
What’s the distance where you are?
Can I make it back to your heart?
I’m amazed that a modern band can bring on the full 80s vibes so flawlessly. It feels like I should be listening to this song on a cassette or 8-track player. Experiencing this song is like an escape to a parallel universe- a world where relationships are given second chances, people fall in love with moments, and the distinctive sound of the 80’s never faded. In this parallel world, the 80’s vibe was expanded upon, and carefully fashioned into the wonderfully ethereal atmosphere we hear in The Paper Kites’ “Give Me Your Fire, Give Me Your Rain.” If you ever wished you could live in an 80’s movie, then this inspiring tune would be on your soundtrack.
