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Title: Cat & Mouse
Album: Too True to Be Good
Genre: Indie pop, electronic
Label: Songs to Love and Die By
Perhaps the quirkiest song on Val's debut record is "Cat & Mouse", a track that's received attention from the moment Valentina unveiled the album's track list solely down to the name of the song and the curiosity behind what inspired it. The track itself is another glistening synth-heavy effort that further begins to craft Valentina's own individual sound, blending mainstream melodies together with more ambient, dreamy sounds to create something that's both experimental, yet easily accessible to the listener. The song opens with nothing but a simplistic, looped drum beat as Valentina sounds almost hesitant to sing the lyrics of the song, perhaps portraying a fear within her that she fights to overcome by the end of the track. At the beginning of "Cat & Mouse", she sounds scared and almost unsure whether she should be saying any of this aloud, but the uplifting chorus quickly sweeps in with its euphoric synths and Val's powerful delivery that leaves us with no doubt that she's discovered a new found confidence within her.
The song uses the imagery of a cat and mouse to portray the situation Valentina's in, someone bad in her life that keeps coming back for unlimited second chances. Ultimately, it's about leaving a ex behind, but Valentina's theatrical lyrics move the song away from being a cliché effort and helps to make the subject matter refreshing for a change. While Val as a songwriter has admitted to struggling when it comes to showing vulnerability in her lyrics, "Cat & Mouse" is the perfect example of Valentina moving out of her comfort zone and showing herself in exactly that light, placing herself as the mouse in the situation, displaying how powerless she feels. "I dodge the trap" she sings at one moment in the song, showing how constantly on edge and helpless she is when it comes to this person. However, there's a fighting spirit in the song that comes through in the chorus, "This time it's not fun and games / I'm putting all I've got up," Val sings bravely, showing she refuses to give in to this person.
"I call this the Tom & Jerry song, I think I said that in a Q and A or something before. I didn't just wanna write your average 'we're never getting back together' kinda song, it's all been there, done that (hi self reference lol) and I knew I could do something different to that. Something a lil quirky that'd have people like 'Woah... this is a weird one' and I like songs like that. I'm obv the mouse in this song, not only cuz I love a good mouse... or rat... or whatever, but because of how I felt. Y'know how Jerry always gets in some situation and runs back into his lil mouse house and hides away, trying to avoid what's after him? That's so me."
Sounds like:
"Cat & Mouse"I can't do this again
I've been running around too many times
To not live and learn and feel the burn
Had my heartstrings pulled and felt 'em break
Too many times to not learn from my mistakes
You made my world shake
Now I jump over the cracks from the earthquake
Maybe we should stop building walls
Bridges, barriers and problems
That weren't in sight to begin with
I don't know where to stand
Next to you or the other side of the earth
All I know is I can't do it again
No, I can't let you in
Either way, you'd find a way
Perhaps not now, but another day
To try and get inside and mess me up
That's the way you work when I'm in your clutch
And I can't feel your touch, no
Cause you chase me, but I can't do it again
It's like a cat and mouse
You'll break me, no, I can't let you in
And I'm not coming out
This time it's not fun and games
I'm putting all I've got up
It's like a cat and mouse
And I'm not coming out
I raise my shield
After too many times around the minefield
I dodge the traps, perhaps
Your plan all along was to watch me collapse
Misery loves a little company
So much for subtlety, cause it's loud and clear
Like a megaphone against my ear
And now all sense is screaming out
No more wool over my eyes, cause now
You're no longer the headlights blinding the deer
It's all so clear and it all appears
Just how much damage you've done
I used to sit and take it, but this time all I can do is run
But I know you, you'd find a way
Perhaps not now, but another day
To try and get inside and mess me up
That's the way you work when I'm in your clutch
And I can't feel your touch, no
Cause you chase me, but I can't do it again
It's like a cat and mouse
You'll break me, no, I can't let you in
And I'm not coming out
This time it's not fun and games
I'm putting all I've got up
It's like a cat and mouse
And I'm not coming out
The door's locked and bolted
And I'm not coming out
I'm done facing what's hurt me
And it won't happen again
This time, I'm not running
From what gave me nothing
Cause you chase me, but I can't do it again
It's like a cat and mouse
You'll break me, no, I can't let you in
And I'm not coming out
This time it's not fun and games
I'm putting all I've got up
It's like a cat and mouse
And I'm not coming out
[instrumental breakdown]
"Cat & Mouse" is out now.
Catch its television debut live on the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon next week. |
  ACTIVE: Vanity x Nadia Berry |
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