Instrumentation: Vocals (the Quin sisters), Piano, Percussion (drums, possibly tambourine), Electric Guitar, Electric Bass
Form: Like most modern non-art music, this song is strophic – alternating between verses and the chorus of “I just want back in your head.”
Origins: This is an original song written by Sara. Interestingly enough, I read somewhere that she originally wrote it as a slower song, but sped it up because she knew it would sound more appealing.
Melody: Melodically, this song seems very simple: most of the melody line runs stepwise (only a step away within the scale), and the rhythm is also fairly simple. Yet there’s also a certain beauty in the song’s simplicity that makes it catchy and memorable.
Lyrics: The lyrics seem to refer to the complicated romantic relationship dynamics between two people. The speaker feels a sorrowful sense of detachment from their lover (“I just want back in your head”), yet also fears the dangers of intimacy “(I’m not unfaithful but I’ll stray / When I get a little scared”). These lyrics have a universal appeal to listeners: despite age, race, sexual orientation, or any other factor, everyone can feel love or confusion over it.
Timbre: The Quin sisters possess a unique, distinctive vocal quality that I would say is the defining mark of all their music. I find their voices to be simultaneously charming and gratingly shrill. I do think that they have a somewhat childish tone to their voice, which meshes ironically with their mature, introspective lyrics.
Personal Response: Tegan and Sara are one of my favorite groups, and “Back In Your Head” is probably their most accessible song to date (it’s definitely one of my favorites). I completely respect their talent as singer-songwriters: actually, they come to my mind as one of the (seemingly few) examples of good women role-models today in the music industry. I actually didn’t know until 6 months ago that they were both lesbians, although they are open about it. They have even written a few songs about it, such as “I Was Married”, which talks about the world’s perception of gays, and how it affects the way one sees oneself. In the interview I was reading, they expressed their disappointment with how people continue to perceive LGBTQs, especially in the media: apparently a man once asked them if they made out with each other, just because “they’re lesbians and all.” That comment made me feel pretty disgusted: but I continue to view Tegan and Sara Quin as strong, honest, and powerful women in the music industry that have inspired (and continue to inspire) many women and others alike.
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