“Chosen” by Blood Orange and Caroline Polachek
You know a song is magical when you can recall the moment you first heard it. The sound is definitively Blood Orange, and its soothing yet “messy” atmosphere is both contemplative and remarkably intimate. Dev Hynes has described the song as an ode to a boy, intending to express the longing of queer desire. It reflects a precarious balance, on the brink of either falling or making a decision. The recurring refrain “But I don’t want to choose” shows the introspective battle of either admitting your feelings at the risk of rejection or remaining at an impasse.
To me, this song feels like fate waiting to happen.
Yes, queer love often exceeds the heteronormative standards of heartbreak and longing. But, the deep intimacy of patiently finding your person is by far the most profound feeling in the world. Just like the first time I heard it, this song reminds me of the love I am so lucky to feel.
