Like or Dislike: Doing the Best That I Can

[skcin]

I saved the best for last. I love this song so damn much. It is haunting, it is gorgeous, it is dark, it is beautiful. There's not a thing I don't like about it. I honestly think it's one of her best songs ever, and I would say it's in my top 10. How the hell this tune did NOT make it onto Enchanted is beyond me. A travesty, in my humble opinion.

Lyrically, her pain is apparent, and you can really feel it. Is this song about her cocaine addiction? I thought I read that somewhere. But I seem to remember also hearing that it's about her solo career versus her Mac career. Whatever it's about - WOW. It just absolutely blows me away. She sounds pissed off, and hurt, and defensive.

Vocally? Spectacular. She really wails, particularly toward the ending. And how fun is it to sing along to the "ah-ha" "AH-HA!" part with her and the girls? Most fun ever. This is a song to really belt it out to, and I think it would have been fantastic live.

The alternate version (the one where she's sitting at the piano, singing with the girls with some alternate lyrics) is OK. I know some people say they prefer that version. Not me, I really like the album version better.

Favorite lines (if forced to choose):

It was one for you...it was three for me
It was very nice...it was everything
So here it is...in little pieces...
I just played the part...I didn't win or lose
Maybe next time I'll think about how I'm feeling...

I didn't win or lose...I just threw the cards
But I paid a price for it...

Well because fate causes fortune and fortune takes it away

In my distress...well I wanted someone to blame me
In my devastation...I wanted so to change
In my way...disaster was the only thing that I could depend on...

Love it.