by Caitlin Jaworski
Each summer we look forward to the same things: walks through the city, a vacation to the shore, fresh lemonade, cold beer and a catchy summer single that keeps us bouncing to the happy beat of the season. This summer has been full of really solid tracks thus far, and “All About That Bass” has held its own in the running for best summer tune. Meghan Trainor’s debut single has not only tickled our tastes for pastel colors (in reference to her music video), but it has also struck a chord with many on a very emotional level.
Trainor identifies as a multitude of things. Although musicianship always takes a sort of precedence over anything else when putting together an album, releasing a single or going on tour, Trainor states, “I will always identify myself as a singer, songwriter and producer.” All of which make for a whopping amount of talent for one lady with humble beginnings from Nantucket.
Within the span of just four short weeks of being posted on YouTube, “All About That Bass” has had over one and a half million views, and that number just keeps rising. Attention is being given from all different sources as many are discovering Trainor, and responding to her via comments on her video for “All About That Bass” as well as social media website Twitter. Trainor is very humbled and flattered by this attention. She explains that via Twitter, “I try respond to everyone and favorite everyone” that participates in this chain of feedback regarding her rapid success and body positive statement.
In regards to that statement Trainor is making, it all comes down to how people perceive themselves. Body positivity and self-acceptance are huge themes that radiate throughout Trainor’s lyrics in her first track and it has really made an impact with viewers since it’s release. “Everyone is beautiful,” says Trainor who emphasizes the fact that there is a lot of negative attention out there for all body types- big or small, and “it’s really hard being a teenager today.”
Ever since its release, the single has received waves of support from all types of individuals, but it has also struck some as a bit confusing or non-inclusive of their own body type. There have been complaints that in promoting one body type, Trainor went about it via the exclusion of another. However, Trainor expresses that her intentions for this track were “never meant to exclude anyone.” In fact, when asked about her single, Trainor was more than exuberant to explain that “[she] wrote it for [herself] and if it helped anyone else [she’s] thrilled.”
Quickly becoming a very popular promoter of self-acceptance, Trainor has hopes that through her fun music she can make people feel good and, most importantly, feel good about themselves. In fact, while discussing the original intentions of the song, Trainor recalls, “I just walked into the studio and said let’s just make a really fun song,” thus “All About That Bass” was created.
This single itself has quite a lot of interesting qualities about it, such as its ambiguous references to “bass” and “treble” clefs. Whether we’re talking about shape, size, or its intention as play on words, the chorus is as catchy as it gets. Trainor’s lyric, “Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top” strikes me as simple, yet powerful. This lyric, in its simplicity, effectively communicates Trainor’s message of the importance of self-love and acceptance. I think there is no better way to comment on this importance, and to include everyone as Trainor’s lyrics ultimately do.
As her single gains more and more recognition by the day, Trainor assures that we’re not through with her yet. Under Epic Records, a production company that has worked with many empowering artists, such as Sara Bareilles and Fiona Apple, Trainor expects “we will release a few more singles before the full album” which is currently in the works. “We still don’t have an album name,” Trainor mentions, quite bashfully, but names come in time, and it’ll surely be worth the wait.
Approaching the subject of potential future hard-hitting or controversial tracks, Trainor mentioned that there would be a lot of “really relatable songs for people at this age,” including a song that serves as an anthem to those “walk of shame” moments. To stick to the theme, she also mentioned “there is another slow track about self-acceptance” similarly to that of her current single. It’s becoming a reality that the songs for those everyday flubs and goofs that one may experience will finally be put into verse, and I don’t know about you, but I’m pumped to see what she has waiting in store.
Regardless of negative criticism, Trainor has kept a very positive outlook and with such, she touches the lives of many. As far as she’s concerned, this singer, songwriter and producer has a lot of really terrific stuff in store, and with so much attention and love from her fans she’ll have no problem achieving success with her upcoming releases. Keep your eyes and ears open for more from this well versed and accomplished woman as she has got a lot to say.
