Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Emily Ricks, once the voice actor of Bonnie from Toy Story, breaks down the illusions of youth, childhood and naivety In her latest single, “Farewell to My Youth.”
Ricks’ husky and richly expressive voice becomes the driving instrument in the song, thanks to her heartfelt and emotionally resonant delivery. Her diaristic and reflective lyrics get us riding down a journey through the bittersweet nostalgia of youth and the inevitable passage of time. The arrangement takes its sweet time getting into the subject matter, with the guitar revving and slowly building amidst pattering drums, allowing Ricks’ vocals to shine with pristine clarity.
With the emotional crescendo of the chorus, the instrumentals finally collide with driving guitars and crashing drums with their sparkly cymbals sparking up the song. In the chorus, Ricks spills her sobering truth: “Everyone you love you’re gonna lose, and the older you get, the more confused.”
Yet, “Farewell to My Youth” is more than a lament for lost innocence. It’s a call to embrace the uncertainty and challenges of growing up with courage and resilience and finding the beauties of life through the everyday blues.
As she bids adieu to her own youth, the 23-year-old rising artist Ricks gets us relating to her journey to self-discovery and personal growth. Listen to “Farewell to My Youth” and cave into your newfound realizations on Spotify.
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Review By: Naomi Joan