Just the Way You Are

 

I bet that just by reading the title your mind is already playing the song.

The song Just the Way You Are written by Billy Joel in 1977 (or Barry White) is a lovely ballad. I can sing it word for word (sometimes I wonder how I can do that with most songs from the 70s and 80s when at times I go into the kitchen and can´t remember why I did). Apparently, he is asking a lover not to change a thing because he will love her or him forever just the way he or she is.

Now, if we take a closer look at the lyrics, it is totally utopian. He sings don't go trying some new fashion/ don't change the color of your hair. Hold on a minute! By using the word don’t, he's giving an order where he could have used something more appropriate like you don't have to or you don´t need to. Besides, if he plans to be with this person to celebrate many anniversaries, the fashion will change throughout the years and I certainly hope they roll with the changes; otherwise, it will be pretty freaky.

When he sings: I don't want clever conversation/ don't need to work that hard/ I just want someone I can talk to I'll give him a golden star here. Because the older you get the more you appreciate a good conversation, not that the libido dies out, but it certainly dies down. However, in my case, I do fall for a smart brain and a clever conversation is definitely a turn on.

Then the song goes on: you've always had my unspoken passion/ although I might not seem to care. How is a woman or a man supposed to know his feelings if they are unspoken? Not to mention if he might not seem to care, certainly the lover cannot figure it out through his actions if there aren´t any. Telling the other how you feel about them is essential. In addition to showing how much you care. People do not have crystal balls or ESP to guess what the other feels (although there are some who do). If I can put my two cents in here (well by now it seems like I have put in 50) I would encourage partners to share their feelings - be it good or bad. Don't expect your partner to guess how you are feeling. Trust me you will be disappointed and you probably won´t be celebrating a golden anniversary.

At the end of the day, it is a beautiful song, and the winning line is, in my opinion is, I love you just the way you are!

Written: September 18, 2021

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