Somewhere in some other galaxy, on some other iteration of this website long-ago deleted and written over, this song had some far more innocent blog post to go along with it. I’m old enough to remember when Paris Hilton released it, back when I had little to no respect for her, and it was so good that I played it out for the whole summer of 2006. I don’t remember what I wrote about it then, only that it was one of the summer songs that I featured during the sunny time of the year. It came when the days were carefree, when the nights were filled with pool parties and friends and newly-planted gardens. It was a song reflective of such innocence – the musical embodiment of summer, when music made the memories that would last the longest.
I don’t mind spending some time just hanging here with you
‘Cause I don’t find too many guys that treat me like you do
Those other guys all wanna take me for a ride
But when I walk, they talk of suicide
Some people never get beyond their stupid pride
But you can see the real me inside, and I’m satisfied…
On this evening before summer officially starts, the songs gets an updated treatment with Paris’ Version, which brings it neatly into our pink-hued coquette theme while largely retaining its original innocence. That’s not as easy as it might seem, even with the arrival of summer again; the innocent coquette is not necessarily an oxymoron, but one must work for it not to be.
Even though the gods are crazy
Even though the stars are blind
If you show me real love, baby, I’ll show you mine
I can make it nice and naughty
Be the devil and angel too
Got a heart and soul and body
Let’s see what this love can do
Maybe I’m perfect for you
Baby, baby, I could be your confidante
Come on over, show me if you’re down or not
That’s hot, make your whole jaw drop
Give you all that talk, finna ride with Paris
Outta everybody in the galaxy
You’re the only one I really want with me
Let’s sip, we like princesses
In the Miu Miu fits with the horse and carriage
Why shouldn’t we be with the ones we really love?
Now tell me, who have you been dreamin’ of?
The summer of 2006 feels so long ago, and many summers have come and gone since then, so much life – sprouting and growing and blooming and maturing – and now it feels like the years of fading have begun. That makes things glow differently, and in this second half of life, should I be so lucky to be hovering around the halfway mark (for nothing is ever guaranteed) I’m preparing for all the things a proper second act should be.
Even though the gods are crazy
Even though the stars are blind
If you show me real love, baby
I’ll show you mine
I can make it nice and naughty
Be the devil and angel too
Got a heart and soul and body
Let’s see what this love can do (Oh no)
Maybe I’m perfect for you
Like our modern coquette aesthetic this song reaches into the past while reimagining a freshness and newness not entirely unlike a virgin. It’s a lovely way of honoring the final evening of spring, and the night that will see us into summer.
