Ayra Starr Heals Our Inner Children on “Misunderstood”
Ayra is a star. You know it, we know it, and her latest album, Starrgirl spends its runtime reminding you of it.
Seating on the number eleven spot in the midst of the confidence, self proclaimations and finesse that defines the album sits “Misunderstood,” one of the most emotional songs on the Starrgirl album.
The song begins with a guitar riff that carries the warmth of an old coming-of-age soundtrack, the kind that reminds you of Hannah Montana, School of Rock and One Direction, when children were forming bands in backyards and bedrooms, constituting a nuisance in the name of making music. There is something youthful about it, almost innocent, before Ayra’s voice enters and changes the mood.
“Little Miss Unbothered, little broken-hearted.”
It is such a simple description, but there is something about hearing those words that makes you search your own memory.
The Familiar Ache of Being Misunderstood
Beyond the production, the lyrics are where the emotion really shines.
Ayra describes a girl who is a black sheep in a white room, a lone wolf surrounded by people who have already decided what she can and cannot become. She has been told she will never make it on her own. They were wrong.
Most people will never experience Ayra Starr’s particular version of that story. However, almost everyone knows what it feels like to be told that they cannot do something they have set their mind to do.
You remember the teacher who did not think you were good enough. The relative who laughed at your plans. The person who called you rude when you were only trying not to cry.
“Misunderstood” captures that feeling without making it unnecessarily complicated.
There is a girl who has been called difficult, underestimated and misunderstood, but she is slowly learning that it is not her life’s mission to make those people comfortable.
Like “Cast,” Ayra Starr Gives Her Listeners Permission to Be
There is a thread running through Ayra’s music that has always made her feel particularly resonant with young listeners.
“Cast,” from 19 & Dangerous, felt like a Gen Z permission slip. A declaration that you could be young, ambitious, loud, confused, stylish, unserious etc. She says to let people say what they want. She reminds you that this is your one precious life and you came here alone.
“Misunderstood” feels like that same philosophy after a little more life has happened.
It is no longer just I am going to become who I want to be.
It is I have become her, and I am no longer interested in explaining myself to everybody.
Ayra is not only celebrating the woman she has become. She is making room for every version of herself that had to survive long enough to get here.
“Misunderstood” Is Ayra’s Ode To Self Love
Misunderstood is a song that carries heartbreak in it, there is uncertainty, defiance, prayer and finally, joy.
The guitar riff carries the innocence of childhood, while the melodies carry the ache of growing up. The lyrics carry the stubbornness of someone who has finally decided that being misunderstood is okay.
Ayra went into the studio, recorded therapy and gave it to us as Misunderstood.
She may be singing about herself, but she leaves enough room for you to bring your own childhood, insecurities, and misunderstood moments into the song.
For three minutes, you get to be the black sheep, the broken-hearted girl, the misunderstood diva and still know that you are nobody’s fool.
