Seven Songs a Week: Friday: Nao

Hello, Welcome to Seven Songs a Week

Today we've got another song about a bad relationship, I swear this isn't on purpose but it's not a bad theme. This song deserves way more recognition than it gets because it and the artist are so ethereal and talented, today's song is "Orbit" by Nao. Yet another artist I found from COLORSxStudios, Nao hypnotized me with her voice and lyrics that I just had to listen to her second studio album, Saturn, which was nominated for a Grammy in 2019.

Album Cover for "Saturn"

I believe that "Orbit" is about Nao beginning a new relationship but her form relationship is still hurting her. The song is Nao speaking to new or potential lover on, what I believe, is a date. "It's just you, it's just me. I lost you in dreams." references how it just Nao and the date and how she's been lead astray by her ex as dreaming about being lost can be considered that. "Please don't catch, let me break into pieces of hate. Still I'm soaring." This lyric can reference the title and theme of being dumped or being released into orbit. The date has become all about as Nao's ex as she says how its "...kind of sad..." how her date reminds her of her "...love that [she] once knew..." Nao can see how the date is going as knows it isn't going well so the lyric goes to "...you remind me of a love who outgrew me too." Nao drops the chorus with "he released me into orbit" referencing how alone and far away from the rest of the world when the relationship ends. Nevertheless, Nao "...found a way to navigate..." to her current courter. Nao still talks about her ex in the second verse, she describes the way her ex broke up with her. The breakup took place at midnight after a dinner after a romantic vacation as their is mention of a hotel and, well, midnight. The ex might not have any money as he says "Please pay my bills before you lose your head over heels" which I take as Nao's ex dropping the news as they are leaving the restaurant or hotel. Nao's ex doesn't seem to be the sympathetic type either with lyrics like "Take care you don't slip to a new realm" as he underplays Nao's feelings and his nihilistic claims of "...I release you...I don't need [you.] If I lose you, I lose you. You can give me the voodoo." Nao's ex then quotes D'angelo saying "how does it feel?' before releasing her into orbit, as if he didn't know. Something I really liked about this verse is the distorted effect and lower register that Nao sings this, portraying a masculine voice and strange, demented aura around it.

The bridge is what I believe to be everything that Nao said to her ex while broken up "Please don't say you're desertin'....Don't leave me revolving....Please don't lie like the last time...Left me barely holding on...Won't do this again." I can't help but think this has happened before, the entire song and date. This makes me think that Nao will usually take about her former lovers driving away her current lovers but it could also be seen as her pleading with her ex. After another pre-chorus and chorus, Nao ends the song with the reason she is on the date because, as she puts it, "I gravitate to you."

I'm not sure if I guessed the correct meaning because the song is not what I thought it was, the lyrics make it seem that Nao has a habit of being overdramatic and a chatterbox. The song is great though and so is Nao's voice. This song never received an official video but it did receive a COLORSxStudios video and a live performance video which I will link below.

I give "Orbit" 4.5 mentions of space out of 5

I hope you enjoyed my review. How do you feel about "Orbit"? Leave a comment and a request for Saturday down below.

I listed my sources below in case you are interested in reading more.

Take Care,

Jonathan