As a perpetually single heterosexual male, I've spent inordinate amounts of time thinking about my friendships with other guys. I've often said that the difference between girls' friendships with each other and guys' friendships with other guys is that girls enjoy face-to-face relationships. They like to look at each other, talk to each other, and sympathize with each other. Guys ain't really about face-to-face friendships. We empathize, sure. But mainly, we do stuff. Sports, videogames, even sitting around and doing nothing - it doesn't really matter. We're side-by-side whether we ride or we die, 'cause we in the struggle together.
But that's not to say that we men all are insensitive brutes. Not all the time, at least. I like to believe I'm capable of experiencing the entire spectrum of emotions beyond simply anger and hunger. Yes... I'd like to believe that even my world-weary heart can still (occasionally) feel something akin to vulnerability and love.
Maybe one day I'll share my favorite love songs. Right now, that seems kind of pointless because I'm not in a loving mood. But no matter how lousy I feel, no matter how crappy my day, no matter how consumed I am with the unbearable lightness of being, a few words of encouragement from a beloved brother can bring comfort into my life. Hell, even a slap on the butt and a "I got your back" will usually suffice. Sometimes, that's all it takes to help me keep on truckin'.
And so, in honor of my brethren, I present to you my top five bromantic songs in alphabetical order.
Acquiesce by Oasis. I think it's amusing that this song was made by two brothers who have repeatedly feuded in public over the years, not just verbally, but to the point where they've exchanged fisticuffs. Oasis broke up a while ago, after the Gallagher brothers had another fight, but I look forward to the day when they reunite and play this song at their first concert together. Acquiesce is a simple song about trusting in one another's friendship. It's a general song about friendship but there's an earnestness in the simplicity of it all that makes it so efficient.
I Still Remember by Bloc Party. In all honesty, this song very likely crosses the (admittedly thin) line between "Bromantic Song" and "Homoerotic Rock Anthem." Nonetheless, it's a song about the unspeakable closeness between two friends (who both happen to be dudes). Look up this song on The One True Source of All Knowledge (Wikipedia) for Kele Okereke's explanation on the background of this song.
Let Me In by R.E.M. This is probably one of R.E.M.'s lesser-known album tracks, but any R.E.M. fan knows that the band wrote it in response to Kurt Cobain's suicide. I love the sound of this song, with the heavily distorted guitar, the plaintive organ, and Michael Stipe's falsetto. Lyrically, this song deals with Stipe wishing he had known Cobain's state of mind so he could have helped him. But I think the song's intent is universal as well; it's about recognizing how, at times, it can be awkward to show care for another, and how it can be hard to reach out to someone if he doesn't let you into the darkest places of his heart. That third verse is excellent.
Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of by U2. Like "Let Me In," this song was written for another dead rock star. (In this case, it was the lead singer of INXS.) Bono's lyrics are pretty much easy to decipher. A part of the song wrestles with the idea of Bono wishing he could have been there better for his friend, while I think the other key aspect of the song is about simple endurance through despair, and the affect that friendship can have in helping someone persevere. The final minute of the song, when The Edge chips in with his vocals, is probably one of the most encouraging bits of music I've ever heard.
There you have it. Those are my favorite bromantic songs (that I could think of at this particular moment). Hit me up if you know of any other good ones.
