Memories

"Memories" by Maroon 5 is a poignant and universally relatable anthem about loss, remembrance, and the healing power of nostalgia. At its core, the song is a tribute to anyone who has passed away, capturing the bittersweet experience of looking back on shared moments. The lyrics center around the act of raising a glass in a toast, a gesture that serves to honor both the people still in our lives and, more importantly, those who are gone. This act of drinking is portrayed as a catalyst for reminiscing, bringing back a flood of memories that make the absent feel present again.

The song delves into the personal journey of grief. It contrasts a naive past, where the singer "did not know no pain" and believed in forever, with the harsh reality of the present, where hearing the lost one's name feels like the coldness of December. This highlights the profound impact of loss and the pain that memories can sometimes carry. However, the overarching message is not one of despair but of hopeful endurance. It acknowledges that "everybody hurts sometimes" but insists that "everything gon' be alright." The song encourages a celebration of life and memory rather than dwelling solely on the pain of absence. It's about carrying the torch for those who have passed and finding light in the darkness through the warmth of memory.

The song begins with a toast, not just to the people present, but also to those who are deeply missed. It acknowledges the pang of their absence, a feeling amplified by drinks that stir up a flood of shared experiences and history. This act of toasting becomes a ritual of remembrance, a way to honor both the companions of today and the loved ones lost along life's journey. The core sentiment is that these memories, often sparked by social moments of drinking and camaraderie, have a powerful ability to resurrect the feeling and presence of those who are gone, making them feel close again.

The narrative then shifts to a more personal reflection, recalling a time of innocence and naivety, a past where pain was an unknown concept and the future seemed to stretch on forever, with a belief that nothing would ever change. This idyllic past is contrasted sharply with the present emotional landscape. Now, the mere mention of a specific person's name can trigger a profound sense of coldness and sorrow, described with the metaphor of a heart feeling like December. This emotional chill comes from the painful reality of being unable to connect with them anymore, a longing tempered only by a faint hope of a reunion in some distant, future time.

The song offers a universal message of comfort, recognizing that pain and hurt are an inevitable part of everyone's life at some point. It’s a shared human experience. However, it doesn't dwell in this sadness. Instead, it offers a resilient perspective, an assurance that things will eventually be alright. The suggested remedy is to actively choose celebration over despair, to raise a glass and embrace the memories. This leads back to the central refrain, reinforcing the toast as a powerful coping mechanism.

A second verse delves into another facet of the past, a time of feeling utterly lost and overwhelmed by a pervasive sense of hatred that seemed insurmountable. This could be interpreted as a personal struggle or a reflection on a difficult period. Yet, even from that darkness, a transformation has occurred. The heart, once lost, is now likened to a glowing ember, a small but persistent source of light that cuts through the darkness. This imagery signifies a move toward healing and acceptance. The narrator pledges to carry the torch for the person they lost, a promise to uphold their memory and legacy, a commitment that will never be broken. This pledge solidifies the song's transition from pure grief to a more hopeful and purposeful remembrance, ensuring that the spirit of the lost one continues to inspire and illuminate the path forward.

"Memories" was released on September 20, 2019, as the lead single from Maroon 5's seventh studio album, Jordi. The song's creation is deeply rooted in personal tragedy. It was written as a tribute to Jordan Feldstein, the band's longtime manager and a close childhood friend of lead singer Adam Levine, who passed away in December 2017 from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 40. Feldstein was the older brother of actors Jonah Hill and Beanie Feldstein. The entire album, Jordi, is named in his honor.

Adam Levine has spoken about how the song came to him at a crucial time, stating, "I needed this song." He explained that an unfinished version was presented to him, and he "filled in the holes with the proper words that I thought would match the experience that I had been going through." The song was written by a team of prominent songwriters including Adam Levine, Jon Bellion, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Michael Pollack, and the production duo The Monsters & Strangerz (Stefan and Jordan Johnson). Vincent Ford, a Jamaican songwriter credited on Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry," is also listed as a writer due to melodic similarities. One of the co-writers, Michael Pollack, mentioned the song came together very quickly, in about 15 minutes, at the end of a session after he introduced the idea based on Pachelbel's Canon.

The track was produced by Adam Levine and The Monsters & Strangerz. The minimalist music video, directed by David Dobkin, features a simple, emotional close-up of Levine singing, ending with the dedication "For Jordi."

The rhyme scheme and rhythmic structure of "Memories" are crafted to be simple, memorable, and supportive of its reflective and soothing tone.

Rhyme Scheme:

The song primarily uses a consistent AABB rhyme scheme in its chorus and verses, which contributes to its accessibility and sing-along quality. For example, in the chorus: "got" (A) rhymes with "not" (A), and "memories" (B) rhymes with the implied repetition in "through" (B, as part of a phrase). In the first verse: "pain" (A) rhymes with "same" (A), and "name" (B) rhymes with the implied feeling in "one day" (B). This straightforward structure makes the lyrics easy to follow and retain.

Rhythm and Tempo:

The song has a moderate tempo of 91 beats per minute (BPM). This pace is calm and unhurried, creating a contemplative atmosphere that allows the listener to absorb the lyrical content. The underlying rhythm has a gentle, reggae-infused feel, which adds a subtle groove and prevents the song from becoming overly somber. This rhythmic choice provides a feeling of resilience and quiet optimism, balancing the sadness of the lyrics. The vocal rhythm is conversational and follows the natural cadence of speech, which enhances the song's sincerity and directness. The interplay between the steady, almost hypnotic musical rhythm and the earnest lyrical delivery is key to the song's emotional impact.

"Memories" is notable for its deliberate musical and stylistic simplicity, which allows its emotional message to take center stage.

Musical Techniques:

• Pachelbel's Canon: The song's most prominent stylistic choice is its foundation on the harmonic sequence and melody of Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major". The chord progression (I-V-vi-iii-IV-I-IV-V in B Major) is repeated throughout, creating a gentle, cyclical, and recognizable feel that adds a timeless, classical quality to the modern pop song. Not only the harmony but also parts of the vocal melody are directly inspired by Pachelbel's original violin lines.
• Minimalist Arrangement: The production is sparse, focusing on Levine's vocals, a simple guitar pluck, and subtle keyboard textures. This stripped-down approach contrasts with many of Maroon 5's more produced, upbeat hits and serves to heighten the song's intimacy and sincerity. The instrumentation is designed to support the vocal performance without overwhelming it.
• Vocal Delivery: Adam Levine's vocal performance is intentionally restrained and emotive. He avoids overt vocal acrobatics in favor of a softer, more reflective tone that conveys vulnerability and nostalgia, aligning perfectly with the lyrical content. The use of wordless "Doo-doo" vocal hooks adds to the song's lullaby-like, memorable quality.

Literary Techniques:

• Direct Address & Apostrophe: The lyrics directly address both the listeners ("Here's to the ones that we got") and the lost loved one ("Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not"), creating an inclusive and personal atmosphere.
• Universality: The lyrics are written in a way that avoids overly specific details, allowing them to be universally relatable. By using general terms like "the ones that we lost," the song becomes an anthem for anyone who has experienced loss, rather than being confined to the songwriter's specific story.

"Memories" had a significant cultural impact upon its release, resonating globally as a universal anthem for loss and remembrance. It achieved major commercial success, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Maroon 5's 15th top-ten track. This success made Maroon 5 the second band in history, after The Rolling Stones, to have a top-two hit in three different decades (2000s, 2010s, 2020s). The song's music video has also been immensely popular, surpassing one billion views on YouTube.

The song's dedication to the band's late manager, Jordan Feldstein, was widely reported, adding a layer of authenticity and emotional weight that connected with audiences. It became a go-to song for tributes and moments of reflection, notably when Adam Levine performed it in a tribute to Kobe Bryant at a pre-Super Bowl LIV event in 2020. Its universal theme has made it a staple on playlists worldwide and a frequent choice for people commemorating their own lost loved ones.

While the song received praise for its sweet sentiment, some critics found its production and lyrics to be generic, with Spin magazine even listing it as one of the worst songs of 2019. Despite mixed critical reception, its commercial performance and its adoption by the public for personal moments of grief have cemented its place as one of Maroon 5's most emotionally impactful and enduring hits of their later career.

"Memories" employs several key symbols and metaphors to convey its themes of loss and remembrance.

• Toasting/Drinking: The central motif of the song is raising a glass. This act symbolizes a celebration of life and a conscious effort to honor the past. The drinks themselves are a catalyst, unlocking "all the memories" and bridging the gap between the present and the past, allowing the narrator to feel connected to the person they've lost.
• December: The line "Now my heart feel like December when somebody say your name" is a powerful metaphor for the cold, sorrowful feeling that grief can evoke. December represents a time of darkness and cold, starkly contrasting with the warmth of the memories themselves. It encapsulates the sharp pain that can be triggered by a simple reminder of the loss.
• Ember and Torches: In the second verse, the metaphor shifts from coldness to a source of light. The heart, which felt like December, now feels "like an ember and it's lighting up the dark." This symbolizes a shift from raw grief to a more hopeful state of healing, where the memory of the lost one provides warmth and guidance. The subsequent line, "I'll carry these torches for ya that you know I'll never drop," extends this imagery, representing the promise to keep the person's memory and legacy alive, carrying it forward as a guiding light.

The most significant recurring motif in "Memories" is the couplet that forms the core of the chorus: "'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories / And the memories bring back, memories bring back you." This phrase is the central thesis of the song, repeated multiple times to emphasize the connection between social remembrance, memory, and the enduring presence of a lost loved one. Its repetition turns the act of remembering into a powerful, almost magical ritual that can conjure the spirit of the departed.

Another key recurring phrase is the toast: "Here's to the ones that we got / Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not" and "Toast to the ones here today / Toast to the ones that we lost on the way." This toast acts as a framing device for the entire song. It's an inclusive call to action that unites listeners in a shared experience of appreciation and loss. By repeating this toast, the song establishes a consistent ritual of remembrance.

The wordless vocal hook, "Doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo," serves as a musical motif. Its simplicity makes it highly memorable and enhances the song's gentle, lullaby-like quality. It functions as an emotional bridge, offering a moment of pure, wordless reflection that complements the nostalgic lyrics.