Mirah

Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover, version 1) by Mirah (mp3, Mediafire)
Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover, version 2) by Mirah (mp3, Mediafire)

So, for people who know me in real life, it sort of goes without saying that I have this thing when it comes to Mirah and I've had it for something like 8 or 9 years now. It began when I first heard her Small Sale EP and it only intensified with the release of You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This. While it was riot grrrl that made me think, "I could potentially be in a band," it was Mirah's deeply personal (but funny and sad and complicated) songs that helped me to feel at home and also helped me to think of the non-musical writing and creating I was doing as being valid and interesting.

Of course, the songs I'm posting today aren't actually original works of Mirah's -- instead I have two delightful versions of the same song: Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark." It seems sort of like a weird choice -- you know, a song by the Boss -- but when you think about it, it works. It's a song that explores loneliness and insecurity and desperation, a desire to be something more and a fear that you are somehow incomplete and will never be completely whole, no matter how hard you struggle.

Semi-related: I really recommend reading this excerpt (written by Mirah) from the Rock 'n Roll Camp for Girls book. The essay is called "How I Got Out of My Bedroom (in Eleven Lessons)." It's short, sweet, and more than worth a read. My favorite part (well, one of them):

You will have plenty of time to have other people help you make things later. In the beginning, and maybe forever, make it yourself.

Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover, version 1) by Mirah (mp3, Mediafire)
Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover, version 2) by Mirah (mp3, Mediafire)