Wed. 4/2/25 journal entry, 9:33pm:
“…I watched some Tick Tick Boom before turning it off (because too sad) and taking a nap.”
Sat. 4/5/25 journal entry, 4:31pm:
“I’ve been so Tick Tick Boom.
‘30/90’ — Evidently I love this song, since it was #1 in my Spotify wrapped 2 years ago. I can’t relate that much as a sixteen year old. Still a great song thought!! And I know every single word so.
‘Boho Days’ — kinda romanticizes struggle in the name of ‘bohemia’ and the starving artist’s lifestyle. ok it ended
‘Green Green Dress’ — sex scene song! I like the deleted scene version more, it’s more musical theatre-y.
‘No More’ — Very fun!! As a juxtaposition to ‘Boho Days,’ this song romanticizes the comforts of being wealthy and living well (most likely by ‘making it’ or selling out). Is it worth it to give up your art and dreams for a pretty apartment?
‘Johnny Can’t Decide’ — I LOVE!! ‘Compromise or persevere?’ I love how many questions are in this musical lmao. Pretty and comfy song that explores the two life paths set forward by ‘Boho Days’ and ‘No More’ (‘How do you know when it’s time to let go?’).
‘Sunday’ — This one has definitely grown on me since my first watch. It’s definitely requiring a lot of belief suspension with the visuals.
- Favorite lyrics: ‘silver chromium diner,’ ‘sit the fools drinking cinnamon coffee,’ ‘soft, green cylindrical stools’
‘Play Game’ — Interesting rap showing Jon’s distaste for the state of Broadway. He talks a bit about it churning out tasteless, unoriginal cashgrabs though.
- Favorite lyrics: ‘ugliness where architecture used to be,’ ’like the sixty-dollar spectacle, it’s all a fraud’
‘Therapy’ — I love this song! Fun to sing. I love the cuts between the musical and the actual scene, especially when Susan realizes Jon’s writing a song in his head.
- Favorite lyrics: ‘maybe the problem’s simply codependencyyy,’ ‘you should go drop dead!’
‘Swimming’ — WAHH I love!! I really like the stream of consciousness style, it’s so fun and feels like swimming. ALSO the guitar solo at the end is sick. Very hopeful for lil Johnathan.
‘Come to Your Senses’ — I think I cried to this one the other day! I love this song so much! I like how this whole journal segment is just me saying I love the songs. Literal banger
- Favorite lyrics: ’love is passé in this day and age; how can we expect it to grow?’
‘Real Life’ — I don’t have too much to say because there’s only one repeated line but I like Robin de Jesus’ performance a lot in general.
‘Why’ — I love Jon’s soliloquy right before this, it’s the greatest thing ever. The little nostalgia videos make it so much more beautiful — the snippets of their lives together being cut short by an uncontrollable, devastating illness.
Here we get full artist Jon, playing in a completely empty stadium and vowing to spend his time creating!!
‘Louder Than Words’ — AHHHH my favorite!! It’s so hopeful somehow by commenting on the strict yet enduring nature of society and its impact on relationships and identity. To me it’s kind of a call to action to recognize these behaviors and do what you truly want.
I love this song so much, especially what it says about fear and time. Most people are led by fear — fear of losing your partner and that stability, fear of social pushback, fear of losing your civil rights in the face of a cultural and political atmosphere attacking your community. Why are people driven to hate other people? Probably fear. Mass paranoia brings action from both sides.
Bruh idk what I’m saying anymore but this song really makes me think about how I’m spending my time. Should I be staying dormant and conform out of fear? Is it worth it to live a life in that societally- and self-imposed cage when something freer could lay beyond?
How many of my actions actually show that I care — care about the people I love and the state of the world and myself? I say a lot of things but I don’t do a whole lot. I want to do something real, and above all, I want to live an authentic and worthwhile life without wasting time on fear and subservience. How many years, decades, will I have wasted if I do not fight for what I believe in until I die?
Of course the biggest barrier is literally my fear. I’m scared to talk. I’m scared to take action. I’m scared to participate in protests. I’m a true coward, a speck in the mass of human complicity.”