And so I’ve reached the first Bon Iver song in this series. Anyone expecting more, don’t get too excited. It’s also gonna be the last. Bon Iver goes into a self-noted group of indiehead-worshipped artists/acts that have never been that special to me. I only properly like three songs by Justin Vernon’s band. Songs that have left me feeling like I’d want to hear them again, and soon. Two of them beginning with letters coming before ‘P’. Have never been able to truly get into them, and I’ve listened to For Emma…, 22, A Million and Bon Iver, Bon Iver – the last of that list being the source of today’s song.

Now, Bon Iver, Bon Iver as an album, for the longest time, was a bit of an enigma to me. Up until about last year, I would hear the record, think it was nice, but have trouble recalling any of the songs I had just listened to. Up until about last year, I’d listened to the album about three times. That’s probably the most times I’d listened to try an album. Not for enjoyment purposes, but to try and ‘understand’ it. It’s probably the only album I’ve done that for. For an album that was so critically acclaimed, it didn’t seem so amazing to me. Still doesn’t, to be honest. A lot of people like ‘Holocene’. Think it’s one of Bon Iver’s best songs. I mean, it’s all right. For me though, ‘Perth’ has always been the special one from the album. It’s been on my shuffle playlist since at least 2016.

It all begins with the track’s opening riff. That’s really all you need when you listen to this one. As soon as you have that riff’s melody locked in your head, you’ll have it stored in there for the long time. I’m very sure that’s what made me add it to my list in the first place. Plus, the whole track relies on it. If there’s no riff, the song won’t work. The lyrics are said to be inspired by the death of Heath Ledger, so to say they have some importance may be an understatement. But even then I think the lyrics conjure up for imagery than being a recount of personal feelings. Vernon’s vocals to me add more to the music rather than being the focal standpoint. It’s the instrumentation that truly gives me chills when I hear this song. Every time too. Particularly during the “still alive for you, love” choruses and the instrumental ending that finishes with a goosebump-inducing chord. I see waves crashing off a shore in slow-motion in that section of the track, I don’t know what it is.