Not So Bad In LA by Allie X Lyrics Meaning – The Irony of Sunshine and Stardom
Lyrics
And you start to get old when you turn 25
Where else can you go when you got that drive?
And everybody says when they arrive
It’s not so bad in LA
The parking’s cheap and valet
Those blue skies day after day
It’s not so bad in LA
Backyard got two lemon trees
Ten grams at the dispensary
Angels all left, but we’ll stay
It’s not so bad in LA
LA (la la, la la, la la)
And the ghosts of the nineties walk the streets
And the Venice girls smile with the whites of their teeth
All licking their lips for a quick fifteen
Your appetite fades but you’re still starving
It’s not so bad in LA
The parking’s cheap and valet
Those blue skies day after day
It’s not so bad in LA
Backyard got two lemon trees
Ten grams at the dispensary
Angels all left, but we’ll stay
It’s not so bad in LA (LA)
It’s not so bad in LA
The parking’s cheap and valet
Those blue skies day after day
It’s not so bad in LA
Backyard got two lemon trees
Ten grams at the dispensary
Angels all left, but we’ll stay
It’s not so bad in LA
LA (ah, la la, la la, la la)
Two lemon trees
Ten grams at the dispensary
Angels all left, but we’ll stay
It’s not so bad in LA (LA)
I’ve been thinking so big
I think I need to lie down
I’ve been thinking so big
I think I need to lie down
Within the bubblegum beats and airy synths of Allie X’s track ‘Not So Bad In LA’, lies a labyrinthine web of irony and the bittersweet taste of Hollywood’s promises. The Canadian singer-songwriter, known for her avant-garde approach and enigmatic persona, threads a narrative dissecting the allure and disillusionment of Los Angeles, a city as synonymous with dreams as it is with broken ambition.
Despite the ostensible upbeat tempo and a chorus that lingers like the scent of citrus on a Californian breeze, ‘Not So Bad In LA’ runs deep with satirical currents, challenging the very concept of the LA dream. This track is not just another pop anthem; it’s a cultural commentary set to the rhythm of the City of Angels.
Unmasking the Glamour: The Duality of LA
Allie X’s Los Angeles is not just a physical locale but a character with two faces. The song juxtaposes the undeniable allure of the city—the ‘blue skies day after day’ and the literal ‘two lemon trees’ in the backyard—against the underlying realities often overshadowed by the glitz. Cheap parking and valet service are the amenities that bait the hook, capturing those drawn to LA’s image.
But the glamour is superficial, a veneer that Allie X peels away as she hints at a more somber picture: the loss of youth (‘you start to get old when you turn 25’) and the city’s fleeting nature (‘in a city that lives while its bright stars die’). These lines convey a hidden desperation, a subtle acknowledgment that the sheen of the city is transient, even if the sun continues to shine.
Twenty-Five and Past Your Prime: LA’s Youth Obsession
One of the most jarring assertions Allie X makes is about the rapid aging process in LA. The mention of 25 as an age of obsolescence is not merely a number but a reflection of Hollywood’s relentless pursuit of the young and the new. In a culture where relevance is tied to youth, this line prompts listeners to consider their own fears of aging and obsolescence.
The song challenges the listener to scrutinize the pressure to remain ever-youthful and the constant race to stay relevant in a city that churns through ambitions, leaving many in its wake still hungry for the ‘quick fifteen’—minutes of fame that always taste less fulfilling than they promise.
The City’s Forgotten Souls: Lingering in the Limelight’s Shadow
There is an eerie element to the ‘ghosts of the nineties’ and the departure of angels, suggesting that LA is a graveyard of sorts, haunted by the remnants of what was once new and fresh. Allie X alludes to the long-gone hopefuls who once walked the streets of LA, their legacies slowly fading as new waves of dreamers flood in.
Her words are an homage to those who stayed behind even after their moment in the spotlight waned, the strong-willed ones who continue to cling to the city’s promises. It’s a solemn salute to resilience and also a sobering reminder of the countless narratives we never hear—those whose dreams were quietly snuffed out by the city’s relentless pace.
The Hidden Meaning: A Home Among the Lost Angels
Allie X’s frequent reassurances that ‘it’s not so bad in LA’ serves as a sardonic refrain. The repetition is almost defensive, as if trying to convince oneself that the decision to remain is justified despite the evident negatives. The singer captures the cognitive dissonance of knowing the city’s flaws all too well yet choosing to stay, a complex love-hate relationship many have with the entertainment capital.
‘Angels all left, but we’ll stay’ is a poignant line. The image of angels fleeing implies a loss of innocence or divinity, leaving behind those who have come to terms with the city’s tarnished halo. These residents find beauty in the imperfections and have made peace with the harsher realities that come wrapped in the city’s seductive package.
Lyrical Citrus and Dispensaries: The LA Lifestyle Emblem
‘Backyard got two lemon trees / Ten grams at the dispensary’—these lines are not mere throwaways but emblems of the LA lifestyle, where wellness trends and laid-back luxury sit comfortably beside an insatiable appetite for indulgence. Allie X is deft in illustrating the city as a paradoxical haven for health-conscious hedonism.
She uses lemon trees as a symbol of organic growth and natural resilience, a metaphor for the perseverance required to survive in LA. Conversely, the dispensary nods to the city’s swift adaptation to societal shifts, in this case, the mainstreaming of cannabis. This stark contrast paints a vivid image of Los Angeles—a place where the natural and the novel cohabit seamlessly.
