Manic Analysis- "929"

Yesss! You are so right! That particular relationship does seem significant! Great observation, and thank you for joining ❤️❤️❤️

English Teacher KP

I joined your patron after listening to the Bad at Love preview on youtube. And it's such a small thing but it seems like they might be referencing one of the same relationships here as in that song. "I lost the love of my life to an ivory powder" "I never got the chance to make her mine because she fell in love with little thin white lines". I feel like I need to keep an eye out for references to this relationship in their other songs because it seems like it was an important one to them.

Grace Douglas

Oh yeah, my mental breakdown was 25. I "mastered out" of graduate school because I was having panic attacks and beginning to realize that being a "gifted kid" can only get you so far. It was also the first time I realized that if you don't set boundaries people will absolutely keep taking and taking from you until you break down or push back. I went to a fairly small college, so I was used to "authority figures" like my advisors and professors being invested in my well-being, but grad school was completely different. I'm 27 now and still don't know what's going on. But I think I've gotten better at setting boundaries and doing things because I want to do them not because I think I'm supposed to do them. I think one of the interesting themes of this song is that Halsey juxtaposes all these areas of her life where she's growing with the reality that she still falling a bit short at those things. I think that's a really common theme of the late twenties "coming of age" that you're starting to identify your weak points and growing through them, but you're constantly cognizant that you're just barely falling short. I also love the speaking parts at the beginning and the end. It reminds me of those random facts/urban legends you grow up believing about yourself and your family. You don't even remember where you got them from but they've become so ingrained in your psyche that you take them as truth. But because the way we learn and remember things from our childhood is so flawed and distorted, often we discover later on that the things we believed wholeheartedly as kids are actually false. And that's a larger metaphor for the beliefs we hold growing up that we begin to realize are too optimistic or perfect. The idea that they were born at 9:29 on 9/29 is such a perfect coincidence, but of course, the reality is more nuanced than that. 9:26 isn't that different, but it's no longer that perfect ideal that Halsey grew up believing.

Sav Miller

This song definitely hit me in an unexpected way! Yes--the picking is an awful compulsion, and I totally understand how it can lead to severe insecurities. For me, wearing wigs has really helped protect my hair from my constant need to pick at it. However, when I am really anxious, I also tend start picking at my face.... which is definitely something I want to work on in 2023! Also, I really do feel like my 30s are better in terms of being more emotionally stable...but also just knowing myself. I still have bad days, but I feel like I am able to navigate them better than I was in my 20s....without having complete and utter meltdowns. Lastly, I really like your interpretation of the "count out loud" line!

English Teacher KP

I feel that! 30s are MUCH better so far!

English Teacher KP

Maybe you're just getting your quarter-life crisis over with early! Seriously, though, I wish you all of the best! I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but I am glad you were able to find treatment that is right for you! Also, I LOVE the point you make about the subtle self-deprecation regarding the "...heroes....weirdos...line". This is a great point that I had not considered!

English Teacher KP

Uff, I'm 24 and have recently been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and am on meds now for it (for the first time ever, weird stuff). And so far, my 20s have been a BITCH compared to my teens. And according to many of y'all, the future isn't looking the brightest x-x Also, 'don't meet your heroes, they're all fucking weirdos; and god knows that they were right", when THEY are a hero to many people is... phew. Way to be self-depricating Same with "I've forgotten half the people who I've gotten in bed", I can speak from experience, that your sexual activity usually goes up during a manic episode, and then you tend to forget things, and do some stupid stuff... Yes the emotional stuff tends to come out during this one. Nearly ending an album with I'm a fucking liar is also a clear example of Halsey not knowing where she is after finishing this album. Thank you so much for reacting to Manic! It is one of my favorite albums ever. I'm happy to be capable to connect to something that somehow feels meant for me, in some specific way. Would really love to see you react to 'If I Cant Have Love I Want Power' (in my eyes their second best album, after this one), and I'm sure it will happen at some point! Have a lovely day/night

Yeah my 20’s were a miserable string of mental breakdowns and reinventions and rethinking everything. This song gets me every time.

929 pt 2??? Hahahaha when you said “I don’t even know why I’m so emotional” that is exactly how this song makes me feel. So seen and yet it’s like…not even my life? I turned 25 this past July and I will say, I was born with a multitude of medical problems. For my whole childhood people always were impressed with how I carried myself. And dealt with those issues. But in reality, I just didn’t realize how close I was to death. Now that I’m an adult taking care of myself, I have severe and at times debilitating anxiety. I appreciate you speaking about hair picking because it is my biggest insecurity. I pick literally everything from nails to skin to hair. At one point I did have a bald spot, and so I fully have admired how honest you’ve been on Instagram with your hair journey. I also appreciate you saying in your 30s this anxiety has lessened. I really hope that is the case for me, and that I’m healthy and more calm then. This album was an absolute delight to watch and truly if you wanted to do a final thoughts video gushing about it I’d tune in <3 can’t wait for HFK Also my idea with “count out loud” might be a bit more basic, but I thought it was an anxiety coping mechanism. Like literally count out loud so the anxiety isn’t just existing in your head. I wouldn’t be surprised if a therapist in Halsey’s life gave her such advice

Camila Dejesus

I'm a bit older than you both, turning 34 in March, but my quarter life crisis hit at the same time as y'all. I'm sorry for the hardships you've both faced. I took 7 years (7 YEARS) single and focusing on myself to break a pattern of co-dependecy and figure out who I am as a person... 31 started the turn around for me, I hope yours don't take as long, but I'm rooting for both of you!

Amanda M.

I like this!

English Teacher KP

Also 100% agree about mid to late 20s being difficult! im 28 and going throughhhhh it right now. That quarter life crisis is REAL lol! I decided a couple years ago to stay single while I work on myself and 2 years later still so far from feeling good enough in life to even want to start dating again lol I’m happy being single and I know I just gotta work through things a bit longer. Early 20s? Amazing. Mid 20s? ummmm..😰 late 20s? Just wtf🫣😂

Nikki S

Thank you for sharing this and sending you so much love. You are so not alone. I’m also 28 and going through such a hard time right now too. I always wonder why people don’t talk more about quarter life crisis and I only had heard about midlife crisis and I’m thinking like how did you make it that long before having a mental breakdown about life lol. I’m sure they didn’t and it just wasn’t talked about like It’s starting to. ❤️

Nikki S

I'm going through my second coming of age right now and this video made me so emotional. I'm almost 28, I lost my father to cancer last year, my boyfriend of 7 years broke up with me a few months ago, and now I'm living with my mom. But I have enough experience now to know that I'll make it through. That's a welcome difference to the first coming of age

Mariah Matherne

OMG-- "...it gave me chills and I don't know why..." is EXACTLY how I feel regarding this song. There is something not quite tangible about this song that cuts right to the bone. I love it!

English Teacher KP

I am terribly sorry for your loss. I know losing a father is very difficult.

English Teacher KP

Love your thoughts on the "count out loud" bit! Also, I went back and rewatched the lyric video a few times, and I think you are spot on about the others next to the self-portrait, as well as the evolution of the portrait throughout the duration of the song!

English Teacher KP

My personal interpretation (and I could be way off) of the "watch the minutes go, count out loud so WE know you don't keep 'em for yourself" is the relation to the idea that "time is money". Halsey is a brand. Halsey belongs to their management company. Halsey has a responsibility to create and entertain...but what time does that leave for Ashley? Should, and does, Ashley have time for herself and their growth? If they take that time, where does it come from and what's then being 'neglected'? This album is a journey of self reflection and self discovery, and yet the last words on it are about how their time belongs to someone else, and they have to "count out loud" to ensure that the minutes aren't being kept to themselves.

Amanda M.

To me, "count out loud" is a reference to songs. Like, writing and then signing your songs to your fans is a way to count those minutes of your life out loud. And notice that in the lyric video, Halsey starts to draw others in the picture, next to their self portrait. Could those be fans? In fact, I'm fascinated by the entire lyric video and the evolution of their self portrait throughout the song. I think it echoes your thoughts that this is about Halsey's coming of age, and reflecting on who they are now.

Aloha Record Sargent

I definitely relate to this as a 27 year old who lost their father this year. We had a very complicated relationship due to his alcoholism. I feel like I have had to re-invent myself since then. I have this whole new life where everything feels different. This whole album means so much more to me now than it did before.

Gabrielle Tecklenburg

Ok first love love love this reaction 🥹🥹. It reminded me of why this is my favorite song from this album and probably their whole discography if I’m being honest. That speechlessness was exactly what I felt when first this song, it was just…wow and think I cried too lol. “Soft and slow, watch the minutes go…count out loud so we know you don’t keep it for yourself” has to be my favorite line, it gives me chills and i don’t know why. God I have so much more I want to say, but there’s too many thoughts all scrabbling around in my brain plus I’m at work 🥲. Favorite song, favorite reaction from you. Thank-you so much for reaction these reactions, cannot wait for HFK!!!

Azula’sTherapist

Thank you! I can always count on you for the best Halsey context! I LOVE the fact that they now song this song with those lyric changes. That makes me so happy.

English Teacher KP

Most people think the b sides shade is about ex G Eazy with their feature being put on the b sides but I think it could be about both.

Nikki S

Ok I have some things to say 😂as always when it comes to Halsey lmao. First what halsey said about the song when doing the manic album interview for Apple with Zane Lowe: she said her little brother cried and said “this is the most you’ve sounded like my sister”😭 “that one was tough bc I don’t want people who know him (my dad) to hear that and think anything bad about him. because families go through cycles, and my father and I have a really great relationship now. And we never didn’t. There was a time where I wasn’t being very receptive to ANY male energy In my life bc I had been so wronged. It was a point where I couldn’t trust anyone. I think certain people had to adapt. It was a wake up call for a lot of people around me. Someone would be like ‘ I can’t believe that person treated you like that’ and I’d be like ‘you treat me like that…’ and If I’m writing a song about something that usually means I’m past it. I was reflecting about a day on tour in Milwaukee and then about the girl in detroit” Second, Halsey when singing this song live changes the lyrics!❤️❤️and we all cry! They change the lyrics in a few places, “promise us that you won’t die cause we need you and honestly (*i think she was right*)” “hoped that my father would finally call me (*HE DID*)”, “I wasn’t in love then (*but I sure as fuck am now*!)” ❤️ Halsey is from New Jersey. But did briefly moved to the lower east side in New York and lived in a friends basement and recorded her first song there. But she also said they were poor and “moved wherever the jobs or cheap apartments were” she was homeless at one point (i forget the proper term for homeless now, not meaning to be disrespectful using that term) also when they say “eastside” it’s a reference to another song called Eastside with Benny blanco and Khalid which is a great song and music video. “He used to meet me on the Eastside” When halsey says “i remember the names of every single kid I’ve met” there are dozens of videos online from the start of her career where fans who have met halsey one time then video themselves at a meet n greet and she remembers exactly what they were wearing when they met, their names, twitter handles and all of that. She’s like “of course I remember you! You were sitting on a bench with one headphone in listening to my song!” and had so many of those moments. So cute lol. The b side shade!! There could be multiple people they talk about there. Meeting your heroes.. they just want to fuck you and put you on a feature on the b side. Halsey briefly dated Jared Leto and was on the b sides on his thirty seconds to mars album, also I believe their feature with her ex G Eazy she was also on the B sides and could even be more people I’m not 100% sure on that.

Nikki S