Highly Emotional People is a song by Marina Diamandis, released under her current stage name 'MARINA'. Appearing on her fifth studio album, Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land, it is the 5th track on the album.
The song was written by Marina alone, and produced by James Flannigan.
Background[]
Highly Emotional People was written in London along with 4 other songs in 5 days during 2020,[1] this is likely sometime between March (in early April, Marina said she had 70% of the album written)[2] and early July, as Marina went to Greece in late July, before quarantining in St. Lucia[3] and moving to Los Angeles.
On February 3, 2021, a snippet of the track was shared by Marina on her social media.[4][5] Later on March 4, 2021, Marina removed the snippet from her Instagram.
On March 25, the track showed up on a music recognition website under the name "Highly Emotional People (Piano Intro)". Two versions of this song exist, the album version/"Piano Intro" and a version with an extended intro. The extended intro version leaked with the album before its official release and was played on the Ancient Dreams: Live From The Desert show. This version is used on the Dolby Atmos version of the album.
The song was leaked early on June 6, along with the rest of the album due to CDs being sold early in some stores.
On November 5, Highly Emotional People (Le Sac Remix) was released on streaming platforms.
Meaning[]
On a Nylon interview, Marina comments on the concept of vulnerability, which is connected to the track. The interviewer asks her if she sees vulnerability as something that the world is missing:[6]
❝ Always, I suppose. Particularly with men, because they've been brought up to (or socialized to) believe that expressing emotion is female or feminine, even though I think we all possess feminine and masculine traits. When I was writing that I was specifically thinking about men, but it's also for all human beings. I think when we have negative or difficult emotions, we think that's wrong: “We should be happy all the time therefore I'm going to use psychological tactics to not address those feelings.” I don't know why humans do this, but we do. And that song is definitely about accentuating the fact that we are emotional beings by design and that we're meant to feel all emotions, the full spectrum, in order to grow. ❞
Marina later commented on the reason she wrote the song:[7]
❝ There wasn't any major event, I think I struggle with how high and low my own moods go and that's always been a part of me. But I was also thinking about it in terms of a relationship that I had at the time, and how difficult it is sometimes for men to be able to connect with other people in that way. I think it's something that we should be encouraging them to feel safe to change. It just doesn't seem fair that men are kind of punished for being emotional in a way. ❞
Trivia[]
- The track was originally theorised to be named "Cosmos", after the snippet shared by Marina of the first verse.
- In the original track list, this song was placed in between I Love You But I Love Me More and Flowers, meaning it appeared in the latter half of the album instead of the first half.[8]
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Album | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land | 11 Jun 2021 | 3:34 |
| Extended Intro | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land (Dolby Atmos) | 11 Jun 2021 | 3:44 | |
| Remixes | ||||
| Le Sac Remix | Highly Emotional People (Le Sac Remix) | 05 Nov 2021 | 2:30 | |
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Life is a game that the universe plays
We are the pieces in a puzzle called fate
Life takes its time in its own fashion
Emotions unfold like a superbloom in action
The universe hangs like a necklace from God
Jewels suspended in the cosmos
And it makes me believe
This is how we're meant to be
[Chorus]
'Cause we're just highly emotional people
And you don't need to hide
Sometimes, it's hard to tell me how you feel
I never see you cry
I never see you cry
[Verse 2]
All of the weight you have carried around
Feelings come up and you push 'em back down
I feel your pain 'cause I know life is hard
But you can let go of the pain in your heart
[Chorus]
'Cause we're just highly emotional people
And you don't need to hide
You know it's safe to tell me how you feel
I never see you cry
I never see you cry
[Bridge]
People say men don't cry
It's so much easier to just lie
Till somebody takes their life
Emotions are a part of our design
[Chorus]
'Cause we're just highly emotional people
And you don't need to hide
Sometimes, it's hard to tell me how you feel
I never see you cry
'Cause we're just highly emotional people
And you don't need to hide
You know it's safe to tell me how you feel
I never see you cry
I never see you cry
[Outro]
I never see you cry
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Marina Diamandis - Vocals, backing vocals
Technical[]
- Edited By [Vocal] – Matt Harris
- Instruments, Programmed By – James Flannigan
- Mixed By – John O'Mahony
- Producer – James Flannigan
- Written by – Marina Diamandis
References[]
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CTPQYiupQUY/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Zf-4YYukkus?t=850
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CExosm_jsLx/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0TesXjuIA/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/marinadiamandisgreece/videos/243159717251264
- ↑ https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/marina-ancient-dreams-in-a-modern-land-album-patriarchy
- ↑ https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/marina-ancient-dreams-in-a-modern-land-album-patriarchy
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CPhSIa7jP2a/
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour • Merch • Photography • Collaborators | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land |
| Tracklist | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land • Venus Fly Trap • Man's World • Purge The Poison • Highly Emotional People • New America • Pandora's Box • I Love You But I Love Me More • Flowers • Goodbye • Happy Loner • Pink Convertible • Free Woman |
| Non-Album | |
| Unleaked | Cause I'm A Woman • Not Over You • The Painter |
| Misc | Stay All Night • Sway With Me |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams • Sixth Studio Album (Upcoming) | |