🎵 we can't be friends: a vulnerable cover
imperfect progress: my take on ariana's bittersweet anthem
tl;dr: sharing my raw cover of ariana grande's "we can't be friends" – a cover that is definitely still a work in progress that's all heart, even if my fingers are still finding their way.
hey mi gente!
today, i'm baring my soul (and my novice guitar skills) with a cover of ariana grande's bittersweet ballad, "we can't be friends (wait for your love)".
this track is a complex exploration of lingering feelings and necessary distance, wrapped in vulnerable vocals and guitar work that's... let's just say it's on a journey of its own.
🎧 listen now:
the story behind the cover:
ariana recently released the acoustic version of this song online and i was mesmerized. i’m someone that really loves live, raw, and acoustic works of popular songs… or of any song, really. i eat unplugged albums like they are three course meals.
the acoustic version of this song in particular hit me like a cafecito to the soul – that first sip that jolts you awake and makes you feel everything at once.
the raw emotion, the painful honesty – it's como si ariana reached into my past and pulled out every complicated almost-friendship-post-breakup i've ever had. i knew i had to try it, even if my guitar skills weren't quite ready for primetime.
lyrics snapshot:
"we can't be friends / but i'd like to just pretend / you cling to your papers and pens / wait until you like me again"
oh, these lines. they capture that limbo after a breakup – when you're not together, but you're not quite ready to let go either. it's that bittersweet hope, you know? waiting for someone to see you as they once did, even when you know it's impossible.
behind the scenes:
instruments used: a cheap $60 acoustic guitar, vocals, recorded on soundtrap.com using the focusrite scarlett 2i2 2nd gen as my audio interface.
production time: about 1 hour of practicing chords and maybe 5-8 minutes of actual recording.
fun fact: the line "baby girl, it's just me and you" hit differently – it made me think about all the times i've sat alone with my thoughts, trying to make sense of a relationship's end.
what's next:
i'm gonna keep working on this one, bellezas. the vocals feel like they are headed in the right direction, like they're coming straight from that tender place in my chest. but the guitar playing? definitely needs more work (and my hands need more calluses). i have historically struggled to play and sing at the same time, so this will take a lot of practice. my goal is to nail this so i can give you a proper, updated cover soon – wish me luck!
but you know what? i'm putting this out there anyway. because growth isn't always pretty, and sometimes you gotta embrace the beautifully imperfect. it's in the cracks that the light gets in, as they say.
i'd love to hear your thoughts! have you ever been in that space where you can't be friends with an ex, but you're not ready to let go completely? how do you navigate that? or maybe you're learning an instrument too? drop a comment below or hit reply to this email.
your stories and feedback fuel my creativity and keep me going on days when my fingers feel like they're made of palo santo (and about as useful for playing guitar). 💖
until next time, keep creating, keep growing, and remember – even ariana grande had to start somewhere. probably with less vocal runs, but still.
con todo mi corazón,
edgard ✊🏽🌈
