Maps

The unfortunate stipulation of me being allowed to co-host this rate (as this was my first one whoopee!) was having this as a bonus song. Unfortunately, I know people do NOT appreciate this song at all so I had to watch this get dragged and now you all get to laugh at how poor this did compared to every other song in this rate. In fact, sporting a disgusting **5.367**, it's probably considered one of the worst tracks to hit a rate, even as a bonus song. It even did worse than songs like Linkin Park's "**Cure for the Itch**", OMI's "**Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)**", Alison Gold's "**Chinese Food**", Taylor Swift's "**London Boy**", The 1975's "**The 1975**" and Eiffel 65's "**Blue (Da Ba Dee)**" (seriously???)! It may not be the Yeah Yeah Yeahs or the Front Bottoms, but this song is just as (if not more so) emotional than both. It's the last time M5 could produce a great track and I'll now tell you why.

Immediately, the track opens up with only three bits to it: Adam Levine (who once personally stole money from me), a hi hat to keep the beat and a notable guitar riff. I'll come back to that riff later. Adam starts admittedly longing for a better time, missing a past lover and the life and conversations they once had. He wants to find a song on the radio that can help alleviate this looming despair upon him, but he can't find the right song to cheer him up. Sorry man, "Fireworks" just isn't on today. Now that he's sitting there unable to find something to distract him, the bass drums kick in while he laments on the past relationship he once had. He was so sure they were gonna share a life together. They had so much planned out. They even drew a map together (metaphorically (maybe?))! Hey, that's the title of the song! At some point, he made a mistake and "fell down", only for his lover to leave him behind. The ex-lover didn't look back. He was left on the side of the road. Why did they leave? Why didn't they want to help him? Were things so broken they couldn't be fixed? But they didn't look back. He's left thinking about it all after the fact.

More instruments come into play here. There's keys, heavy bass, and Adam harmonizing with himself since he couldn't get Brendon Urie for it. The heightened sense of sound accentuates the thoughts going through Adam's head. He was there for her in the best of times, in the worst of times, in their age of wisdom, and their age of foolishness.

Everything briefly becomes silent as Adam begins "but I wonder..."

Then the chorus strikes. The instruments explode back in.

"Where were you" - he continues - "when I was at my worst down on my knees and you said you had my back?" Maybe it was an unrequited love all along. Maybe the lover never really had it planned out with him. Maybe it's Maybelline. Regardless, he never got the same appreciation and was left alone when he needed it most. He's stuck suffering the consequences for this painful decision. Yet all the memories stick with him. He wants to fix what's been broken. Perhaps if he could figure out what's wrong, everything can return back to normalcy for the two of them.

Game time.

Adam looks at the map (there it is again!) that they drew together. If anything, it might bear some clues on how to bring the lover back. He's following this map that leads to the most important treasure to him: you. Well, not *you* you, but like you *you*... you get it? Anyways, the instruments here all take an even louder sound that represent his determination in the matter. The drums become more robust, the vocals themselves fluctuate on more notes and there's more background noises like a bunch of ping-pong players that strengthen the sound that comes from his words. There's nothing he can do now except keep going for it.

Following following following the chorus, the second verse continues his longing for his past lover with a similar structure to the first, once again professing his continued feelings for them and the need to hear their voice once more. With such a beautiful voice that once lulled him to sleep, it's hard for him to resist the siren's call that echoes in his head. His heart aches, his mind detoriates, his stomach uneasily feels queasy - you name it. Something strange has come over the man and it ain't the 'rona. He can't get over his ex-lover. He doesn't want to. Wait. They don't love them like he does. He's determined to try and fix things.

We come back to the chorus structure as heard before. Sonically, nothing has changed. However, in context, it reinforces his feelings for his ex-lover. He's having a rough night and wishes his lover was there for him to comfort him as he had comforted them once before. His determination grows stronger all throughout.

Now up until this point, the guitar riff has basically not stopped playing. Even disguised behind all the sounds of the chorus, the same twinkly riff never left. This riff comes off of a minor chord, providing the downcast sound that this song needs. The prolonged use of the riff represents the singer's sadness throughout the entire song as he sustains all the memories of his past lover.

Until...

We're hit with a much longer silence.

"Oh oh ooooh."

What's that sound abound? A cry in the sky? A yelp for help? A jeer for tears?

No.

It's spoken hope. It's a squeak of relief. It's an exasperation of aspiration. He's sticking to his guns and following this map to win back his once beloved lover. He was there for them in their darkest times. He repeats this phrase not in despair, but in assertiveness. If he was there at their lover's worst, then why would he try and give up now? He's still there for them, even if they don't realize it. The drums also notably sound different here, with toms that now have come into play along with a choir of claps. They sound much more upbeat than the simply play of the hi hat and bass drums in the previous minutes. The harmonies also become stronger and more full here as he repeats the lines the second time. He's on the right track on his map. He can feel it.

The chorus begins one last time. It's identical to the other choruses before it, once again bearing the melancholy riff that carries the song. However, this time, there are more instruments added to it as well as more vocal exercises going on. These combined provide the punch up the chorus needs to bring itself from sounding like a discarded guy crying out to the world into a hopeful man that wants to work hard for his relationship once again. He misses his ex-lover but much like Arnold looking for his parents, he won't give up and is willing to do what he can. All while following the map.

Maps!

Unfortunately, I know people do NOT appreciate this song at all so I had to watch this get dragged and now you all get to laugh at how poor this did compared to every other song in this rate. Heck, y'all gonna laugh at me! But I figured I'd do my best to articulate why this is the last great landmark in the Maroon 5 dynasty.

'Red Pill Blues' was a mistake.