My father is a trophy parent. Trophy parents are parents that gloat about their children’s accomplishments – by extension, their children’s success reflects how “fantastic” their parenting was. But my father was also an absent parent. He left my family when I was seven and numerous events since then have ensured our distance from one another. He hasn’t been present for any of my successes or the struggles I’ve endured in the process, yet he brags about me to extended family and friends. For the longest time, this aggravated me beyond belief. But I’ve realized that being a trophy parent (in his case) is how he copes with the insecurities of being an absent parent. And I like to think that’s poetic justice for the insecurities his absence instilled in me. DESTÍNA's "let me tell you" expands on this idea of poetic justice for the children of absent parents.
The vulnerable “let me tell you” serves as an open letter to absent and estranged parents. Specifically, this is DESTÍNA’s lyrical letter to her father that walked away from her family. The single opens with audio from home videos before it begins to fade into a light piano melody with synths overlaying. The first verse describes how the absence of her father affected her. The opening lines: “Like a lock without a key / Like a heart that doesn’t bleed”, showcase the overall sentiment of incompleteness. In the pre-chorus, the synths rise in momentum as DESTÍNA decides to write a letter to her father with the intent of divulging her experiences with growing up without him while providing herself with closure. When the chorus drops, the piano melody becomes more robust to emphasize the depth of emotion that’s tied to this event. The lyrics within the chorus break down the letter into three sections: the first section describes the pain of having an absent parent, the second section details how DESTÍNA did not let this effect the future she envisioned and achieved for herself, and the third section informs her father that she’s finally ready to let go. The second verse builds on this idea of letting go; within it DESTÍNA states, “And I can’t lose what I never lost”. It’s perplexing to a first-time listener but it offers a thought-provoking question. If a parent walks away from their family, can they truly be considered a parent to begin with? This insight places an absent parent’s role in your life into a well-needed perspective. By removing their significance, you rightfully place them where they belong – in nonexistence. A poetically just punishment. As the song progresses, the synths blossom and take on a lighter feeling to demonstrate the freedom DESTÍNA has loaned herself now that she’s letting go.
The current Nashville resident, DESTÍNA, is no stranger to pop stardom or Pop Passion. After being one of the fan favorites on NBC’s The Voice, she pursued her own project. Since the beginning of it, DESTÍNA has brought audiences impactful and emotional singles to enjoy. Its also shown her impressive range and diversity in the atmosphere she creates, too. Her latest single, “let me tell you” is the fifth single to be released and is her most vulnerable yet. If you’ve enjoyed DESTÍNA’s open letter as much as I have, show her some virtual love in the form of streams, likes, and follows! It’s also the best way to keep up with the artist to hear details about her upcoming releases.
Written by Giavanna Gradaille
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