Alexander O’Connor, who goes by a stage name of Rex Orange County, is a twenty-one-year-old English singer-songwriter. His style of music is very unique and has been described as Indie pop, as well as a combination of contemporary jazz and R&B. He has released three albums: Bcos U Will Never B Free (2015), Apricot Princess (2017), and Pony (2019). Rex is known for his complex and thought-through lyrics and the level of personalness that he exemplifies in his songs, which creates a deep and meaningful relationship and intimacy with his fans. Rex has come out with many amazing, witty songs. Towards the beginning of his career and in his first two albums, he was very clearly enduring a rough time in life psychologically. A lot of his songs portrayed his sadness and difficulty with relationships and everyday life. However, his newest album, Pony, contains songs about how life gets better and things are not the same as they used to be. According to Genius, “Pluto Projector” is the most popular song from his most recent album.
“Pluto Projector” is a song about Rex’s love for someone and how much he has to offer to this person. For reference, Alex has a long-term relationship with a woman named Thea. He explains how comfortable he is with this person and how much he hopes that this feeling will last forever. Rex also tells about his fears about all of his work and his career not amounting to anything or meaning anything. He explains how he is unsure of who he is, but how his lover does understand him and how he is going to do everything he can to hold himself and their relationship together.
[Verse 1]
What if all this counts for nothing
Everything I thought I’d be?
What if by the time I realize
It’s too far behind to see?
Seventy-mil projector
I can show you everything, yeah
The beginning of the first verse of the song describes Rex’s fears about all of his efforts counting for nothing and his uncertainty of the future and what is to come. The end of the verse explains how even though he is unsure of his career, he knows that he can do so much for his love, and he never wants their relationship to come to an end.
[Verse 2]
Spending the years together
Growing older every day (Every day)
I feel at home when I’m around you
And I’ll gladly say again
I hope the encore lasts forever
Now there’s time for us to spend
In the second verse, he expresses his desire to grow old with her and continue to love her and be loved by her. He explains how he can still be a boy in his thoughts, and he does not feel like he is meant to understand himself. His lack of understanding about himself creates a lack of confidence for him, but he knows that his significant other understands him in a way that no one else does, and maybe one day he can do the same. Then, in the bridge, he explains how he simply wants to hold things together and be strong and mature if for nothing else, for their relationship.
[Outro]
Stay forever, you know more than anyone (Yeah, whoa)
And it’s you that knows my darkness
Lastly, in the outro, he says that he wants her to stay forever because she knows him more than anyone and she accepts his flaws and his dark sides.
Alex O’Connor makes music in a very specific and interesting genre. This means that not everyone has the taste for his style of music. Most of his listeners are angsty teenagers or people in their early twenties, they find his lyrics relatable and powerful. Since his music is sarcastic and often profane, it might not be best suited for most adults. Although Rex’s music is tailored to a specific audience and some find his music peculiar, but there is a lot to be said for his lyrics and beautiful harmonies and instruments.
Creative Minds 