Song Meaning
Labrinth enlists Sia to deliver 'Blast Off,' a song that, on the surface, seems like a simple ode to the intoxicating nature of love. But beneath the repetitive 'Blast Off' chorus lies a complex metaphor comparing the intense experience of love to both cosmic exploration and self-destructive behavior. The lyrics juxtapose comforting imagery with strikingly dangerous situations, creating a push-pull dynamic reflecting love's capacity to be both heavenly and harmful.
Sia's opening lines immediately establish this duality. 'Loving you is like laying in a microwave' is hardly a conventional love declaration; it suggests discomfort, a dangerous level of intensity, and a sense of being trapped. This contrasts sharply with the 'thousand ways' she loves, implying a multifaceted devotion despite the inherent risks. The pre-chorus elevates the relationship to cosmic proportions—'astral plane,' 'milky way,' 'bigger than the galaxy'—suggesting a love that transcends earthly boundaries. However, this vastness can also be interpreted as overwhelming, hinting at a loss of control. The 'Blast Off' refrain then serves as both an escape and a plunge, an exhilarating launch into the unknown, driven by the force of love.
The second verse doubles down on the risky behavior. 'Kissing you is like dancing in the acid rain' and 'Holding you is like jamming through a dirty bass' paint a picture of love as a thrilling, albeit hazardous, experience. Acid rain burns; a 'dirty bass' suggests something raw, unrefined, and potentially damaging to the ears. Yet, there's an undeniable allure in these scenarios. The song's meaning, therefore, resides in this tension: love as a powerful force capable of propelling us to unimaginable heights, but also one that can lead to our destruction. 'Blast Off' encapsulates the exhilarating and terrifying paradox of surrendering to love's volatile energy.
