The City That Never Stays the Same: Sharon Van Etten’s ‘Seventeen’ and the Ephemeral Nature of Urban Life
There’s something about New York City that makes it irresistible to artists. From Sinatra’s swaggering anthems to Jay-Z’s gritty odes, the city has been a muse for generations. But what makes Sharon Van Etten’s ‘Seventeen’ stand out isn’t just its melodic beauty—it’s the way it captures the fleeting essence of urban existence. Personally, I think this song is less about New York itself and more about the universal experience of watching a place, and yourself, transform over time.
The City as a Living, Breathing Entity
One thing that immediately stands out is how Van Etten portrays New York not as a static backdrop but as a character in its own right. The city isn’t just a setting; it’s a force that shapes her, challenges her, and ultimately reflects her own evolution. What many people don’t realize is that cities like New York are constantly reinventing themselves, often at the expense of the communities that give them soul. Van Etten’s lyrics about shuttered mom-and-pop shops and changing neighborhoods aren’t just nostalgic—they’re a poignant reminder of how progress can feel like loss.
The Duality of Youth and Experience
What makes this particularly fascinating is the way Van Etten contrasts her younger self with her present-day perspective. At 17, the world feels infinite, and change is exciting. But as time passes, that excitement turns to melancholy. The line, ‘I used to be free / I used to be 17,’ isn’t just about age—it’s about the loss of innocence and the realization that freedom often comes with a cost. If you take a step back and think about it, this duality is what makes the song so relatable. We’ve all looked back at our younger selves and wondered where that fearless version of us went.
A Visual Love Letter to a Changing City
The music video for ‘Seventeen’ is a masterclass in visual storytelling. Directed by Maureen Towey, it’s a tender yet unflinching tour of the city’s landmarks—places that shaped Van Etten’s identity as an artist. What this really suggests is that even as the city changes, these spaces remain anchors to our past. A detail that I find especially interesting is how the video avoids nostalgia. It doesn’t romanticize the past; instead, it acknowledges the beauty and pain of change. It’s a rare balance that few artists achieve.
The Ephemeral Nature of Life
At its core, ‘Seventeen’ is a song about impermanence. It’s mournful, yes, but it’s also deeply accepting. Van Etten seems to echo Bob Dylan’s sentiment that ‘everything passes, everything changes.’ What this really suggests is that the only constant in life is change itself. From my perspective, this is what makes the song so powerful. It doesn’t try to stop time or cling to the past—it simply observes the passage of time with a quiet grace.
Broader Implications: The Urban Experience in the 21st Century
This raises a deeper question: What does it mean to belong to a city that’s constantly evolving? In an era of gentrification and rapid development, Van Etten’s song feels like a timely commentary. Cities like New York, London, or Tokyo are often celebrated for their dynamism, but at what cost? Personally, I think we’re losing something essential—a sense of community, history, and continuity—in the name of progress. ‘Seventeen’ forces us to confront that loss without wallowing in it.
A Thoughtful Takeaway
In the end, ‘Seventeen’ isn’t just a song about New York or youth—it’s a meditation on the human condition. Joni Mitchell once sang, ‘Something’s lost, but something’s gained, in living every day.’ Van Etten’s song feels like a modern echo of that sentiment. It reminds us that while change is inevitable, it’s how we navigate it that defines us. From my perspective, that’s the true beauty of ‘Seventeen’—it doesn’t offer answers, but it invites us to reflect on our own journeys. And in a world that’s constantly rushing forward, that’s a rare and precious gift.
