A Lasting Graffiti

I will always love you for what it's worth

We'll never fade like graffiti on the overpass

And I know time may change the way you think of us

But I'll remember the way we were, you were the first full stop

Love that will never leave

Baby, you will never be lost on me

-- "Overpass Graffiti", Ed Sheeran

Before proceeding with the rest of the Season of Heritage, I'd like to dip back into the Season of Mischief to explore a neat phenomenon related to Pokémon Go (and Pokémon in general). One of the last events of the season and the respective month was the special collaboration with Ed Sheeran, for which one of his songs was featured directly as a temporary nighttime music, at least in instrumental form. The song that I've quoted above, as the lyrics of the chorus of the song, is that very song.

Like many of Ed's songs as well as modern (pop) songs, the song is about love. Specifically, it's about a certain one-sided love that appears to be lost but is in fact still retained in the viewpoint of whoever would be singing this song. The chorus is rather emblematic of that theme - further as it also contains the words that become the title of this song, though not in the same syntactic structure as the title of the song - which is why I've quoted the chorus.

Yet, notwithstanding all other parts of the song, I prefer to take another interpretation of the chorus, specifically a Pokémon one. My interpretation is that it's a nostalgic "callback" to what might represent one's first Pokémon adventure, no matter from what era a fan might hail from. That adventure is likely to represent a lasting memory, no matter what changes might have taken place for Pokémon since then. This pretty much explains the attachment that some fans have for Sinnoh (as their first adventure) that then leads to the entire remake business.

Ed Sheeran himself, in the special performance that is currently unavailable, has stated his recollection for his first Pokémon adventure way back when, which led him to pick a Water-type starter. This was then manifested as the dominant Pokémon type during the collaboration event. I'm certain that he would agree on the recollection aspect, and in that regard, maybe he would have made a fine fit into the P25 Music program, regardless of what he conceived.

Regardless, the song is still about that one-sided love, which perhaps Ed might know a thing or two based on the lyrics. Yet nostalgia is just as strong a feeling as love, and that's something Pokémon fans know a thing or two about, even with Ed Sheeran included. And they might just have a thing about being made to last, just like certain writings on walls.

One year ago: Let's Go (Above and) Beyond

Two years ago: Being a "Love Slave"

Three years ago: Cosplay: Chibi Daisuki! Japan Fest

Four years ago: A Beautiful Symphony