Say You Love Me (Not)

Don't say you love me

You don't even know me

If you really want me

Then give me some time

Don't go there baby

Not before I'm ready

Don't say your heart's in a hurry

It's not like we're gonna get married

Give me, give me some time

-- "Don't Say You Love Me", M2M

Continuing the (in some ways out-of-band) love discussion that started with an item from the main series games that has an effect on that, there is this song by a popular two-girl group... or rather, this song is what made the two-girl group popular - at least, during their time - and what's more, it can be said that Pokémon has a stake in making it as such. It may be surprising for Pokémon fans and music fans alike.

This song is one of the songs, in a medley, that play during the ending of the English dub of the first feature film or movie (Mewtwo Strikes Back) and is part of the "interpretative soundtrack", along with another song I discussed over three years ago and a couple of others. Overall, the sound of it is very much a pop tune about love with nary a link to Pokémon. Yet it does figure prominently, specifically in the promotion of this song.

Like many pop songs, this one has a music video - two in fact, one with the elements of the movie and one without. Furthermore, both of these utilize specific versions of the song, which differ by exactly one line near the beginning of the song, and it otherwise remains the same. Even the cover of the single is heavily tied to the movie and its "interpretative soundtrack". That's a lot of Pokémon links for a song that may seem to hardly evoke it.

As stated earlier, this song is about love, specifically one that may be construed as coming too early. It implies that love develops with time, and when the time is ripe and the parties are ready, love may then be considered to foster. It's highly evident even in the quoted chorus above. The message is quite general(ly romantic) and the link to Pokémon would need to be extracted deep from its superficial promotion.

Because this song is tied to the first movie, the message may be considered to be relevant to the newly conceived Mewtwo. Team Rocket conceived it as the clone of Mew, though it was vastly different from the latter. As such, it was on a "sabbatical" of sorts to find its purpose; it wasn't "ready for prime time", like a love that hasn't matured - the very point of the song. That love and Mewtwo needed the time to be ready, and so the song fits in a way.

Music fans are likely to regard this as an exemplary pop song regardless of its links, but for Pokémon fans, this song arguably has a special place, thanks to its promotion by way of the first movie, at least in dubbed form. That would be no surprise given its qualities for the former as well as its ties for the latter, but the song's message itself may just be the biggest surprise... until all is truly ready in love, Pokémon or otherwise.

One year ago: Earthing with Pokémon

Two years ago: Taking Pictures of Pokémon

Three years ago: LINE Pokémon Emoji

Four years ago: The Super Incubator

Five years ago: The Badge Arcade Hit Its Limits