Please, Let Me Grow Old with You

So please, please

Let me grow old with you

After everything we've been through

What's left to prove

So please, please, please, oh please

Let me grow old with you

-- "Please", Elton John

After a "musical tribute" about the youth for the new Pokémon anime, it seems apropos to follow it up with one for the not-so-young. The song may be considered one that is somewhat obscure - even with the artist being as famous as he is - and it incidentally comes from the same album as three other songs that had also come up on this blog for interpretation with my Pokémon experiences. Still, in the context of the current "musical tribute", there are messages to be gleaned from the song, and so it has to be made.

Expectedly, as it is a pop or "adult contemporary" song, the theme of love is at hand. It's mentioned in the first line of the first verse as well as the bridge. The song is overall about the sentiments of a couple (obviously noted by the pronoun "we" in different places) and their struggles of making it through life and their relationship. However, if anything, the core message of the song lies in the chorus, which is the part that is quoted above. It suggests a desire of wanting to be together across time, and it's one that seems to be perfectly applicable even beyond the confines of (romantic) love.

So it is that the above becomes applicable in this "musical tribute" context. While the anime is fairly new, some recent fans might just have the desire to be able to grow old (and up) with this incarnation of the anime, possibly for a good amount of time - many years down the road - without a change even for the sake of change. It's a nice desire, and some older fans may also share this desire as they watch the current anime series and continue their Pokémon interests in this manner, which would be one of many.

It has to be admitted that this song is just as applicable for Ash as the former main character, which in retrospect means that the song could and should have been interpreted when that was the case. Even so, with the "spiritual continuation" of his journey despite not appearing, the "grow old" aspect still presents a valid point, especially as I've made a post in the past that relates this along with something else that presents the aspect. The history that Ash has made over the course of the anime is still something that cannot be cast aside even with the new anime incarnation, so the point of the aspect may still be considered valid regardless.

Considering this song as a "musical tribute" as well as the non-musical "tribute" as presented above, being able to grow old with Pokémon seems to be a vital part of the experience. It has been done for the previous incarnation of the anime, and the current incarnation now effectively has its turn to realize that. There may still be some "points to prove" from both of these, as suggested by the song and especially for the current incarnation, but the "grow old" aspect might be one that proves itself in this case.

One year ago: More Available Regular Formats for General PvP?

Two years ago: How Far Should Pokémon Be Translated?

Three years ago: Command and Conquer, PvP Style

Four years ago: A Multicultural Cast

Five years ago: Carry On Carryin' On

Six years ago: The Living Dex

Seven years ago: Pastrana and Pikachu