Anya was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., and grew up in the Silicon Valley area of California as a capricious child with Russian-Agnostic/Irish-Catholic professor parents (psychology and russian literature/math) and a younger sister. After finishing high school, Anya moved to Los Angeles as an aspiring actress. With stints in the British American Drama Academy (taught by Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, Anne Jackson and Eli Wallach) and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, Anya has also acted in television and film (in 2001, she starred in the feature film, 100 Girls). She eventually moved back home to earn a college degree in English and writing at Santa Clara University. She continued to struggle as an artist -- working in acting, musical theatre, music, improv and comedy -- but eventually found a job as a radio DJ on KSCU, Santa Clara University's college station.
After graduating, Anya took a radio station job in San Diego with Mike Halloran at XHRM-FM (92.5). After the station was bought out by another corporation, Halloran hired Anya at Y107 in Los Angeles before they both moved to Premium Radio 92/1 in San Diego's North County. After leaving that station, both disc jockeys landed at FM94/9.
It was in San Diego that Anya played her first open mic night and began to write her own songs. She quickly developed a live stage act using what she learned as an actress, comic and impressionist. Her recorded debut was a five-song EP called Exercises in Racketeering, which eventually led to a full-length album, Miss Halfway, which was released in early 2005. Anya subsequently opened for such artists as Jason Mraz and Rhett Miller. She was named one of the "Best Unsigned" acts by San Diego CityBeat.
The songs on Miss Halfway talk about her upbringing, ex-boyfriends and all the after-effects. Anya's album was also produced by Scott Russo, the frontman for rockers Unwritten Law, along with Peter King from The Surfers. The record eventually earned a San Diego Music Award for Best Recording. The title track also landed on Grey's Anatomy and was featured as the fifth song on the second Grey's Anatomy (soundtrack) disc along with The Fray, KT Tunstall, Gomez and Snow Patrol.
The internet radio station KGRL featured her as their Flower-Powered Artist for March of 2007. The feature includes an exclusive interview, CD Review of Miss Halfway, and an on-demand audio stream of an unreleased Anya Marina track titled "Try It And Like It."
Lovesick
Anya Marina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got so much to do
No, I don't see that elephant standing in the room
And I keep telling everyone it's something like the flu
But I'm sick of feeling lovesick over you
You're gonna feel a little sting
A heart without an arrow in it gonna make you sick
And I keep telling everyone it's something like the flu
But I'm sick of feeling lovesick over you
You say you love me, you'll never leave me standing all alone
Been 14 days and 50 drinks, I'm staring at the phone
What do you know?
What do you know?
I keep telling everyone it's something like the flu
They raised my rent, I lost my job—it's anything but you
You said you'd love me
You'd never leave me
Standing all alone
Where did you go?
'Cause I don't know...
No, I don't know...
In Anya Marina's song "Lovesick," the singer is describing the feeling of being in love with someone who doesn't love her back. She has a long list of things to do, but she cannot seem to get this person off her mind. The singer recognizes that the elephant in the room is her unrequited love, but she is not sure what to do about it. At first, she tells herself and others that her lovesickness is just like the flu, something she can push through, but as time goes on, she realizes that her feelings are far more complicated and overwhelming.
The chorus describes the singer's hope that her love interest will feel the same way she does after they experience heartbreak. Then, the second verse shifts to the perspective of the singer's love interest. The singer speculates that he will feel a sting or prick in his heart after she receives a slight from him, and he will understand how it feels to be lovesick. However, the bridge highlights the singer's confusion and frustration. She cannot understand how this person could claim to love her and promise not to leave her alone, yet he has done precisely that. She's been waiting for a sign from him - for a text, message, or phone call - but he has not contacted her. She's unsure what went wrong and why the love was not reciprocated.
Some possible interpretations of the song could be that the singer is trying to make sense of her unrequited love, attempting to rationalize why the person she loves isn't interested in her. The song could also be describing the pain of waiting for someone to provide closure after a relationship ends, leaving the other person feeling unwanted and confused.
Line by Line Meaning
A laundry list a mile long
I have an endless list of tasks to complete
I've got so much to do
My to-do list is overwhelming me
No, I don't see that elephant standing in the room
I am ignoring a glaringly obvious issue
And I keep telling everyone it's something like the flu
I'm making excuses for my heartache
But I'm sick of feeling lovesick over you
I am tired of being in love with you
You're gonna feel a little sting
You will experience some emotional pain
A little like a prick
It will be like getting pricked with a needle
A heart without an arrow in it gonna make you sick
Having unrequited love will make you feel ill
You say you love me, you'll never leave me standing all alone
You promised to never abandon me
Been 14 days and 50 drinks, I'm staring at the phone
I've been waiting for your call for two weeks, drowning my sorrows in alcohol
What do you know?
Do you have any information?
I keep telling everyone it's something like the flu
I'm still denying my true emotions
They raised my rent, I lost my job—it's anything but you
My problems have nothing to do with you
You said you'd love me
You made a promise to always love me
'Cause I don't know...
I don't have the answers
No, I don't know...
I am lost and confused
Contributed by Joseph F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.