Alexandra Artourovna Yatchenko, professionally known as Sasha Alex Sloan (p… Read Full Bio ↴Alexandra Artourovna Yatchenko, professionally known as Sasha Alex Sloan (previously Sasha Sloan), is an American singer-songwriter. She was born on March 11, 1995. Sloan's debut album, "Only Child," was released on October 16, 2020, to critical acclaim. Her second studio album, "I Blame the World," was released on May 13, 2022.

Sloan spent her childhood outside of Boston and developed her musical skills by teaching herself to play the piano. During summers, she visited her grandparents' farm in Siberia, Russia. At the age of nineteen, Sloan relocated to Los Angeles with the aim of pursuing a career as a songwriter, supporting herself by working at a coffee shop. On February 6, 2019, she made her US national TV debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

In 2015, Sloan was featured in Kaskade's song "Phoenix" and started gaining recognition for her songwriting abilities. She went on to write songs for artists like Idina Menzel, Maggie Lindemann, and Camila Cabello. In 2017, she collaborated with Kygo on the song "This Town," which she co-wrote.

Sloan's debut EP, "Sad Girl," was released by RCA on April 18, 2018. She then co-wrote Juice WRLD's single "Black & White" and released her second EP, "Loser," on November 29, 2018. The EP was accompanied by her first headlining tour. Sloan performed her single "Older" from the album on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on February 6, 2019.

On October 18, 2019, Sloan released her third EP, "Self-Portrait," which explored themes of anxiety and introspection. She collaborated with Kygo on the single "I'll Wait" for his album "Golden Hour" in 2020, and the accompanying music video featured personal footage of Rob Gronkowski and Camille Kostek. Sloan announced her debut album, "Only Child," in August 2020, with the lead single "Lie" released shortly after. The album was released on October 16, 2020.

On November 19, 2020, Sloan collaborated with singer/songwriter Charlie Puth on the song "Is It Just Me?" She continued to release new music, including the acoustic-driven song "when was it over?" with Sam Hunt in April 2021. In March 2023, Sloan announced her departure from RCA Records, becoming an independent artist. She also performed at the 22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023.

Normal
Sasha Sloan Lyrics

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Think I drank too much again
Looks like fun, but it's pretend
Why do I try to fit in
When I just wanna go home

And I know this isn't like me
I just want people to like me
Got my glass up in the air

And I act like I don't care
And I take some, but I shouldn't
And I say things that I wouldn't
And I'm just part of the crowd
But I feel better now

Keep on playing that song that I don't like
I just wanna feel normal for the night
Keep on kissing that guy that's not my type
I just wanna feel normal for the night
I should go, it's getting late
But I'ma keep on dancing 'til I feel okay
So keep on playing that song that I don't like
I just wanna feel normal for the night

Taking pictures in the dark
Smoke it up 'til I can't talk
Fooled myself, almost forgot
That I just wanna go home (I just wanna go home)

And I know this isn't like me
I just want people to like me
Got my glass up in the air
And I act like I don't care
And I take some, but I shouldn't
And I say things that I wouldn't
And I'm just part of the crowd
But I feel better now, so

Keep on playing that song that I don't like
I just wanna feel normal for the night
Keep on kissing that guy that's not my type
I just wanna feel normal for the night
I should go, it's getting late
But I'ma keep on dancing 'til I feel okay
So keep on playing that song that I don't like
I just wanna feel normal for the night

I just wanna feel normal for the night
I just wanna feel normal

So keep on playing that song that I don't like
I just wanna feel normal for the night
Keep on kissing that guy that's not my type
I just wanna feel normal for the night
I should go, it's getting late
But I'ma keep on dancing 'til I feel okay

So keep on playing that song that I don't like
I just wanna feel normal for the night

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sasha Sloan's song "Normal" reflect a common experience of individuals who feel like they must conform to social norms, even when it goes against their values and personality. Sloan expresses an internal struggle between wanting to fit in with the crowd and feeling the urge to be true to herself. The opening lines, "Think I drank too much again/ Looks like fun, but it's pretend," portray a familiar scenario of people engaging in behaviors they might not otherwise do in order to appear normal around others.

The chorus, "Keep on playing that song that I don't like/ I just wanna feel normal for the night/ Keep on kissing that guy that's not my type/ I just wanna feel normal for the night," encapsulates the feelings of wanting to fit in despite a feeling of discomfort. Although Sloan recognizes that this behavior is not true to herself, she continues to dance, drink, and act in ways that are not authentic to her personality. The lyrics "But I feel better now" suggest that conformity is a temporary escape from the internal conflict.

However, towards the end of the song, Sloan admits, "I just wanna go home," a clear sign that she is not truly feeling comfortable in her surroundings. The repeated line, "I just wanna feel normal," reveals the core theme of this song: the desire to be accepted and fit in with others, even at the cost of one's own authenticity.

Line by Line Meaning

Think I drank too much again
I have overindulged in alcohol once again

Looks like fun, but it's pretend
The party seems like a great time, but it's actually an illusion

Why do I try to fit in When I just wanna go home
I feel pressure to belong, but I would rather leave

And I know this isn't like me I just want people to like me Got my glass up in the air And I act like I don't care And I take some, but I shouldn't And I say things that I wouldn't And I'm just part of the crowd But I feel better now
I don't usually act this way, but I'm trying to be liked. I pretend to be carefree and indulge in things I shouldn't, but it makes me feel better to fit in.

Keep on playing that song that I don't like I just wanna feel normal for the night Keep on kissing that guy that's not my type I just wanna feel normal for the night I should go, it's getting late But I'ma keep on dancing 'til I feel okay So keep on playing that song that I don't like I just wanna feel normal for the night
I want to feel like I fit in, so even though I don't enjoy the music or the guy I'm with, I'm going to keep going until I feel okay

Taking pictures in the dark Smoke it up 'til I can't talk Fooled myself, almost forgot That I just wanna go home (I just wanna go home)
I distract myself by taking photos and smoking until I can't speak, but I momentarily forget my desire to leave the party

I just wanna feel normal for the night I just wanna feel normal So keep on playing that song that I don't like I just wanna feel normal for the night Keep on kissing that guy that's not my type I just wanna feel normal for the night I should go, it's getting late But I'ma keep on dancing 'til I feel okay So keep on playing that song that I don't like I just wanna feel normal for the night
I repeat that I just want to fit in and feel normal, even if it means doing things I don't want to. Dancing to the music and kissing a guy who's not my type might help me feel okay and belong, even if it's not what I truly want.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Henry Allen, Iain Andrew Cook, Martin Clifford Doherty, Sasha Yatchenko

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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