You Don't Know Me - Summer Walker - by Clover Adam (English 1A) - Jay's Semester of Love Research Dictionary

Talking To A Brick Wall

Summer Walker's song "You Don't Know Me" is an expressive piece highlighting the crucial role of communication in relationships, and sometimes they do the bare minimum to keep things going. Similarly, the play "Bus Stop" portrays occurrences of poor communication between the characters Cherie and Bo, showing a strong sense of frustration experienced by Cherie due to Bo's unwillingness to listen and understand her desires in life. It’s like talking to a brick wall with Bo. Despite Bo's lack of knowledge about Cherie, he fantasizes about their marriage on his ranch in Montana, oblivious to her desires. Cherie, who has never truly experienced love, finds herself dissatisfied by Bo's self-centered and cowboy-like behavior, leading her to reject any relations with him. The song and the play clarify the significance of open and genuine communication, exposing the issues that arise when relationships fail to truly know and understand their partners, ultimately setting back the development of a meaningful and fulfilling connection.

Growing Relations

"Bus Stop" presents the idea that something good can come out of something bad. In this case, the good is the relationships the characters created throughout the bad blizzard that closed the roads down, causing them to stop the bus and stay at the diner. Despite the frustration and inconvenience of being stranded, the characters soon discover that this unexpected situation brings them closer together and provides a chance for personal growth. The friendships that form among the characters at the diner serve as a source of support and encouragement during the direful wait for the blizzard to pass. They find comfort in each other's company, sharing stories, laughter, and moments of vulnerability. As the characters face the challenges of the storm, they also confront their own personal demons and desires. Some characters find the courage to confront their desires and fear head-on, pushing themselves to grow and find clarity. This journey of self-discovery allows them to shed their insecurities and embrace a greater version of themselves. There are characters who reflect on their past decisions and the paths they have chosen. The blizzard becomes a symbol pause button, forcing them to question their life choices and contemplate the consequences. This offers valuable lessons and opportunities, encouraging them to reconsider their priorities and make necessary changes. Bus Stop is a valuable play because it demonstrates the tangled relationships that humans create and the lessons they learn from life choices. The play invites the audience to reflect on their own relationships, vulnerabilities, and the importance of embracing change and personal development. Ultimately, "Bus Stop" reminds us that sometimes, it is through the most challenging circumstances that we find the strength to uncover our true selves and build meaningful connections with others.

The Truth Unfolds

“Yor overlookin’ the simple but important fack that the little lady don’t love you” (Act1). Sheriff Will unfolds the truth that Cherie is not in love with Bo, after refusing to travel to Montana. Before Will unfolds the truth the audience witnesses an instance of poor communication between Cherie and Bo, which highlights the challenges they face in truly understanding each other. As Cherie opens up about her dreams and goals, Bo's inability to grasp the intensity of her desires becomes apparent. Cherie expresses her longing for a life beyond mere survival, yearning for something more meaningful and pleasing. However, Bo wrapped up in his own fantasies and limited perspective, fails to realize the spirit of her words. Instead of engaging in a genuine conversation, Bo dismisses Cherie's dreams as senseless and flimsy, plummeting the significance of her dreams. This discussion about what they want further widens the gap between them, leaving Cherie feeling unheard and misunderstood, while Bo remains oblivious to the importance of her emotional needs. Their inability to effectively communicate and truly comprehend each other's perspectives restrains the development of a strong relationship between them, stressing the significant role that opens and empathizes communication plays in healthy relationships.

Fixed Mindset

The line "Communication just don't seem to work, You've got it all figured out in your head" from the song captures a universal experience we can all relate to, which i the frustration when communication fails and someone stubbornly clings to their own established plans. We've all been in situations where despite our best efforts to communicate and mend the gap, it feels like we're talking to a brick wall. This line serves as a reminder that no matter how much we try to improve communication with someone, it may not necessarily lead to a resolution or a change in their perspective. It reflects those instances when we engage in genuine conversations, hoping to find common ground and reach a mutual understanding, only to find ourselves met with resistance and an unwillingness to listen. It's upsetting when the other person has already convinced themselves that they have the situation completely figured out in their mind. This mindset often prevents them from truly hearing our perspective or considering alternative viewpoints, resulting in frustration. Despite that, we may strive for better communication and invest efforts to resolve conflicts, but there are times when our attempts may be pointless. Although Bo insisted on Cherie marrying him, she persisted in a mutual understanding between her and Bo. Cherie displays true dedication to herself because she believed that her attempt to make Bo understand her emotions wasn’t pointless.

The Upbringing

Summer Walker was born on April 11, 1996. Two years before her music career, Walker's only occupations were as a stripper and a cleaner. During this time Walker decided to learn guitar and she did with the help of Youtube she watched videos that contained information about guitars, which showcase her dedication and self-motivation in developing her musical skills. Her passion for music eventually led her to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter, and she gained recognition for her soulful R&B sound. Summer Walker was discovered by Paris Jones, the studio manager at the Atlanta-based label Love Renaissance (LVRN). Jones reached out to Walker and offered her an opportunity to collaborate and work on music together. Owing to the encounter between Walker and Jones, Walker then signed with LVRN. LVRN is an influential record label known for its focus on guiding artist development and creating a supportive environment for emerging talent. Now with the support and guidance of LVRN, Summer Walker embarks on her debut project, which she later released her album "Over It," in 2019. The Released Album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. Summer Walker’s music is noticed for her exploring love, heartbreak, and self-reflection. Since Walker's music explores these themes of music, it is very appealing for listeners since these themes of music are rising. Summer Walker has collaborated with several notable artists, including Drake, Chris Brown, Khalid, and Bryson Tiller, since her debut album. Due to the Collaboration with Drake, Summer Walker began to gain even more attention because their collaboration peaked on Billboard’s Hot 100. Summer Walker was supposed to go on tour but because of her social anxiety, she later decided to cancel the tour and to never do interviews again. Even though her social anxiety made her nervous, she still decided to make music. Summer Walker was also honored with the Best New Artist accolade at the 2019 Soul Train Awards.

What I Believe

In "You Don't Know Me," the drifting in the relationship leads to a lack of understanding and tension between the partners. The distance created by the minimal love and effort dissolves the connection to the point where they feel like they no longer know the person they are in a relationship with. This realization can trigger feelings of frustration and a loss of motivation to continue the relationship. Similarly, in Bus Stop,"Cherie confronts Bo about his lack of knowledge and understanding of her true self, especially considering her life before they met. She tries to communicate this to him, but he stubbornly refuses to comprehend why she isn't falling for him. This inability to grasp Cherie's perspective and experiences further highlights the issue of poor communication within the relationship. Both "You Don't Know Me" and Bus Stop highlight the destructive impact of poor communication in relationships. It leads to misunderstandings, drifting apart, and a failure to truly know and understand one another. These works serve as reminders of the importance of open and empathetic communication in healthy and fulfilling relationships.

“You Don't Know Me”- Summer Walker	“Bus Stop”-William Ibsen
I'm, honestly, running out of patience	“We’re goin’ down and wake up the justice of the peace and you’re gonna marry me t’might.” “Help! Virgil,help!” Cherrie was out of patience when Bo picked her up and tried to force her to marry him
You've got it all figured out in your head	“Yor gonna follow me back to Timber Hill and marry up” Bo created a plan forcing Cherrie to go to Montana and marry her on his ranch
And it don't seem to matter how many times I try or I cry, I say it nice	“Bo, I don’t wanta go up to Montana and marry ya.” “Yes, I am, Bo. You gotta b’lieve me. I ain’t goin’ with ya. That’s final.” Cherrie insists on communicating with Bo about how she feels about this plan he created and he wouldn't listen
You don't know me	“... I ain’t the kinda gal you thought I was.” “I’d had other boy friends ‘fore you.” Cherie explained to Bo that she is not what he thinks she is because she’s had many partners before Bo and Cherie was Bos’ first lover