Here's Looking At You

Here's another song that I hesitated to paint because the dynamic creative duo of Calvin and Jillian created a wonderful music video for "I Like the Way You Look at Me." It's fantastically fun and silly, but still has some things to say about the contemporary dating scene. In the end, love in the modern world of social media isn't so different than that of our parents: "Aren't we all looking for someone to keep us company — so we can wake up, all frizz and make-up, look 'em in the eye and say I like the way you look at me?" Touché.

The music video is super fun and you should definitely watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c_5IzYvzv4 Note the appearance by creepy safari interloper Jim and his pet giraffe. We've liked to look at each other, all frizz and make-up, for nearly four decades now. =) The video features fabulous choreography by Calvin and Clara; and of course wonderful filmmaking by Jillian.

For the painting, I drew inspiration for my palette from the video's birthday party streamers. The style of this piece is markedly different from the others in that it's more illustrative, light-hearted and even has some sparkle confetti. But just like the song, underneath all that silly bright fun, there are some layers of meaning: Starting with a Rubin Vase and then channeling some Keith Haring and Andy Warhol, the goal was to convey ideas of first impressions, party conversations, duplicity, flirting, wearing a mask, and the spark of attraction.

Here are the lyrics:

I Like the Way you Look at Me

By Calvin Rezen

I think I was invited by my roommate's hipster sister

Somebody's birthday that I didn't care about

You caught me slipping up, zipping up my zipper

I caught you missing a button on your blouse.

We both got flustered

We both adjusted

We both entrusted the other with our self esteem

We turned and parted both broken-hearted

You thought I was charming and I like the way you looked at me

Clocked you for an hour just to prove I wasn't crazy

But I was pretty confident that you were there alone

Our host was toasting hopelessly and posting to her pages

Tagged us in a picture so you showed up on my phone

Tried to resist it, my heart insisted

I investigated on your Intsa almost instantly

Oh, you're an artist?

I'm so predictable

I'm just a sucker for aesthetic sensibility

And I like the way you looked at me

I like the way you looked at me

I'm glad I caught your eye

Cause you must have been impressed

To see me zipping up my fly

while I was staring at your chest

Well at least one day I'll die so I can bury my rergret

I'm giving up on romance, I've had my fill of small talk

I've said my lines, I think it's time to take my cue

Make an Irish exit, but I found you on the sidewalk

I called a truce I introduced myself to you...

Quickly regret it, I feel pathetic

I am overthinking, I can feel I'm sinking in the blue

Why does it vex me If I think you're sexy

When much to my surprise you said you like the way I looked at you

Now I'll admit it I don't read romantic fiction,

I'm not a crooner, or a swooner, or a flirt

We say we're after galantry, when all we want is friction

Unzipping zippers, ripping buttons off of shirts

We traded glances, we made advances

Aren't we all looking for someone to keep us company

So we can wake up, all frizz and make-up,

Look 'em in the eye and say. "I like the way you look at me."

And I like the way you looked at me

© Calvin Rezen. All rights reserved.