melissa explains it all

This song falls under two of our favorite song categories: 90s Hits and Ambiguous Songs. Let’s get right to it.

You have so many relationships in this life
Only one or two will last
You go through all this pain and strife
Then you turn your back and they’re gone so fast
And they’re gone so fast

I would just like to establish that the ages of the band members ranged from 11-16 when this song came out. And yet they’re acting like they’re Yoda or something. Please.

So hold on the ones who really care
In the end they’ll be the only ones there
When you get old and start losing your hair
Can you tell me who will still care?
Can you tell me who will still care?

…Is it just me, or does this sound like one of those overdramatic, cry for help songs? Apparently MMMBop started off as a ballad. I think that long hair was hiding something.

Mmm bop, ba duba dop
Ba do bop, ba duba dop
Ba do bop, ba duba dop
Ba do

Well, that cleared up a few things.

Plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose
You can plant any one of those
Keep planting to find out which one grows
It’s a secret no one knows
It’s a secret no one knows

I’m sure they’re trying to be symbolic. Or at least I hope they are, because unless there’s a drought or something most of those things are going to grow even if you don’t put too much effort into it. Maybe their seeds aren’t growing because they are smothering them with too much love. Or hair.

In an mmm bop they’re gone
In an mmm bop they’re not there
In an mmm bop they’re gone
In an mmm bop they’re not there

This is really depressing. They have me thinking about the fragility of life and the fact that it could all end soon!

Until you lose your hair
But you don’t care

Teehee. Nevermind. Now I’m thinking about how much they’d care. It’s like Samson up in hea.

Mmm bop, ba duba dop
Ba do bop, ba duba dop
Ba do bop, ba duba dop
Ba do

That definitely brings some levity to the situation as well.

Can you tell me?
You say you can, but you don’t know
Can you tell me which flower’s going to grow?
Can you tell me if it’s going to be a daisy or a rose?
Can you tell me which flower’s going to grow?
Can you tell me?
You say you can, but you don’t know

Jesus. Yes, I CAN! All it takes for a flower to grow is FOOD AND SUNLIGHT.
They’re really competing with Scary Spice in who can be more annoying in a song. And then they have to be all pissy about it. They really do think they know it all!