you Party in the U.S.A. a lot.

Seeing as this is a safe place, relatively, I probably should just come out and admit that Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." has sentimental value to me.  One, it was the song at a notable party, where you think you're the only one who would sing it secretly in the car, though seeing as I blast my music, probably everyone around me knew, and everyone plum accepted the fact that we all knew the words.  Second, I chose this song on the jukebox my first drinking night in England to which I entered a debate with my fellow Americans, because they thought I was representing us all wrong.

That didn't stop them from singing, though, now did it?

It's exactly that moment in Pitch Perfect, where Beca gives in and just sings along with everyone.

So it doesn't surprise me that it makes me smile every time my iTunes shuffle reminds me that I have it.  Let's look at the intoxicating nature of this song and the narrator's story.  Something, I'm sure, we can all relate to.

I hopped off the plane at L.A.X. with a dream and my cardigan.
Welcome to the land of fame excess (Whoa), am I gonna fit in?

Well, she packed really light.  All she took with her were dreams and a sweater!  Not only does this show initiative, but it also shows thoughtful planning, because California can get cold I hear.  She'll need a light sweater.  Not like a parka, probably, so a cardigan is a good compromise.  It also shows that she's not promiscuous.  Cardigans always make me think responsibility.

The second line has an interjection (whoa), because I think even that guy in the background was thinking "fame excess?" that's a little harsh to think.  Didn't you just make the move here?  You knew what you were getting into.

My tummy's turning and I'm feeling kinda homesick.
Too much pressure, and I'm nervous.
That's when the taxi man turned on the radio
and a Jay-Z song was on.
And the Jay-Z song was on!  And the Jay-Z song was on!

This makes sense.  You just made a big change in your life.  I'd be nervous too.  The "pressure" can either be from those who expect something from you, Miley-narrator, or maybe you're going to vomit.  Luckily, the right timing came, and your taxi man was listening to the right station, because not just any Jay-Z song was on.  The Jay-Z song was on.  

This intrigues me, because I wonder what it was.  Personally, I'm a fan of "Money Ain't a Thang," which I probably would've taken as a sign too.  I mean, if I just moved states with only a dream and a cardigan, I'd expect to be broke too.  Airfare ain't cheap, and she didn't check in a bag, which would cost her $25-$50 easy.

So I put my hands up. They're playing my song!
The butterflies fly away.
Nodding my head, like yeah.
Moving my hips, like yeah.
I got my hands up. They're playing my song.
I know I'm gonna be okay.
Yeah-eh-eh-eh-eh!
It's a party in the U.S.A.

This is where it gets a little confusing.  I guess she takes comfort in the fact that she's still in the same country?  That maybe we're all not that different at all?  It also establishes Jay-Z as extreme Americana.  We all listen to Jay-Z!  He unites us!

But I'm extremely impressed that she attempts to full on dance while sitting in the back of a taxi.  Hip-action, arms.  It's also nice that she doesn't feel self-conscious from the taxi man, but it's almost as if the taxi man saw her nerves and then turned on the radio.  Or perhaps her nerves were just getting to him and the pregnant silence was just too much, forcing him to pick any station to kill it.  Anyway, kismet.

Get to the club in my taxi cab.  Everybody's looking at me now.
Like who's that chick that's rockin' kicks?  She's gotta be from outta town.
So hard with my girls not around me.
It's definitely not a Nashville party.
'Cause all I see are stilettos, I guess I never got the memo.

Did she go straight to the club after her flight?  I mean, that's pretty brave.  I for one would feel slightly jet-lagged, but seeing as she doesn't have any luggage, I guess there's nothing holding her back.  That's probably why she's wearing kicks too.  Who wears heels in an airport?

But good for her for braving the club scene already.  She doesn't even go with friends, which I always thought necessary when going clubbing, but I suppose she wants to hit the ground running.

Good thing she wore kicks! Ay-oh!

That's when the D.J. dropped my favorite tune,
and a Britney song was on.
And the Britney song was on.  And the Britney song was on.

Wait.  I thought your favorite tune was that Jay-Z song?  Granted, you're allowed to have a variety of favorite tunes, like I'm allowed to have a variety of favorite cupcakes, but it's almost wishy-washy now.  Like any song will get you out of this homesick slump.  Though, I guess we grab at the familiar to feel comfortable.

The narrator knows she's going to be okay, though.  It's a party in the U.S.A.

Though, can you imagine how freaked out she would've been if she moved to France or Mexico?  Despite the encroaching nature of American pop songs, if she was confronted with music with another languages, she'd still be freaked out.  She could always turn to food as a coping mechanism.  Something like, "Yeah-eh-eh-eh.  There's a food platter comin' my way."

Yeah, I did it.  It was embarrassing for me to come up with that as much as it was uncomfortable for you to read it.