The Truth Behind the Song #10 – Louise Parker’s ‘Chances Are’
Welcome to our ‘The Truth Behind the Song’ feature. For this feature, we’ve asked a number of our favourite artists to give us in-depth piece about a song that has a special place in their heart. Today we feature the wonderful Louise Parker, who gives us an insight into the truth behind ‘Chances Are’.
For anyone who hasn’t listened to my music previously; I write about personal experiences, love, heartbreak, freedom, etc. However, ‘Chances Are’ was written about a hypothetical situation, a what if…?
I have always been one of the youngest in my school year, I turned 18 years old late July 2011 and started university the following September. There was a lot of new experiences, as a “young’un”, socialising, drinking and partying with new friends, whilst also trying to figure out who I was and wanted to be. I became best friends with the girl next door almost immediately, she was cool, funny and smart (still is!). After a few drinks we would profess our undying love for one another and kiss, it was innocent fun, but it got me thinking;
What if she turned out to be the one? What would have happened if I had actually fallen madly in love? Would I have been brave enough to tell her?
I started by drawing from my experience of unrequited love and teenage heartache, building these hypothetical scenarios from facts and real feelings. After finishing the first verse and chorus I decided I didn’t like the idea and stopped writing. Later the same day I had a co-write with Lawrence Gray and TJ Simpson who both loved the song and started gathering ideas from their own experiences and really brought the song to life. It is thanks to both co-writers, and friends, that the song was finished, released and now one of my favourites!
So, what is the story behind the song? It’s about falling in love with the girl next door. (You know who you are) xo