☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Alaska' is about a difficult love relationship characterized by emotional coldness and distance.
- Despite the tough relationship and emotional distance, the singer expresses his deep feelings for his partner and does not want to break free from the relationship.
- It alludes to communication problems in the relationship, as both partners feel they are not understood by each other.
- The singer responds to the emotional coldness by seeking warmth in physical activity.
- 'Alaska' symbolizes the icy, cold relationship that the singer doesn't want to leave despite its harshness.
Interpretation
The song 'Alaska' from 1986 is about a difficult love relationship characterized by internal coldness and distance. The heart of the loved one is compared to 'Alaska', a place known for its eternal winter and cold. The singer feels trapped in this relationship, comparable to being in prison, but at the same time he shows an ambivalent attitude, as he doesn't want to break free from this relationship despite the difficulties.
He describes the emotional coldness and distance he sees in his partner's eyes ('In your eyes minus 20 degrees') and the inability to breathe in this emotionally cold environment ('So deep below zero, can't breathe'). He feels overwhelmed by the situation and doesn't understand why his partner is not with him.
The lyrics also reveal a communication barrier between the two partners, as they both feel misunderstood by the other. The partner accuses the singer of not being empathetic enough ('Have you ever wondered: What is it like from my point of view?'). However, the singer also feels unfairly treated by his partner ('You always tell me that I'm shit').
He responds to the emotional coldness by seeking warmth in physical activity ('In the gym, I seek warmth in the coldness within you'). Despite the difficulties in the relationship, the singer reveals his deep affection for his partner and his need for her ('One half of me wants to hold you in my arms / The other half deep inside me doesn't even want to see you').
The song ends with the same ambivalent attitude with which it began: the singer is unhappy in the relationship but doesn't want to break free from it. 'Alaska' is thus a symbol of a difficult, cold relationship from which the singer doesn't want to escape despite all the difficulties.