I just recently found the song “Invisible Battles” by Carolina Rial.
This song is not popular, so I wasn’t thinking much when it popped up on my TikTok for you page. But all it took was 60-second video for me to become hooked.
Upon attentively listening to this ballad, I realized that it appeals to everyone for it melodically discusses the versatile issues of today’s society. Truthfully, this could be one of the most relatable songs of our time. People, alike, grapple with numerous internal battles yet are too afraid to verbalize their feelings. “Invisible Battles” dives deep into certain emotions and thoughts that those struggling typically encounter. The song’s ideals—presented through powerful word choice—astonish me after every listen.
I personally resonate with the line, “Sacrificing every moral just to fit the shape/ Of a picture she’s dying to frame.” The subject of the song (“she”) wrestles with the pressure to maintain a “perfect image” of her body; the only way that she will be ok with herself is if she fits into this expectation of how a girl should look in society. The song continues, “She’ll do anything to feel the slightest bit of love/ But it’s never enough.” The subject yearns for the smallest amount of affection, yet even that doesn’t satiate the pain within.
Still, these are just two lines from the first verse that depict the song’s relevance— the chorus is what really represents the meaning behind the song.
The chorus reads:
“Her best friend wears long sleeves in mid June
Hopes no one will see she’s black and blue
Her sister skips meals to fit into
The dress that she wore back in high school
Her teacher’s about to unravel
Her treatment is making her fragile”
In my opinion, these particular lines present immense meaning… afterall, they are repeated for a reason. The lyrics relate to the analyzed verse above, expressing the feeling of needing to fit a “perfect image.” The strength of the evident societal pressure leads the subject to self-harm merely because she doesn’t feel accepted in her own skin.
The second half of the chorus further contributes to the title of the song by highlighting how our surrounding peers are too caught up in their own issues to recognize someone else’s struggles. Everyone has different internal battles, but these specific lines call on the need for empathy: you don’t truly know what’s going on in another person’s life.
After adding this song to my playlist, I’ve realized that the intensifying societal climate has made women (and, frankly, everyone) believe they need to fit into this “perfect image.” This is entirely untrue! I want to convey that the only person you ever need to love is yourself. Once you learn to accept who you are, you’ll notice an increase in your happiness and your quality of life altogether. As a society, we need to realize that everyone is different—it’s these differences that make us beautiful.
The song ends by saying “But we’re all fighting invisible battles.” This line unifies our community, proving that we are all more alike than we choose to believe. You are not alone.
I highly recommend that you listen to this song. You can download “Invisible Battles” by Carolina Rial on both Spotify and Apple Music, or you can find the sound trending on TikTok!
