MP3: Anna Frank - Happy story
No, this is not a happy story. That much is obvious from the melody before you even hear Anna Frank say it and it's that dark mood that makes it appealing. As for the plot, I'm at a loss. There's a romantic come-on in there somewhere, but it's confused. "Still years to go" implies a deliberate end, at least to my ears. Otherwise, so much of the song is concerned with trading lies -- does that make the story pure fiction? But still worth reading/living? I would not be so compelled.
Similarly, I am drawn to Anna Frank's music, but not entirely captivated. It's sonically interesting, but there is also a sterility that puts me off: too clean, too disengaged, too well-practiced. Perhaps it's that same lack of sincerity she's singing about; it seeps into the performance. I am not so convinced.
Anna Frank - Happy story