STEVEN

            When looking at Steven’s character in the show, his maturity and musicality are intensely entwined. He is keen to learn his own unique way through life—almost to a fault. The simple and zealous boy debuted with a song of the same stature; “Giant Woman”. With a simple strumming pattern in the key of C Major and naïve lyrics, “Giant Women” gives us an introduction to how childlike Steven is. Predominately during the initial season, we see how Steven idolizes yet misconstrues the Crystal Gems and the severity of their jobs. Though explicitly told that Fusion, the joining of 2 Gems, only occurs in a ‘Deadly Situation’, he boyishly puts his personal wants over the wellbeing of others in stating that; “[The Gems] might even like being together, and if [they] don't it won't be forever” because “All [he] wants is see [them] turn into a giant woman”.
            Steven’s most decisive moment is also one that shows the death of his childhood. He is faced with the choice of exposing Connie, his best friend, to the adult world that he's been thrown into or, protecting her innocence. The result is the song, “Full Disclosure”. The track itself emulates his dad, Greg Universe’s, instrumentation with the use of electric guitar, bass, and drums and a rock-esque guitar solo towards the end of the song. With the musical similarities to his dad we see Steven inch towards realizing his place in the world. With the tragedy that unfolded in front of him we see that Steven has grasped the gravity of the situation for the first time, and is finally prepared to hold the burden the Crystal Gem title brings. The tracks lacks Steven’s usual instruments like the ukulele or chiptune. With his heavy realization there’s this self-deprecation that arises within Steven. 
             Steven takes this newfound sense of "adulthood” and steps into a teacher and parent role to everyone around him. We see this happen prominently in the song, “Peace and Love on the Planet Earth”, a duet with Peridot, who is a new Earth inhabitant. He takes what he’s learned and shows a new gem how to live like a human after not knowing how to do it prior himself. His center and sense of worth is the wellbeing of Earth rather than himself now; he’s garnered a superhero type of mindset in regards to his priorities. The song itself took elements of Steven’s early musical habits such as the ukulele and a simple composition, and elevated it to match his now emotional complexity.