Lately I've been trying to put together the perfect pop song. Tried everything. The whole 'hint of melancholy' thing, the happy bright sounding song, the build-to-crescendo.
Should have given up a long time ago. This has already been achieved by Norway's greatest ever export (even better than Tore Andre Flo), the irrepressible Annie, with the song 'Heartbeat'.
The song apparently chronicles a good night out idk. But what I do know is that it has the most irresistible laid back groove to the whole song which hits me deep, man. It's immediate, but at the same time, about a thousand listens through I'm not bored of it. Still 'discovering' new things within the melody. The other day I just realised why the bit after the first chorus was so good. I can hear a little slidy thing going on. Don't even know what it is, but it's pretty sweet bro.
So what makes a perfect pop song? I don't think it's having the perfect melody, production, even great lyrics. Not even, in a way, when it all comes together. It's more than that, like the personality of the person who wrote it and who's singing it should come through, and show a sense of vulnerability. After all, an idea of music is as an expression of emotion. In this song, Annie opens up more as the song progresses, and her breathy, hushed vocal works perfectly, making the song feel incredibly intimate and even sexy.
Might give up on my aim. Can never write a song as good as this. Might just start an Annie tribute band.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Saturday, January 09, 2010
This is my blog.
Don't know how 'celebrity' bloggers like Carles from hipsterrunoff and Perez Hilton have the energy to blog everyday. I mean srsly.
I struggle to write one a month.
Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. Maybe need tee shirts with links to my blog on. Maybe if I knew people were actually reading I'd feel more bothered. Maybe I need to be in some sort of 'scandal' and when I'm on the news releasing a press statement link them to my blog.
Would post everyday.
Would anyone buy a tee with my blog on?
I struggle to write one a month.
Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. Maybe need tee shirts with links to my blog on. Maybe if I knew people were actually reading I'd feel more bothered. Maybe I need to be in some sort of 'scandal' and when I'm on the news releasing a press statement link them to my blog.
Would post everyday.
Would anyone buy a tee with my blog on?
Why Girls' 'Album' is the best album of 2009
The other day I heard about this sweet new buzz band called Girls. Apparently the lead singer used to be in Children in God, but isn't anymore, cos he didn't agree with their ideals. Can respect that. Anyway, this guy, Christopher Owens in fact, wrote, recorded, and released what is in my opinion the best album of 2009, and I'm going to say why.
Thinking about what makes this band likeable. I know it's sometimes irrelevant and nothing to do with the music, but this band have an incredible back story. First of all, lead singer Owens was born into the Children of God cult, which is pretty huge. This is one of the most controversial religious cults/sects with about as much controversy surrounding it as Michael Barrymore's patio, but let's not let this detract us from the music. Don't really want to play the 'back story' card.
Think this band is mainly likeable because, simply, the songs are brilliant. Owens knows how not to over complicate songs, and makes relatively simple chord structures sound completely original. He also has a way round a vocal melody, and the lyrics are some of the most beautiful I've heard in a long time.
"I don't want to cry my whole life through/I want to do some laughing to" sings Owens in Hellhole Ratrace. It's simple, but that's why this album works, and why I think this is the greatest album from the past year.
It's completely honest, heart on the line, and effortless. Owens claimed in a recent interview that these were the first songs he had ever written, yet it sounds like he's been doing it for years. Some of these songs sound like well established classics. 'Headache' wouldn't sound out of place on a classic Smiths record, 'Hellhole Ratrace' a classic far in its own right.
And that's probably why I like this album this much. Girls have made a classic record from the off, whether they did it intentionally or not. It's an album that wouldn't sound out of place stood next to a Beach Boys record or something more modern, it has a timeless feel about it. I sometimes feel some bands try too hard to hit a zeitgeist, but Girls have done something that is completely their own sound and, in the end, it works. It's what all good albums are. It just sounds completely and utterly natural. It sounds like a band who are from San Francisco. It makes you want to find out more about the people involved. It just works, far beyond whether it should or not.
Whether the general public will actually buy it is another matter.
Thinking about what makes this band likeable. I know it's sometimes irrelevant and nothing to do with the music, but this band have an incredible back story. First of all, lead singer Owens was born into the Children of God cult, which is pretty huge. This is one of the most controversial religious cults/sects with about as much controversy surrounding it as Michael Barrymore's patio, but let's not let this detract us from the music. Don't really want to play the 'back story' card.
Think this band is mainly likeable because, simply, the songs are brilliant. Owens knows how not to over complicate songs, and makes relatively simple chord structures sound completely original. He also has a way round a vocal melody, and the lyrics are some of the most beautiful I've heard in a long time.
"I don't want to cry my whole life through/I want to do some laughing to" sings Owens in Hellhole Ratrace. It's simple, but that's why this album works, and why I think this is the greatest album from the past year.
It's completely honest, heart on the line, and effortless. Owens claimed in a recent interview that these were the first songs he had ever written, yet it sounds like he's been doing it for years. Some of these songs sound like well established classics. 'Headache' wouldn't sound out of place on a classic Smiths record, 'Hellhole Ratrace' a classic far in its own right.
And that's probably why I like this album this much. Girls have made a classic record from the off, whether they did it intentionally or not. It's an album that wouldn't sound out of place stood next to a Beach Boys record or something more modern, it has a timeless feel about it. I sometimes feel some bands try too hard to hit a zeitgeist, but Girls have done something that is completely their own sound and, in the end, it works. It's what all good albums are. It just sounds completely and utterly natural. It sounds like a band who are from San Francisco. It makes you want to find out more about the people involved. It just works, far beyond whether it should or not.
Whether the general public will actually buy it is another matter.
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