8. American Authors - Believer
I have a pretty good handle on what type of songs to write about if I want a positive response in the My Top Ten comments section. What genres, what eras, what countries of origin. That in mind, I have a pretty good idea that my latest charity shop gamble will leave 90% of my regular respondents ice cold. I apologise for that in advance, but I think this is a pretty cool pop song.
Taken from the band's 2014 debut album, this is apparently one of their best loved tunes. I've not listened to the rest of the album yet, I just picked this at random and burned it onto one of my in-car comps. It's a great driving song, complete with shouty chorus and Friends-theme-tune-style handclaps. (Ugh - I know!) It's over-produced as most American alt-rock is these days, but I can even forgive it that.
You're really not going to like it though. Honest. I know you by now. That's OK. You don't have to pretend for me. I'm a big boy. I can take it.
Hmm...well I listened to it.
ReplyDeleteThere is a line in the song about take it or leave it, and that is probably where I sit. I don't dislike it at all, but I gotta say it didn't do that much for me.
So yeah, maybe you do know your audience.
The weird thing is, I might not have liked it myself if I hadn't randomly selected it for the CD. It didn't exactly grab me at first, but on repeated listens it grew. I have a friend who says if you listen to anything enough you start to like it. I'm not sure I believe that though: I've heard a hell of a lot of U2 on the radio over the years, and...
DeleteYou know me better than I know myself Rol!
ReplyDeleteAt least it wasn't Muse.
DeleteAs both Deano and The Swede say! But the singer looks a bit like that Jonas bloke from DNCE and then I thought about DNCE and how I rather like 'Cake By The Ocean' which isn't that dissimilar so you just never know... always worth a try...keeping ears and mind open!
ReplyDeleteHmm. I was unaware of the work of DNCE, or their Cake By The Ocean. Having just given it a try, I can see the appeal... but it's much poppier than American Authors... hence, I win the muso points on this one, surely? ;-)
DeleteYou do :-) I've been listening to too much Radio 1!
DeleteWell, that's not been a good idea since about 2004.
DeleteI was expecting the worst but of course if you expect no-one to like it, probably means that I will. Feel-good pop and what's wrong with that in this not-feel-good world we are living in at the moment.
ReplyDeleteYou were always a strong contender for the 10%, Alyson.
DeleteI just popped back to delete my comment as I was in a hurry earlier and didn't word it right at all, but too late it seems - "Not-feel-good" is not a term but you probably knew what I meant. Yes I am the 10% and proud of it!
DeleteI am very firmly 90% but I think you knew that>
ReplyDeleteSo interchangable with so much other pop-pap that pollutes the airwaves these days.
JC
Of course. ;-)
Delete