Is it possible for deliciously upbeat and ridiculously, infectious pop to actually say something worthwhile?
Absolutely it is.
While there is a slew of songs that add considerable weight to that idea, I give the five songs in this post that all combine music full of energy and life that manages to also dish out some salient thoughts on authenticity, love and finding a new start when things go bad.
They are proof that it’s possible to hit the dancefloor and not leave your mind or your heart behind, something worth remembering if you ever feel the need to dance away your feelings …
“Free Yourself” by Jessie Ware
Jessie Ware first burst to public prominence in 2012 courtesy of her album Devotion which went to number 5 on the UK charts, earning itself an entry on the Mercury Prize shortlist in the process.
Clearly this reviewer was not paying attention, and more fool him, because the first time Ware came onto this blog’s radar was when her instantly catchy song “Save a Kiss”, complete with a lockdown-filmed video clip, made its presence felt.
It was one of those tracks that grabs your attention and doesn’t let it go, something that can definitely be said for her latest track “Free Yourself”, an anthem to be yourself and own who you are authentically are which comes with all the goosebump energising vibes.
It’s intoxicatingly liberating lyrically with a driving clarion call to drop those shackles and express the real you, married with a pulsing dance beat that adds musical speed to an already inspired spirit, all combining for one of those songs that makes you feel so alive that anything is possible.
And when you’re listening to this song, and for a good long while afterwards, you pretty much believe it is; more power to Jessie Ware and her soul restorative music!
“Hypnotized” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor x @Wuh Oh
One artist who definitely hasn’t failed to make an impression is fellow Brit, Sophie Ellis-Bextor whose solo career kicked off in 2001 with double platinum album Read My Lips which contained the seductively upbeat delights of “Murder on the Dancefloor”.
She is also well known for “Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)”, her 2000 collaboration with Spiller which went to #1, something that could most certainly happen to “Hypnotized”, a track which has a propulsive infectiousness, courtesy of a pounding dancebeat which masks some emotionally intense lyrics about saying goodbye to a toxically unhealthy romantic relationship.
Though there’s a great deal of recrimination and regret in the song, it dovetails perfectly into the musical accompaniment which gives the song a hopefully empowering vibe which acts as a subtext of possibility in a song ruefully remarking on a broken, troubled past.
No word is this song is the lead single for a forthcoming album but even if it’s not, it stands remarkably alone as a track that is musically positive while lyrically dark, a very Scandinavian mindset that works perfectly in this context.
“Lucky” by Two Door Cinema Club
Hailing from Northern Ireland, the cleverly named Two Door Cinema Club (Alex Trimble on vocals/rhythm guitar/beats/synths, Sam Halliday on lead guitar/backing vocals, and Kevin Baird on bass/synths/backing vocals) know their way around delicious catchy synth songs.
Their latest track “Lucky” is more than emblematic of their ability to craft insanely infectious music and pairing it with lyrics that actually say something worthwhile.
“‘Lucky’ is a reflection about how fast things change. Lamenting the loss of points and moments in culture,” the band explained of the shimmering, synth-heavy song in a statement.
“We live in such a disposable society, we just need to take the time to think and reflect about why things are there in the first place.” (NME)
It’s a great way to help introduce upcoming album Keep on Smiling, which is out 2 September and follows “Wonderful Life” which also delivers up thoughtful lyrics with an engaging synth track that propels you forward with the kind of unstoppably energising momentum you want from a pop song.
“Touch the Sun” by Cryalot
You have to love a track like “Touch the Sun” which starts off all ethereal and stripped, devoting much of its initial musical real estate to letting the voice of Cryalot – Sarah Bonito from British indie band Kero Kero Bonito – before building and building up to a thousand different layers of emotive vocals, searingly punchy synth beats and some inspiringly encouraging lyrics.
“[Touch the Sun] is “about the feeling of being invincible and the unshakable belief that you can overcome any difficulties … It depicts the beginning of the Icarus story; celebrating the courage when he decides to take flight, the excitement of breaking free and knowing that leap of faith is worth all the risks.” (The Line of Best Fit)
That leap of faith is mirrored in music that ends up becoming a galloping, racing, thrillingly intense piece of buoyantly animated pop that is all hope and possibility, armed with a muscular musicality you can’t help but happily subsume yourself into.
And as far as climbing back out again? Honestly why would you want to – “Touch the Sun” has quiet reflection, exciting action and all the emotion you could ask for.
“2 Die 4” by Tove Lo
If there was one thing I was certain of in life, besides the usual trio of birth, death and taxes (well four really – we can also say cheesecake will always will always be good – it was that no major pop artist would ever sample Hot Butter’s 1972 it “Popcorn”.
Not because it’s not a very cool song and catchy love letter to Moog synthesizers, but because I always saw as a cute kid’s song, largely coloured I think by the fact that I was 7 when it came out and figured, as I danced like pogosticking idiot around our loungeroom, that it must’ve beem made purely for the likes of me.
Well any idea I had that the song did have what it takes to become sampling gold have been put well and truly to rest by Swedish singer-songwriter and actress Tove Lo who has folded the peppy synth delight into her latest track “2 Die 4” which NME calls “a fiery, fierce and nostalgic dance anthem”.
It absolutely is and while some samples feel stuck on for the sake of it, “Popcorn” feels absolutely part of the musical DNA of the song helping the artist deliver “‘instantly iconic’ energy … [that] at first [feels] like a warm hug, then you shake it off, let out a scream and start dancing!” (NME)
As far as intention to reality goes, Tove Lo nails it with a song that acts as a great curtain raiser for her forthcoming album Dirt Femme, out 14 October, which “NME‘s Hannah Mylrea says ‘features some of her best work in years as she boldly embraces new sounds and unusual collaborators.'”
SONGS, SONGS AND MORE SONGS EXTRA!
“Night is young, and the music’s hiiiiiigh …”
“Dancing Queen” is inarguably ABBA’s most famous and well-loved song, even managing to eclipse iconic track “Waterloo” which won the Eurovision Song Contest for the group, and their home country Sweden, way back in 1974, and now it has a shiny new lyric video that makes good use of the show’s original clip.
Now, you may think it’s not possible for AI and music to really come together with anything that feels earthy and human, and you’d likely be right but it’s kind of cool that people like video editor SolarProphet are giving it a shot. While we have to agree with Laughing Squid that “the results are quite accurate, if not a bit creepy after a while”, it’s an interesting experiment that shows what’s possible when digital and analogue come together.
It’s worth comparing it to the 2019 clip for the brilliantly colourful song which was released to mark the song’s 41st birthday …