Tom: I want to hate this song. I really, really, want to hate this song.
Tim: Hahaha, but you just can’t, can you?
Tom: When you’ve had one of the songs of the year — seriously, when you get to perform it at on ABC’s Rockin’ New Years’ Eve, it’s one of the songs of the year — and your first album isn’t even out yet (at least not in the UK), how on earth do you follow it up?
Tim: With an actually good one that can be properly sung to, it seems.
Tom: This is basically the same song.
Tim: What?
Tom: The chord progression, shifted up one key, is nearly identical. The “feel” of it is the same. It even uses the word “bass” in at least two different lyrics, just to drum home the connection. Just adding a spoken bit at the start doesn’t excuse it — the record company has picked the closest possible track to follow it with.
Tim: Weeeeell, you say that, but it’s a good amount more melodic than previously, you’ve got to give it that. It doesn’t have, for me, anywhere near the same “this is how we make a cheap and somewhat novelty dance track” feel to it.
Tom: And for all those cynical reasons, I really want to hate this song. The trouble is, it’s good. It’s catchy. The middle eight is just glorious. And it’s only three minutes long, which means I keep hitting play on it. It’s… it’s a good track, Tim. I’m sorry.
Tim: It really is. Middle eight aside, if this was an artist’s debut, I’d be interested on keeping an eye on them to see what came next.