Tim: New one off Hurts for you; apparently it’s not off an album, but is just a one-off project. There’s a good chance you’ll need to play it twice, as if you’re anything like me you’ll be to entranced by the video to pay attention to the music.
Tim: And what a brilliant video that is. Yes, it starts with bloody violence and Theo being beaten up, but as it progresses backwards we work towards a happier time, a time instead of joy, where we can see that yes, in fact, we are the beautiful ones. All of us, we can celebrate who we are. As the lyrics say, one day this will fade. But until then? Be who you are, and be that with confidence.
Tom: Which is an admirable message for a song, but I’m not convinced as much by the video: reverse narrative’s been done many times before, and it’s been 15 years since Chris Martin actually lip-synced backwards. Still, yes, points for effort.
Tim: Well, whatever you think of the video if it comes with a side helping of a fantastic backing track then that’s all the better really.
Tom: So as you suggested, I listened again without the video — and I think it’s got a brilliant first verse, which is let down slightly by the rest of the song. There’s nothing actually wrong with it, I just feel it’s not a “Wonderful Life”. Hurts tracks have a high bar to clear — this nearly manages it for me, but not quite.