Tim: You might think that this’d be a fairly decent act name for a duo, particularly if one was called Archie, say.
Tom: No, actually, I think it’s the very first time that I’ve said “oh, piss off” to a song here before even listening to it.
Tim: Oh, well, okay, but let’s say you did think that, then you might be right, but we’ll never know, because this band is a threesome made up of Joakim, Magnus and Oskar, and they’ve written a song that seems to be targeted at their landlord, maybe?
Tim: I’ve a slight feeling I know which way you’ll go, Tom, because I’m on the fence as to whether it’s fun or cheesy. The style I definitely like, because even at almost four minutes it doesn’t get boring, and I think that’s what saves it from being tedious.
Tom: There’s a lot to dislike here: the lyrics, in particular, and the way that the lead singer claps into the microphone during the first verse, despite there not being a single clap in the song. It’s a shame, because there’s also a lot to like: the melody’s catchy, the sound manages to be interesting while still familiar.
Tim: Right. Now, it’s the lyrics I want to discuss, because I’ve just realised a Thing, and I’ve a feeling I’m about to go off on one, so strap in. See, the lyrics could work absolutely fine as, say, a song in a musical, or as a song in a musical standup set.
Tom: I’m not sure it’s funny enough for standup, but yes, you’re absolutely right. This is a song from a musical. Which is… not great here.
Tim: But why not? Pop music, apparently, just doesn’t have time for that: very roughly, we’re split maybe 75% falling in (or out of) love, 20% feeling good (or shit), and the rest being, well, this sort of stuff which almost always ends up being lumped in as ‘novelty’. So I’m wondering: why? At what point was it decided that romanticism and happiness were the only two subjects able to be discussed in pop music? And who by, and why? Because now I’ve consciously realised that, I’m almost annoyed.
Tom: I’ve got an album here you might like. You may have heard of it.
Tim: Yep, fair, and here’s another one. Doesn’t change the vast majority, though.