Tag: Helena Paparizou

Tim: You’ll remember that Helena’s half Swedish and half Greek; there’s an English version if you want it (and the title means Come On), but let’s embrace the Mediterranean, shall we?

Tim: Now that intro was incredibly promising, which makes it quite sad that the first verse marks a sudden drop right down, and almost disappointing. Chorus, though, we’re up and getting our Shakira on, and then for the rest of the song it barely lets up.

Tim: That extended instrumental in the middle is unusual, defenestrating the standard pop structure entirely, and if I’m totally honest I think it ever so slightly harms the song – musically it’s great, but it did leave me wondering “hang on, what’s going on”.

Tim: On the other hand, only music nerds will care, and I don’t really care unless I’m properly paying attention to it, so who cares? It’s great.

Tim: Lest you forget, Helena’s half-Greek, and so it’s only natural that that side might come out upon creating a Mediterranean-flavoured summer beach track. Like this one, for example (which, before you ask, is not about a three-door hatchback).

Tim: Unlike yesterday, I don’t need to worry about speaking the language because she’s recorded an English version as well; also unlike yesterday, the music and the lyrics complement each other perfectly, with chorus lines like “my heart’s about to explode…we are two bodies in fiesta mode”.

Tim: Basically: get out on the beach/expansive patio, cocktails in your hands and bikinis and swimming shorts on, and probably off again later if we’re being honest.

Tim: It’s not a remotely original vibe, as a good dozen of these can be guaranteed to appear every summer; right now, though, sitting on my balcony, with the sun staring down at me, in the knowledge that I’ve a couple of weeks off work soon, I’ll absolutely take this exactly as it is.

Tim: One of our favourite artists of the past year is back with the English version of the lead track off her next album; I’ll think you’ll find it worth your time.

Tim: Interesting, this – heck of a chorus, but to be honest not a lot else, or at least that’s what I’m left thinking after hearing it a couple of times. The verses are obviously there, sure, but seem very much there just to get from one chorus to the next, and I’m not sure whether I like that at all.

Tim: It’s almost a let down, really – this has the exact same writers behind it as Survivor, and that was really just in a different league. I might be being too negative, though, as I think I’m holding her to higher standards than I would others; after all, that is very much a Good Chorus, it’s just…oh, you could do so much better.

Tim: Title track from her really rather excellent (and not just because it contains the 19 out of 5 stars Survivor) most recent album. Listen, do.

Tim: It really is, and I’ve actually just one criticism: there’s no key change. And my word, that big note shifting up out of the middle eight is properly laying the groundwork for one. And then nothing. I mean, that’s just cruel, really.

Tim: But other than that, this is wonderful. It’s obviously not a Survivor, but it’s very close. It’s glorious. Hearing the music, I want to get up and celebrate life and all its glories, because it’s one of the most triumphant songs I’ve heard in a long time. It’s brilliant.

Tim: Yes, and let’s talk about the lyrics – I normally stay away from fan lyric videos because of the inevitable typos and mistakes and weird “yes I know I’m breaking the law but I’m admitting it so that must make it alright” descriptions, but here the lyrics are worth paying attention to. From the very first line about crying it’s very clear this is meant to be a depressing song, and by the time we move on to sitting alone and hurting deep inside we could be be feeling downright suicidal. So how on earth does that chime with the music?

Tim: Well, as it happens: there’s also a Greek version, which makes things a bit clearer – it’s called Μεσημέρια, translating to Noon, and the chorus there has lyrics about seeing the moon coming through the blinds, and how someone will be there for her, and actually everything will be alright. So actually, the music makes perfect sense – just something got very, very lost in translation.

Tim: I don’t know, sounds similar to me. But I’m not that bothered about the lyrics – this is a fantastic song, and I love it.

Tim: Fresh from providing us with this year’s best Melodifestivalen entry, she’s following up with this rather great number.

Tim: Oh… 🙁

Tim: What a chorus, really. And what a tune underneath it. And what an everything, really. A song about giving love everything you’ve got, and a song that musically does exactly that.

Tim: Probably not light up a dance floor, no – but I reckon it’d do very well as a getting worked up tune, before your night starts BANGING.

Tim: I don’t know, I think it works. It’s very much headed back to the dancefloor following the power-pop that was Survivor, is out now in Greece and presumably she’s hoping it’ll be a big dance hit over the summer. I certainly hope it will, so here’s to not holding back, right?