Tag: Robin Stjernberg

Robin Stjernberg – Scars

Children are gits.

Tim: Slightly sad video, but [SPOILER ALERT] it gets better.

Tim: So, singer implies he got bullied at school, makes up the fact that a hot girl saved him (because let’s be honest, that sort of thing just doesn’t happen in real life) and uses that as a message to tell all the uncool kids that life will be alright.

Tom: Mm. I’m always wary of the “saved by a guardian angel” message, because in real life they don’t tend to actually arrive. What would actually happen is that the blonde girl would become just as much of a pariah. Children are gits.

Tim: True. But, cynical as we’re being, I can’t help thinking that it’s lovely. Especially when it comes with a chorus that’s as brilliant as this one is.

Tom: Ah, now there I can agree with you. And it’s a rare singer who can actually pull off the screaming-over-the-final-chorus bit – he’s got the pipes for it.

Tim: It reminds me a lot of Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger – same sort of ‘you’ll get through this’ message, same ridiculous amount of effort from the singer, similarly big chorus and instrumentation to emphasise that and the same extra backup in the last choruses – and that’s a very good thing indeed. Two songs in, and this boy’s yet to put a foot wrong, in my opinion.

Robin Stjernberg – On My Mind

Music video with a cheap but vaguely impressive gimmick, anyone?

Tim: Music video with a cheap but vaguely impressive gimmick, anyone?

Tom: That’s usually a good sign.

Tom: Ah, the old “one take” video.

Tim: So, we have a transformation of a bloke from ordinary guy into big popstar in three minutes and thirty seconds, no questions asked. A rather rushed metaphorical version, I suppose, of the actually bloke in an audition queue to Swedish Idol runner-up, this is perhaps his version of a credibility claim, and it’s vastly more impressive that Matt Cardle’s various attempts. Anyway, all he can think about during this period, despite everything that’s happening, is You. Isn’t that sweet?

Tom: Well, the man-collapsed-becoming-popstar shtick has been done in a very similar fashion before, notably by Coldplay – and while their version’s a lot more impressive, they took a lot more liberty with cuts and edits than Robin Stjernberg’s team have. This does have the rather dodgy air of a lip dub about it, though.

Tim: Well, of course it is – aren’t most music videos? Yes, it’s a little more obvious here what with the near-constant focus of him singing, but it’s hardly something that can be avoided.

Tom: There’s a difference, though: a single shot, one person singing into camera as they walk around, no additional “artistic” shots. It’s a subtle distinction, but this feels like it’s on the wrong side of it.

Tim: Hmm, maybe. Overall, though, it’s a decent debut single from someone who wants to be a well-known popstar.

Tom: Right. There’s nothing wrong with it, actually, particularly if you want pleasant, soaring lyrics and a decent voice performing them.

Tim: Unfortunately, though, my attention keeps getting drawn to the video, especially Amanda and the expression on her face. She pretty much behaves like a normal person would if a bloke got into a lift and started singing to a camera: basically, stand there tolerating it, but feeling remarkably uncomfortable, trying to persuade herself that everything’s normal, but sneaking the occasional glance just to check that he’s actually still there and it’s not just all in her head. Then get off at the next available opportunity, whether it’s her floor or not.

Tom: I wonder if she was meant to be there, or if they just added her to the “script” afterwards?