๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐น๐น๐โ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ - this week: Melanie Klein - Frank Joshua
- Charles Connolly
- Jul 15
- 7 min read
Welcome all to ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐น๐น๐โ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connollyย - an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ผ๐ง๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ฉ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฉ playlists.
๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฃ - ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ค๐จ๐๐ช๐
Charles analyses the situationโฆ
There has been an increasing rarity of something in my reviews lately. Please don't all shout at once: "Rap! Death Metal! Brevity!"... I know, I know. I'm more talking about something that used to be quite common in these parts. But has only come up maybe three or four times this year. We've had plenty of the rock, the indie, the alternative, the folk, the classical, the soul, the pop, the prog, and even the reggae. So, what am I talking about? What is missing? It's something that is actually relatively common. But rarely of a high standard, because it's bloody hard to do well; notoriously so. It has to sound polished. It has to sound classic. It usually has to sound professional (but there can be a certain charm when it's not). It can be peaceful, but usually itโs sad; and it can be heart-wrenching. Iโm talking about ballads.
Ballads are kind of everywhere. The problem is, most of them are rather dull, and lacking in a higher fidelity. Thatโs in the independent music scene. In the mainstream, they barely exist at the moment. Theyโre VERY out of fashion. In fact, Iโm not really sure what IS in fashion. This could be a sign of my age being somewhat average, meaning Iโm out of touchโฆ Or it could be because the mainstream music scene is kind of lost. I think it might be the latter. Ballads tend to make you think and feel. Right now, it seems like the world (powers that be) doesnโt (donโt) want you to think or feel. There, danger lies. Which could explain the plasticity of mainstream songs these days. It is fodder to keep us at bay. A pacifier of sortsโฆ Youโd think that a rebellion-style song would be more effective in rousing the troops, and therefore something of which the mainstream would vehemently want to steer clear. The thing is, thatโs the โtroopsโ. Thatโs a big load of people โagainst the systemโ. Seems like the worst for โthemโ, right? Well, not necessarily. This way youโd have sheep culture. And sheep are easy to herd. They all think the same and feel the same, so once youโve worked out a way of steering one, youโve steered them all. Ballads thoughโฆ Oof! Now youโve hit something personal. Each and every individual will think and feel differently upon hearing a ballad. Itโs an individual thing. Itโs private. People donโt listen to ballads in the club with another hundred peopleโฆ Oh what a hilarious thought: pilled up to the rafters, drunk as a skunk, all dancing away to Barry Manilow and Barbra Streisand. Pahaha!! Sorry, I donโt often chuckle in my Corner. I just couldnโt resist the image. Anyway! People tend to listen to ballads on their lonesome. And each listener will start to think and feel and remember, and often get a little teary-eyed.
But then I thought about the psychology of it all. Why do we like ballads? Theyโre slow, and theyโre usually sad. Why should we want to listen to anything sad?? Itโs a very good point! Sadness is a negative feeling. If youโre sad, you want to be happy again. If youโre happy, you want to stay happy. So whatโs the point of it? I think itโs because we like to feel. It doesnโt so much need to be a happy feeling, but a feeling. Happiness is wonderful, but rarely as deep a feeling as sadness. You know when we say โI couldnโt be happierโโฆ Do we really mean that? There is always โhappierโ. But sadnessโฆ? When you think youโre at your lowest (youโre probably not), you feel at your absolute lowest. Proof that sadness is the winner of all feelings. Itโs a bludgeoning compared to a lollipop. Thatโs why โTears in Heavenโ hits harder than the (technically) harder-hitting โWatermelon Sugarโ. Also because โTears in Heavenโ is a far superior song. So yeah, I think THATโS why we are drawn to ballads. But I think itโs more about relating. โUptown Funk gonhโ give it tโ yaโโฆ But is it REALLY gonhโ give it tโ ya? Itโll make ya move, sure, but is it going to move your heart? Potentially, to the point of ambulance bells, should you move a little too muchโฆ But thatโs not what I mean, and you know it. We canโt really relate to lyrics like โTake a sip, sign the check. Julio, get the stretch! Ride to Harlem, Hollywood, Jackson, Mississippiโโฆ Hella cool though it is, itโs not really the life we know. But the loss of loved ones, and the break-up of a once perfect relationshipโฆ? These are things that we ALL go through. And THEYโRE the things that stick with us. Thatโs my pseudo psycho analyses out of the way, anyway. More just my own theoretical musings and ponderings, but perhaps interesting nevertheless. There might be a little more psycho analysis to come, thoughโฆ
Letโs talk about one specific ballad that has just sprung from the womb. Wellโฆ This particular artist could never be a mother. More on mothers later. For now, weโll stick with the one and only Frank Joshua, with his brand new release, Melanie Klein. And yes, my instant thought was your instant thought: โI want some peanutsโ. No, it was โWhoโs Melanie Klein?โ. Iโm right, right? Right. I thought as much. Melanie Klein was an unhappy mother. Or should I say, an unhappy wife. She lived a while ago, with the kindest face, the warmest heart and the most ravenous brain. She was obsessed with human behaviour, and a staunch supporter of Sigmund Freud, championing many of his beliefs (and arguing over others), but wishing to go further in terms of research. Although Freud was sure that any anomalies in human behaviour were due to childhood trauma, he was adamant that it was impossible to analyse the mind of a child. Melanie Klein realised otherwise. She would do this by giving children toys, and observing their behaviour as they play. I wonโt go into too much detail, but her work concluded something along the lines of there being a good breast and a bad breast. Yes, she went from toys to boobs. It seems like the logical progression to me. Basically, she was a brilliant woman, stuck in a manโs world. She eventually left her horrid husband and continued her research as a psycho-analyst for the rest of her life.
So, has Londonโs Frank Joshua written a song about her life, or about her workโฆ? Not really, no. One could perhaps argue that it is more a story about her unhappy marriageโฆ Perhaps how separation can be not only hard on the two involved, but how it can weigh heavily on the children as wellโฆ However, I suspect it to be not even this. Letโs call it beautiful artistic licence. As always, I could be entirely wrong. The good news is, there wonโt be any more psycho-chat from me, and we can get into the world of Frank. However, we will finish our behavioural studies with a brief look at Freudโs most famous notion: we men are all in love with our mothersโฆ Hmmmโฆ So Frankโs in love with his motherโฆ? Letโs turn that on its head. All mothers are in love with Frank Joshua. Now, this isnโt a notion, but in fact, a fact. And with a voice so creamy, who can blame them!! Seriously though, mothers all over the world are swooning and falling for Frank Joshua. Itโs an epidemic verging on a pandemic. But hereโs something of which all you mothers will be mighty jealousโฆ Iโve met him, in person. I was surprised and not surprised. I expected a great bouffant of blondy-browny hair. This was not the case. But rather amazingly, I got the face kinda spot on. Thatโs right, ladies, his face suits his voice! He is indeed, as they say, a catch. A charming dish, if you will. The thing is, this column is not for Womenโs Weekly, itโs for the New Artist Spotlight, so letโs talk about the music!
The music starts not with Frank, but with a man called Tony White; Frankโs longterm producer. An inattentive ear might hear piano and little more. I urge you to listen to the first ten seconds properly. There is indeed piano, but also cello, soft synths and atmospheric sound effects. Tony is and has always been a master of sound design, going far further than most. He just KNOWS. But already itโs time for THOSE vocals: thatโs Frankโs shtick. Simmer down, ladies, for Godโs sake; youโre married! Yes, I know heโs talking about you. Heโs observant and truly empathetic; he feels your pain. Heโs strong but sensitive: yes, your dream man. But I must again stress that this writing is supposed to be about musicโฆ! God though, WHAT a voice. The clarity, depth and focus is pretty much unrivalled. This chorus is enough to bring a man to tears: โI donโt know where youโve been. I donโt know where you go. But if you try to love again, then I will knowโ. The bold strength in this full voice of Frankโs is astounding. Itโs rare, and these days itโs basically unheard of. But before youโve barely had time to wipe your eyes, in comes the most magical 10-second harmonica interlude. By the second chorus, the strings are stirring enough to surround this voice with a close love, like a gentle pair of hands cupping a live butterfly before setting it free. And I do promise you, this chorus and its stunning melodies will be in your head for a long time to come. But it is the final 23 seconds that really show off the passion and expertise in Frankโs voice. The restraint, the understated power; itโs as if we can watch him sing with one hand clenched for feeling, and two eyes clenched for concentration. He really is a brave man holding back the tears. THIS is an exquisite production.
Gotta go! My motherโs calling. Ach. I meant girlfriend. Slip of the tongue.
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Please share this post and let me know your thoughts in the comments below

The piano intro makes this song my favorite at the moment, thank you sir CC for the beautiful review
The piano intro is magnificent. Warm voice that evokes a dream. The accordion playing between the verses is beautiful. A perfect song for those who want to relax during aperitivo. Superlative song.
J'adore les balades et celle-ci avec le piano, l'harmonica et la belle voix de Franck est trรจs belle. Une super critique de Charles pour cette chanson pleine d'รฉmotion !
A song with a very emotional interpretation and whose sounds and atmosphere initially transport you to your own experiences. It's an excellent ballad to simply sit back and listen to and let yourself go.
Great to see a review of the brilliant Frank Joshua. Interesting to find out about Tony White because, as great as the voice is, the production and arrangements are also peerless.