Welcome all to ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐บโ๐ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐น๐๐ด๐ผ๐ป, the second multi-faceted feature where Pancham_b reviews our normal reviewerโs own music releases. Here, Pancham delves into Charlesโ latest single, featured on the ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ผ๐ง๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ฉ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฉ playlists.
๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ - ๐พ๐๐๐ง๐ก๐๐จ ๐พ๐ค๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ค๐ก๐ก๐ฎ
"๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐...
๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐...
๐ผ ๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐."
- ๐.๐. ๐ธ๐๐๐๐ก
Charles is growing older, as we are all wont to do. But unlike most of the rest of us, he persists in maintaining a consistent groove to keep his impending mortality at bay. We are all on a long and winding journey, and the trick is to realize that life is essentially Sisyphean, we can't keep looking forward to the next best thing, or even keep looking back at the last happy recollection. We have the now, and that is all we have. Memories are sepia, and the future is uncertain and full of climate-change induced natural catastrophes, so we need to be mindful, of the only slice of time and space over which we exercise a modicum of control. The here, and the now. Being mindful is normally associated with meditation. I, however, would argue that being mindful has to also encompass fun. We should live, to the fullest possible extent, every single moment of our existence, be that contemplating the void on a lonely mountain-top, or dancing like no one's watching in the privacy of one's bedroom. And what better day to celebrate life than one's birthday, the annual Hallmark card stock-exhausting, infinite generic Facebook message-spawning, random online discount offer-getting day that we all encounter, once in a year, two if you're particularly creative.
Every song fades, so we revel in the three and a half minutes before the fade-out; every play has a final act, but we don't often need to ponder what happens to the cast and crew and the characters they portray after the curtains come down. The Birthday Song, released on the occasion of the exceedingly esteemable Charles Connolly's birthday, *spoiler alert* also ends. But we are here for the journey, and it proves to be quite a magical tour, full of mystery and rhythm, and perhaps even a dancing walrus or two, if one listens carefully enough. This is cerebral fun, with a killer bass and some heady craftsmanship.
The swell of strings hits me like a Moody Blues tune, but the sensation is fleeting, as the keys come in; almost 80s, very fun. These could be Nights in White Satin, as long as we can dance in our satin pajamas (or without the aforementioned garments, more on this later). "You just got up", sings our hero, "had a look around and went back to bed" (you call in sick to work, the soul-less cycle of capitalism can take a back-seat for one day in the year), and the fast phrasing of "look around" wraps around the music, a furtive glance, a moment of whimsical indecision, before the protagonist decides that fun is indeed the order of the day. This is superlatively done, and draws you into the mind of the songwriter, and lays clear the intent of this joyously recorded tune. I could bring up another fifteen examples of expert song-craft from the rest of the song, but serendipity is beautiful, and there are so many happy discoveries that the listener will find for themselves in The Birthday Song.
The vocals instantly recall Another Day, one of my favourite McCartney songs, but then Charles does not believe in standing still, and he also somehow manages to remind me of both Bruno Mars and Adam Levine (back when Maroon 5 didn't write and record utter tripe, I would like to clarify) in the same song. These are all good and valid comparisons, but endlessly name-dropping in this song review I believe would do The Birthday Song a fundamental disservice. This is essentially a Charles Connolly tune, and he is already getting to the point where he sounds like himself, and I for one am very excited to see his own style evolve further as the years roll on. I would love to write more about the song itself, but I would rather you check it out yourself. Go listen to it, now, then, and again and again; this is proper Spotify On-Repeat material.
So much happens here, so many good things, full of life, and wonderful music and imagery. The bass is so good I just want the stems to listen to on loop on my DAW. There is a superbly tasteful guitar solo, a smidgen reminiscent of John Mayer's tone in his Blues Trio days, but I reiterate, this is essentially a uniquely Charles Connolly track, with uniquely Charles Connolly elements. Charles gives you his blessing to dance in the nude, it is your birthday after all. The song rises and rises, a proper dance fiesta, "relax, enjoy the party", an infinity of foot-taps and head-bops, and then it all comes back around to the chorus, "It's your birthday, you can do what you want". And then, eventually, even though you don't want it to, it ends, and not on a fade out, which I believe is highly appropriate, as I just proceed to play the track over once again. This is unbridled joy, encapsulated in 220 seconds of glorious music. Charles is growing older, but he is having so much fun in the process, and we are all invited to the party.
Listen to ๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ on the ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐น๐น๐โ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ Spotify playlist HERE!
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I agree with Plummy, Pancham is a good writer from his polygon reviewing the official reviewer out of his corner for a while!! The song is well arranged and performed, congrats to Charles and.... Happy birthday!!!๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅณ๐
Youโre a wonderful writer, Pancham! What a great read.
Love this song too. Another amazing thing is that Charles mixed this all himself, which couldnโt have been an easy feat. Thereโs a TON going on in this song. You can pick out something new with each listen. And I love the guitar work (thank you for putting guitar in pop, hope this trend keeps up).
A great bit of writing Pancham, you're a natural. As for Mr. Connolly, leave some talent for the rest of us. You don't have to hog it all. Brilliant Sir!
Thank you Pancham!! You have done such a wonderful job here. You seem to really have enjoyed it. Another Day is also one of my favourite McCartney songs. The Eliot quote was so good and so right. I do hope I'm not really getting old - I don't feel it! You actually make ME want to hear The Birthday Song! Thanks for the journey. โค๏ธ