Welcome all to ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐น๐น๐โ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly - 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.
๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ค-๐๐ค๐ค ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ - ๐๐ข๐๐ง๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฝ. ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ค
Charlesโ status update: Itโs complicated. Or IS itโฆ?
There are complications in everything in life. Complications in medical operations (or procedures, as they like to call it these days). Complications in arrangements and plans. Complications in relationships. Hell, even complications in trying to pay a bill over the phone. Letโs face it, complications can be, well, complicated. In fact, most of us are so accustomed to a complicated lifestyle that we donโt even think of it, and just take it in our stride. But wouldnโt it be nice to just distance ourselves from time to time and have it just the way we want it? Nice and simple? Take music, for example. It can be very clever indeed to mash together a load of melodies, chords, sections, motifs, genres, instruments and soundsโฆ But how about NOT? How about riding one chord on a solid backbeat for the duration of a song? Because it would be dullโฆ? I agree, it SHOULD be stultifying. But as Emerson B. Ocampo has proved with his tune, The Boo-boo Song, it doesnโt have to be.
It takes quite a musician to make this work. It also takes impeccable production and mixing skills. Emerson has all this in spades. As his Spotify bio states, he has been writing since he learnt to play 3 chords. However, in the case of this song, he evidently found the other two to be entirely superfluous. If my powers of perfect pitch are correct, I surmise he strums a chord of F#7. Thatโs an absolute lie, I wandered over to my guitar and stuck my thumb on the fretboard until I stumbled on the right note (Iโm not even sure the old lover is in tune). And who frankly cares about the key anyway - thatโs just not the point!
Letโs talk Bowie, Byrne and cocaine. Several sniffs later, I imagine all four of us strutting down the street, in line and in time, cocksure as ever. Much like the old Madness dance of the early 80s. Or more precisely, I have the strong feeling of 1979. People watch; people stare. People move out of the way for fear of being trampled by the new boys in town, and we just donโt care. The kick and snare denote our stride, for there are few other percussive elements in the song. Think Jagger and Bowie in the video of Dancing in the Street with less wiggle or hilarity, blended with The Blues Brothers. Just as Emerson winks at the camera, he grabs the mic without missing a step and croons like a Spanish Bowie - despite being Pilipino - with the awkwardness and volatility of David Byrne from Talking Heads. Bowie and Byrne look at him in tandem, swing back to face the front, and smile. IโM just here for the ride! Iggy Pop, Lennon, Bryan Ferry and Josh Homme join the entourage, not for musicality but just for the fun of it all.
This song kicks like a bitch! It does close to zero in terms of variation, but appeals in the way that a Spaghetti Western grabs oneโs attention with atmospheric nothing. If a film can manage this for 3 hours, I think a song should be allowed to do the same for just 3 and a half minutes.
The crowd of coked-up fun-stars joins Emerson for the chorus, with little Iggy on tambourine (luckily he is miming as he canโt keep time for peanuts). The side-chained cymbal crashes on each and every beat, pulsing and pumping the energy to new heights. Byrne stamps the bass with a heavy hit of the thumb as we sink back into the verse. Weโre all having a ball, swirling around in our minds yet set on Emersonโs own forward thrust. He leads the pack, and he leads it well. Bono arrives on the scene. Nobody likes Bono. Bono leaves the scene. And the street party continues.
I am not advocating the use of drugs in any way, and neither does it definitively make the creation of art better or easier. This is all in my head and purely for the purpose of entertainment and highlighting emerging artists. Emerson however should certainly steer clear of cocaine, for at the tender age of something years, he had a heart attack in 2018. He of course has had to change his way of life, but thankfully shows no signs of stopping music. No wonder he avoids complications! Ah, reality.
Listen to ๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ค-๐๐ค๐ค ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ on Spotify HERE!
Listen to ๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ค-๐๐ค๐ค ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ on Apple Music HERE!
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