Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, 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 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.
𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝘾𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 - 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙠𝙤 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙨
Charles ponders time.
Last week, young Pancham gave me a week off my wordy musings. It was delightful! Not because I didn't have to write anything, but because it was a joy to have the roles switched and to be able to read such praising words about my own music, for a change. Thank you Pancham - the boy done good. However, I did somehow miss writing. It was a feeling of guilt and regret. Pancham spoke of getting older. As we get older and look back at our past, we don't necessarily regret what we DID, but more what we DIDN'T do. Unlike years ago, these days I feel the need to pack as much in as possible. And if I don't, then I tend to feel a sense of deep guilt. Which, of course is utterly absurd. I will not dwell on this side of things, but on the past. Our childhood, where things were often peachy and so unlike the way of today. We understood it, it made sense, it was simpler and most importantly, we don't realise how good it was until it has passed. Time moves on, ever speedily these days. Faster and faster. Of course, this has always happened as one gets older - time seems to accelerate. But now it is different. Even some teenagers are starting to feel out of touch. Everyone is feeling older. Young people are reminiscing as though fifty years have passed.
We'll get back to time in a mo. In these reviews, I have never once touched on rap. I very rarely even go into lyrics. Well don't you think it's about time I did? The thing about rap, is it is very much to do with the words. Frankly, if you're a rapper and your words are no good, then get outta town. Join me, as I leap into the world of a rapper who excels in words. And what a lot of words there are too! Welcome Wilko Wilkes, with his latest single, You Can't Stop Time.
Wilko and I have a few things in common. We are both English. We are both seemingly of a similar age. We both have a deep fondness for our memory of the 90s. The 1990s, that is - just in case you think I'm older than Mr. Burns.
The reason I have chosen to review Mr. Wilkes is because he is different. He raps at an incredible speed, with such charm. It is real! He is not copying. He is not pretending. Wilko Wilkes is being Wilko Wilkes. I do wish more artists would use natural influence unconsciously to make the music they want to make, rather than what they feel they should make. Fakery and disingenuousness come through the speakers loud and clear.
With Wilko's latest single, he takes us through the world of the 90s. That gloriously fun decade where seemingly most of the planet - certainly Britain, anyway - was having a second innings of the Swinging Sixties! Although he and I have things in common, our strongest childhood memories differ. Where Wilko reminisces about Tamagotchis, computer games and Football stickers, I daydream about music, tie-dye t-shirts and baggy cargo trousers (not pants - even in the naughty 90s our pants were seldom seen). But what Wilko manages in the song, is the ability to conjure the feeling and the scene of the 90s. He has even made a fabulous music video, in which he puts together old VCR footage of himself as a child, spliced with the Wilko of today. However, when first hearing this song, I had not seen the video, and yet he still managed to transport me back in time. A clever Northerner, indeed!
Despite the fondness and warmth in his lyrics, there is also sadness. That someone still young has to reminisce about the ‘good old days’. That things have changed so much and so fast, but still we have to keep up. Genuinely old people are safe. They can hide away. They can cocoon themselves in permanent hibernation. In a way, I think this is a natural thing to do as one gets older. You stop keeping up with the charts and just continue listening to what you know and love. Fashion has no matter and a 20 year old jacket will do just fine, providing it still fits. But younger generations should NOT be doing this. And frankly, we can’t, even if we wanted to. The younger of us are forced to keep up. Forced to change and shift with the fast changing times.
There is however some good and some light in the modern way of things. For example, each and every one of us musicians has the ability to make fabulous sounding music in the comfort of our own homes, with very little expense. We have a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips. We are more aware of the world outside our own sheltered existence. There is an equality, of sorts. We have TikTok! Well, it couldn’t all be roses.
Apologies to Wilko for not diving deeper into his fabulous art and craft, but you see, Wilko really transported me. And I believe this was the ultimate goal. Sure, the music is great. Sure, he raps with tremendous speed and precision. But for me, the wonder and magic lie in his lyrics. Like Pancham, the boy done good.
Now who’s up for a game of Top Trumps?
Listen to 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝘾𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Spotify playlist HERE!
Listen to 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝘾𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Apple Music playlist HERE!
Watch the 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝘾𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 music video HERE!
Follow Wilko Wilkes on Instagram HERE!
Visit the Official Wilko Wilkes website HERE!
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