SONG OF THE DAY ROUND-UP: 07/10/2018 - 14/10/2018

I'm back with another SOTD round-up!

07/10 - YOU'RE GONNA BREAK MY HEART TONIGHT - TOM ODELL

Tom Odell is the modern king of the heartbreaking ballad and 'You're Gonna Break My Heart Tonight' is no exception. His poignant lyrics, raw vocals, and simple piano all combine to make a song that makes you feel a heartbreak that didn't even happen to you. The simpleness of the instrumentals allow this song to be completely timeless, and you could believe it had been released anywhere from the 1940s to now, especially with the addition of the saxophone solo around 3:15. The addition of the saxophone is especially interesting as it just isn't an instrument you see used a huge amount anymore, but it adds a new level to the song as the instrument almost radiates a vibe of loneliness and solitariness. Odell's seems to have taken a bluesy journey back in time.

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY HERE

08/10 - TRUST MY LONELY - ALESSIA CARA

Alessia Cara's trust my lonely is an ode to feeling free after a rough relationship and break up. It's a happy tune about feeling better being on your own, and there's a definite level of empowerment to it. The first thing to notice is how outstandingly catchy the beat is; it has you immediately bopping your head or tapping your foot. It may not be a song that shows the power of Alessia Cara's vocals, but her subdued and almost talk-like vocals are perfect for this track in particular, as they don't distract for the lyrics or general message of the song which clearly should be the main focus here. The contrasts between this track and the first single release 'Growing Pains' from Cara's upcoming sophomore album are very interesting, but it appears the new album will have a theme of self-empowerment which makes me very excited to listen to it when it's finally released.

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY HERE

09/10 - MIRACLE IN THE MOURNING - YOU ME AT SIX

As many bands have been doing, with their new album 'VI', You Me At Six have appeared to combine electronic features with a classic rock sound, and it's definitely worked for them. I chose 'Miracle in the Mourning' as it completely represents this new sound YMAS have with their new album. The electronic additions on this track are subtle and are simply used to enhance vocals or give add another interesting layer to the rocky instrumentals. The lyrics show the track to be a song about the drive for success and the relatively intense vocals and instrumentals combine with this to make a pretty good track for pumping yourself up or to listen to in the gym. I would definitely recommend listening to the rest of YMAS alum 'VI' if you like this track, as although some tracks get heavier or sadder, 'Miracle In The Morning' definitely sets a good precedent for the album.

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY HERE

10/10 - I DID SOMETHING BAD - TAYLOR SWIFT

This may seem like an odd choice for a 'Throwback Thursday' seeing as this Taylor Swift track wasn't released that long ago and she only performed it for the first time at the AMAs this week, but it would be wrong to be a music blog this week and NOT talk about Taylor Swift. There seems to have been a Taylor Swift renaissance and 'I Did Something Bad' is the perfect song to celebrate it. Since her heartfelt Instagram post about American politics and the way she voted, and then making history as the most decorated female artist of all time at the AMAs, it seems the world is finally stopping painting Swift as a villain and realizing what she is: a very smart, talented women. 'I Did Something Bad' is the ultimate ballad to anyone who did Swift wrong, and rather than portraying herself as a victim, she takes the role as villain and enjoys it. With Reputation (an album which initially baffled me, but after a few listens really did grow on me) came the death of the 'old Taylor Swift' and with 'I Did Something Bad' is the complete crux of this; a change in look, genre, and attitude. Taylor Swift is showing herself as a very powerful woman in the music industry who is not to be messed with.

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY HERE

12/10 - MIRACLE - DANI SYLVIA

The thing that struck me about Miracle by Dani Sylvia was her vocals, as it felt like I was being transported to the later 00's/early 2010's when the sound that she has was prominent among female singers but isn't a sound you hear much of anymore. The vocals along with the acoustic guitar and the lyrics radiate a sense of warmth, which is a really great feeling to get when listening to music. It's just a nice song and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. The contrast of the acoustic guitar and the bass-heavy chorus is something that was completely unexpected and was the thing that really sold me on this song. It's the type of song that you think you know from the beginning, but it does something a little different, and it makes you appreciate it more. I'd be interested to look further into Dani Sylvia's discography and see what else she has to offer!

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY HERE

13/10 - FUZZY DISCO (ALBUM VERSION) - TALKIE

By now you may know that I love a track that has an 80s vibe to it, and 'Fuzzy Disco' by Talkie is a perfect example of this. From the funky beat, to the chilled guitar and the hugely varied vocals. The vocals really are the stand-out part of this track as there's such an extensive range of vocal talent by the lead singer. Also, the heightened bass throughout the song adds an extra level almost and makes it catchy from the get-go, and I would know as I've had that bass stuck in my head all day. The guitar solo towards the end of the track is really great also, as it adds another element to the song whilst still keeping its chilled-Sunday-afternoon-barbecue vibe. It's definitely encouraged me to listen to the rest of Talkie's music and see what they're all about!

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY HERE



That's all for this week!

Keep up with my songs of the day as I post them on @rubyonmusic on Instagram (link HERE).

Check out my SOTD playlists (and others) on Spotify HERE


Written by Ruby Crowhurst.