Whether it’s the opening bit where you sense the faint sound of steel drum-esque tones, or the distorted opening words, “I can’t say no, it’s ripping me apart” you should feel this. I recently read about a condition called auditory agnosia, the neurological disorder where you do not have an emotional response to music. I thought about this as I listened to the words of this song. They are sexy and they cut hard.
I’d rather be alone. But you are fermented in my bones. Oh the habits of my heart.
The music continues and cuts in, drops off where his vocals are left to graze your skin. And then they add in some keys and the sound of a familiar break down recalling a ’60s rock song with the lingering strum of chords.
It’s ripping me apart. You get too close. You make it hard to let you go.
One common complaint we have all had in music is that it is too much at times. Too sexy. Too dark. Too dumb, really. But this song. This song defies that. A cover from Sufjan Stevens sung by the talented Jaymes Young, the song is dark and actually has words that are riddled with sex and regret and defeat. Avoiding the “and I was like, babyyy” for a more grown-up love song. But this is the stuff where you know you are either afflicted with (the worst condition I have learned about to date) auditory agnosia or you immediately are affected by the words and music style at hand.
When the popular playlist we are all too familiar with starts calling out, “I’m going down – timber” and is somehow mashed-up with a few verses of, “drunk in love“, it’s refreshing when you realize there are musicians that are still able to produce music that answers to a number of things: the animalistic call of wanting sex and love, making you sound interesting if you are caught singing in a hushed voice to this deep track as you walked back from your lover’s dwelling. Keep playing gentleman, for today is a dark day and even a dark song can bring a silver lining when you give it substance. We are starving for smart, insightful ballads to become anthems, and this can be one for you.