OneRepublic - 'Say (All I Need)'
I remain unconvinced by OneRepublic, generally. A well-produced drippy ballad is still a drippy ballad nonetheless, and if I start cutting them slack for releasing those then I'm going to have to start showing the same sort of charity to Westlife, and that will never do.
'Apologise' was good, admittedly, but unfortunately it's been rather tarnished by diminishing returns, since 'Stop And Stare' wasn't really different enough to be distinctive, and didn't have the advantage of originality to sing its praises, and just ended up getting annoying very quickly. I've nothing against songs being heartfelt, but the distinction between emotive and spineless is an important one, and if I feel compelled to yell "OH JUST GROW A PAIR ALREADY" at the stereo, then .
'Say (All I Need)' is, I will concede, not as monotonous nor as dirgey as 'Stop And Stare', but having listened to it around ten times on the trot for review purposes, I just still can't feel moved by it. All the right ingredients are in place - the pained but not painful vocals, the supermassive synths almost drowning out the words, the production staying just this side of an '80s power ballad, but it just all feels like it amounts to nothing in the end. A very well constructed nothing, but then so were the Emperor's new clothes.
The worst part is, I actually feel bad for giving this such an unfavourable review, since I don't doubt a lot of care and attention went into making this, and the band all seem like lovely people, and the song which is fantastic, but at the end of the day all I can judge on is my own reaction, and I doubt I'd care if I never heard this song again. I just wish that saying that didn't feel about as fair as kicking as a sack full of puppies.
Released: June 2nd
(Steve Perkins)
Comment number 1.
At 28th May 2008, stuartpaul-marylouise wrote:RUBBISH RUBBISH RUBBISH
one republic need to just disappear...I really dont like there music and its overplayed so much....
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Comment number 2.
At 1st Jun 2008, princeJennyone wrote:i love onerepublic new single they are the best thing thats is in music they are great
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