My blog needs some sort of function that automatically posts a glowing review every time Queen of Hearts releases a new song since that's obviously what's going to happen anyway. She has done a cover of Ben Howard's "Only Love". I had no idea who this man was, but after some wikipedia-ing and youtubing, I discovered that he is a guitar-wielder. And makes folk music, or something.
What's interesting about this is that it's sort of the reverse of the usual "authenticizing" of pop music by men with guitars. It's been done to "...Baby One More Time", "Beautiful", and even Ben Howard and co. are responsible for a cover of "Call Me Maybe" while they were on Radio 1's Live Lounge. I had actually seen that video before, but I had forgotten who Ben Howard was by the time of this review. In the comments section, there is a comment that reads, "Only Ben Howard could turn such a crap, generic pop song into something as beautiful as this." I wonder how she would feel about Queen of Hearts covering "Only Love".
I also wonder what it is, in general, about synthesized instruments that seems to drive some "real music" fans up a wall. They used to be accused of sounding cold and emotionless, but come on, that was the early 90s. When I listen to this song, the first descriptor that comes to mind is 'warm'. Followed by 'sensual', 'gorgeous', and 'absolutely fucking brilliant'. It's the sort of ridiculously beautiful song that makes you dance around with your eyes closed making you look like a moron. Thanks, Queenie!
It's important to remember that I'm not criticizing Ben Howard or folk music or indie rock. Only the idea that it's any more real than something as stunning as this. Or even something as brilliantly catchy as "...Baby One More Time" or "Call Me Maybe".
Now that that rant is over and done with, let's all rejoice in the news that Queen of Hearts has another new EP coming out in September! Huzzah!
I agree on your words about the song. The only words that came up in my head were "dangerously sexy" because I was hypnotised by the beginning of the song.
ReplyDelete+ YES, it's an "absolutely fucking brilliant" track.
Glad you enjoyed the review. And yes, it does start off a bit menacing, doesn't it?
DeleteMaybe folk songs hit something deep down and when you flesh out their structure in the right you get pop goodness?
ReplyDeletePerhaps! But I still think pop songs are fully capable of hitting something deep down as well.
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