I didn't forget! It's day two of uploading something to the blog everyday and already I'm regretting this challenge.
Anyway, I've decided to write about the song that's been stuck in my head for the last week or so, partly because I have no other ideas and partly because I hope writing about it will rid me of its unabating audial grasp.
Oh, I should probably say, I know nothing about music. That will become very apparent in my painfully generic descriptions of noise...
I feel sorry for anyone unfamiliar with Jerry Paper's music. His unique funky sounds (how am I doing?) have provided a soundtrack to much of my life over the last seven (maybe eight?) years. I'm mainly drawn to his releases "Vol.1", "Feels Emotions", "Big Pop for Chameleon World" and "International Man of Misery" (incredible album name), though all of his music is fantastically fun, beautiful, and occasionally heart breaking.
The track "Gracie II" is from a release of which I am not so familiar; "Toon Time Raw!", which I have been exposed to more recently through a Jerry Paper Playlist on Soundcloud. The whole record is incredibly fun and unique, but "Gracie II", a shamelessly simple ode to Jerry's long-time girlfriend (they are still together!) stands out high above the rest.
First and foremost, I love how unapologetically simple it is. There's nothing too complex going on with the music itself and the lyrics are, all be them beautiful, uncomplicated - eventually they fall away to 'Gracie, I love you' being repeated over and over. But the simplicity is charming, and reminiscent of a new relationship's uncomplex beginnings. Come to think of it, the best part of any relationship is right at the beginning, when both parties are held together by a basic form of attraction, yet to be tarnished by the other's annoying habits and emotional baggage. Love in its purest and most enjoyable form is simple, something this song captures beautifully.
The other thing I really like about this song is the thing I love about all of Jerry's songs; his voice is an instrument. He wails and wobbles, at times synchronised with the instruments, at times in spite of them. The first few lines of the song, the ones he matches with the strums of the guitar, are well and truly riveted in my auditory complex. I challenge you to listen to those opening bars and not find yourself singing them later in the shower or while doing the washing up.
The way the song builds is also gorgeous. It's as if, by repeating Grace's name and confessing his love for her, Jerry is becoming increasingly hopeless, relieving self-control to be completely at the behest of his feelings. This builds rousingly in the volume and intensity of his wailing, itself a perfect audio representation of how it feels to fall for someone and admit it.
I hope you listen and like the song too. I really can't recommend it, and the rest of Jerry's music enough.
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