One of the most prestigious awards goes to the artist who has delivered the "song of the year". Who would take that coveted prize this year? Would it be Bad Bunny for "DtMF" or maybe Doechii for "Anxiety"? In the end, the award went to Billie Eilish for "Wildflower".
I had never heard it before so the least I could do would be to give it a listen and that's what I did. Did it merit the award? I listened to it twice.
"Wildflower" isn't bad. In fact it is quite good. At least it is a proper human song, delivered without frills or very much technical enhancement. I don't know much about twenty four year old Billie Eilish but I think she is widely considered to be an authentic artist who is genuinely passionate about music and mostly writes her own stuff. But "Song of the Year"? I'm not sure. What do you think?
Here's the official video version followed by the lyrics:-
Things fall apart, and time breaks your heartI wasn't there, but I know
She was your girl, you showed her the world
You fell out of love, and you both let go
She was cryin' on my shoulder, all I could do was hold her
Only made us closer until July
And I know that you love me, you don't need to remind me
I should put it all behind me, shouldn't I?
But I see her in the back of my mind
All the time
Like a fever, like I'm burning alive
Like a sign
Did I cross the line?
Mm, hm
Well, good things don't last (good things don't last)
And life moves so fast (life moves so fast)
I'd never ask who was better (I'd never ask who was better)
'Cause she couldn't be (she couldn't be)
More different from me (more different from me)
Happy and free (happy and free) in leather
And I know that you love me (you love me)
You don't need to remind me (remind me)
Wanna put it all behind me, but, baby
I see her in the back of my mind (back of my mind)
All the time (all the time)
Feels like a fever (like a fever), like I'm burning alive (burning alive)
Like a sign
Did I cross the line?
You say no one knows you so well (so)
But every time you touch me, I just wonder how she felt
Valentine's Day, crying in the hotel
I know you didn't mean to hurt me, so I kept it to myself (oh)
And I wonder
Do you see her in the back of your mind?
In my eyes?
You say no one knows you so well
But every time you touch me, I just wonder how she felt
Valentine's Day, crying in the hotel
I know you didn't mean to hurt me, so I kept it to myself
I had never heard it before, and I like it.
ReplyDeleteNice to note you are open-minded Shammy.
DeleteI listened to half, its not my favourite style of music, I prefer things happier and more upbeat. I can admire the song-writing skill without needing to hear more of it.
ReplyDeleteAs you have demonstrated several times before, you certainly know your own mind Elsie.
DeleteI found it a little 'bland'. I think a good song should also have good lyrics; worthy of being called 'poetry'. It should also have a good, haunting tune. This, sadly, has neither.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what I thought on first hearing but after a few listens I think "Wildflower" has real merit on both scores.
DeleteI must confess I didn't know any of the songs and only one of the artists (Billie) when the recipients of this year's Grammy awards were shown briefly as part of our main TV news last night.
ReplyDeleteCurrent music is nearly always our downfall at the pub quiz! We're all middle-aged, stuck in the 1980s when we were teenagers.
If a quiz question is, "At the Grammys, which artist won the award for song of the year?" I hope you will remember the answer.
DeleteNo, can't say that I know any of the participants either. I'm not a follower of pop music these days - I'll leave that to the younger generation. I'll enjoy the music I like, without annoying anyone else!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's okay to stick with Cliff RIchard and Vera Lynn Carol!
DeleteI personally like the song but I think there was some controversy about it being included. The album came out in 2024? Didn't win anything, so she re-submitted this song on its own? I really don't know the politics of the Grammys, but I have read people are in a snit over it winning b/c of that, not necessarily b/c it's not a "good" song.
ReplyDeleteUntil you said it, I never knew that artists had to enter their songs and I also didn't know about the release date controversy.
DeleteWithout knowing the other contenders, it has likeable lyrics and a sadness/guilt feel to it.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you listened to the song without prejudice Addy.
DeleteShe is an interesting performer, isn't she? She certainly doesn't adhere to the norms of what a female artist "should sound like, look like." And I admire that. I like the song.
ReplyDeleteI value your opinion Mary.
DeleteShe sometimes falls into singing in that baby doll voice that so many young female singers use and that annoys me. When she sings straight forward I find her more interesting.
ReplyDeleteI guess you like her more than Taylor Swift?
DeleteI hadn't heard this song before. They are always playing a different song by Billie Eilish on the radio channels I listen to.
ReplyDeleteDid you like this one Ellen?
DeleteA bad song ? Murdering silence.
ReplyDeleteMay the Furies forgive you for promoting this weak and tepid atrocity.
The Furies...consisted initially of four brothers who grew up in Ballyfermot, Dublin. All four of the brothers married and had children. Finbar's son, Martin Furey, is a folk singer and musician with The High Kings. George's son Anthony is the singer with the Young Folk. Eddie's daughter Sarah-Jane is a streamer in the video gaming industry.
DeleteAch, I heard another story.
DeleteTitan Cronus didn't like his Da, Uranus, so he castrated him as bad sons do.
The blood of Dad fructified the soil and produced the Furies.
And these were Bad Lassies. Anger. Jealousy. Vengeance.
On a happier note, Colette said : I am not so old as to have forgotten
what love is. John Braine told me to read Colette.
In my 75th year I heartily agree with her.
Robert Goulet If I Loved You in Carousel. YouTube.
Robert Goulet the man and his legacy.
I really like Billie Eilish for all of the reasons you mentioned. Her music does seem authentic to me. Like you, I hadn't heard the song, so I listened to it yesterday. I liked it. One of my favorite songs of hers is "What Was I Made For?" The lyrics speak to me a bit as I often wonder sometimes (even at my old age) what I was made for myself. The URL below is her performance at the 2024 Academy Awards with her brother playing the piano. I think she starts out kind of tentative at first...maybe on purpose, maybe her nerves, and then grows stronger. I love the look the two siblings give each other at the end. https://youtu.be/1rL1EHELPAk?si=TlfNKsv586s06YJq
ReplyDeleteI've never followed the Grammy Awards so wouldn't be able to say if this song was a likely winner there or not. Never heard of the artist either. The song is bit to slow and "blurry" (?) to immediately catch my interest or guess it to be a "hit"... But no doubt she's talented. I do like lyrics that make me "think"!
ReplyDeleteMeh. It's not Joni Mitchell.
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched (or read much about) the Grammys in more than a decade. I think in 2012 I downloaded a couple of the songs that won, and I still like them, but that was the last time I felt compelled to pay any attention. Part of the reason is I don't listen to the radio (or Spotify) anymore, so I never know any of the nominated songs.
I don’t do the emmys not even the Oscar’s now…..I did like your Sheffield journey near my old stamping ground of walkley
ReplyDeleteHello, just popped over from Jabblog as I saw your comment on Amaryllis. I enjoy learning about these things, so thank you very much for that. I also enjoyed this post. I'm not one for following award shows (enjoy reading about them though) and my musical tastes were forged by my dad growing up. He was a piano player with me turning the music sheet as a kid, and I mostly listened to his playing opera. Thanks a lot and wishing you a Happy February!
ReplyDelete