goldenmusicmoments

[goldenmusicmoments]

Let’s State The Obvious:

We now finally have Taylor Swift’s new album The Tortured Poets Department. However she surprised everyone further as she released The Anthology making the record a double album comprising of a whopping total of thirty-one tracks. So we’ve got a lot of material to keep us going. The album was sadly leaked and those that dislike her not only spread the leak, they also were the most eager to get a listen of the record.

It goes to show that those that hate her are the very first to check her music out. They are the ones keeping tabs on every move she makes. Trying to criticise her for things that don’t deserve it. They’ve been screaming since the leak about how bad the album is. On top of that they want to act as if they are being forced to tune in. I hope they are aware that an artist will be everywhere during their album release week. They’ll be the talk of the town for that period. It’s like they all lose common sense as they desperately try to tear her apart.

However the haters can’t take away from the experience of the fans. Their lacklustre efforts to try and ward people off Taylor Swift on most part fall flat on their faces. The haters may just be closeted fans with their pride not letting them admit that she’s a great artist. The leak also had them attacking her songwriting, especially the line where Charlie Puth was mentioned. Which very much points to their lack of comprehension skills and the limitations of their scope when it comes to analysis.

They most likely feel deprived that the artists they support do not give them enough music or interactions. As they should very well know that the majority of the fans love that she’s keen on making music and doing that so often. To the haters if you truly aren’t fond of Taylor Swift, then the solution to that problem is, that you simply ignore anything relating to her. You can block her, her fans and anything relating to her on social media. Though we all know that the vast majority will never do so, because they want to keep up with her, her fans and her music.

Anyways this little rant wasn’t intended, however it felt necessary. Do keep a lookout as I will be dropping a review for the record soon. It probably will be broken down into two parts. One for the first half and then another for the second half.

Go stream and purchase Taylor Swift’s new album The Tortured Poets Department.

#Taylor Swift #The Tortured Poets Department #Swifties #Charlie Puth #Ariana Grande #Lady Gaga #Beyoncé #Album #Music #Artist #Rant #Billboard

[goldenmusicmoments]

A Chaotic Dive Into Fletcher's Sophomore Record In The Search Of The Antidote:

Fletcher releases her sophomore album In Search Of The Antidote. It comes two years after her stellar debut Girl Of My Dreams. She’s a greatly talented pop artist that dives deep into her life and who she in order to seek inspiration for the songs she writes. She’s raw and unfiltered, which really makes her standout and you find yourself intrigued by all that she has to say. Here again she doesn’t hold back. So get ready to go on this chaotic journey.

Maybe I Am - An opener that starts of with a tender strum of the guitar, however her vocal delivery and the lyrics have a very opposing feel. You get a sense of moodiness as she’s hearing all this outside noise and she brushes it off by saying maybe she is all the things she’s being called. She doesn’t seem to be fazed by the opinions of others. The chorus lifts with its dreamy heavy production and you find yourself completely immersed in it. She calms it down for the last couple of seconds pointing towards her feeling tired of it all. A start that indicates that we are going to be in for quite the rollercoaster of emotions.

Doing Better - The instrumentation from the start gets you tapping your feet to its beat. She’s letting it be known that she is doing better, however she finds that better feels worse. Which could be because of her ex still lingering in her mind to some extent. She sings about all the positive things she’s done since. However she makes it clear that all the success she’s had, hasn’t resolved all her issues. This drum heavy track has this badass vibe, however still retains a hint of vulnerability.

Ego Talking - Fletcher seems okay on the surface as she’s happy for her ex-partner to move on and have the time of their life. However internally her ego persuades her that regardless of who they are with, the love they share will never be as great as the one she shared with them. The first verse and pre-chorus are both tame with a light guitar carrying the production. When the chorus hits the production and her vocals soar, then for the next verse and pre-chorus though it calms down there is more to it than the first. Her use of ‘right’ in the pre-chorus and chorus seems to be her looking for reassurance that she’s not replaceable. She lets it be known at the end, that she’ll forever be theirs. Its the common occurrence of the difficulty in letting go of a significant love.

Lead Me On - Here the first verse has this dreamy feel to it and then the pace lifts following the first chorus. The drums take centre stage and the electric guitar is threaded throughout this rockstar moment. This will be such an electrifying song to experience live. Just before the bridge she takes it up a notch vocally, as she showcases how far her range can extend. She’s wanting them to give her even a little bit of attention and she’d be content with that, as she sings “So why don’t you just lead me on? ‘Cause something is better than nothing at all”. She really doesn’t want to let go as she tries to cling on to whatever she can, even if it may not necessarily be idealistic for her.

Two Things Can Be True - Fletcher wants to be delusional, as she wants to believe that the person of interest can still love her whilst loving someone else. The bass driven production remains steady and then lifts at the bridge. She brings it back down just before the song comes to an end. The production makes you feel as though you are in the middle of a car race, in a way playing to the topic at hand, where she seems to be competing with her ex’s new partner.

Eras Of Us - On this nostalgic track she’s looking through memories from the relationship alongside wondering what the other is up to. She throws in the title of her debut album which is a pretty cool moment in the track. She’s stuck in the past and is finding it hard to let go of the shared memories. The track finds connection with Taylor Swift’s The Era’s Tour, which when in attendance she ran into her ex-love. Like Taylor, Fletcher is going over all the memories (‘eras’). The production gradually builds as the song progresses with the drums coming in after the first chorus. The bridge feels chaotic as you feel the need to scream those lyrics alongside her and then she tones it down before closing the track.

Attached To You - Instantly gets you nodding your head to the beat. Fletcher really is opening herself up and highlighting how she is when it comes to being in and out of a relationship. She seems to ruin things on purpose out of the fear that things may end up being perfect. Here she’s afraid of becoming attached so she’s doing everything she can to prevent that from occurring as a way to protect herself. You are fully immersed in this track as its production makes it feel like it takes up the space around you and the infectious hook has you singing along to it from the get go. The verses are laid back and the production lifts for the chorus.

Crush - Here she looks back on the relationship reminiscing on the intensity of their love, though it wasn’t exactly healthy, the high is something you end up missing. The duality to the use of the word ‘crush’ is cleverly done. As at one point she’s wanting to know whether the other will crush her in the heat of their intimate moments and then at the end stating that letting go will do the same. She really pulls the production completely back for the verses, in the first chorus there is a slight rise and then it remains steady. Then lifts a little more during the second chorus. The drums soaring in tune with when she sings the word ‘crush’ really boosts its impact.

Pretending - The moody bass that feels right in your face instantly draws you in. It gives you this feeling of being on edge and then the chorus soars. The vocalisation that forms part of the chorus really takes over and you give yourself to the track. Here she sings about imagining the two together and what could be if they were. In the second verse she feels the pain that comes with the realisation that things just aren’t any longer working, but for now she’s wanting to go on pretending. It clearly isn’t an ideal headspace to be in, as it can end up consuming you. Her vocal delivery paired with the production gives you this feel of desperation to hold on.

Joyride - The moody guitar, that later fades into the back as the drums take centre stage, gets you into this vast feeling track. Here she seems to be singing about two people that aren’t exactly good for each other, however they want to give things a go. 

Antidote - This closer is the perfect end to the record as it’s her in search for healing. She wants to find an antidote that will help her deal with all that she’s been struggling with. The antidote here seems to be a person. She’s done caring about any of the outside noise and she knows that this particular person will be there for her in her moments of need. The songs feel in a way plays to the meaning behind the lyrics. It has a hint of soul to it in the way that her vocals are during the chorus. It makes you as the listener feel like you are being uplifted into a more positive space. The instrumentation during the bridge feels bright adding to the tracks hope driven nature.

The album is overall a short but impactful record. Its moody and gives of such rockstar vibes. She has such a powerful vocal delivery that adds to the rock feel. You find yourself captivated from start to finish. With the album mainly focusing on dealing with the demise of a relationship, the struggles of letting go and the search for healing. Her personal approach to songwriting allows for her music to resonate with you. Fletcher is definitely an artist worth checking out and one that deserves so much more recognition.

#Fletcher #Taylor Swift #In Search Of The Antidote #The Eras Tour #Music #Album #Artist #Pop #Billboard #2024 #New #Release #Record #Personal

[goldenmusicmoments]

A Scenic Journey Through Deeper Well By Kacey Musgraves:

Kacey Musgraves had been hinting at an album release earlier on in the year and then during the Grammy Awards she aired a visual teaser. After that we got an official announcement and she also revealed that the title track would be released as the first taster for what was to come. She then performed on Saturday Night Live, after which she released the second song she performed on the show. Kacey is a great artist and she’s really made it known that she loves curating a body of work. Each of her records have stood out in their own ways and she’s switched things up from one to the next. Her passion has always been to make great music that takes you on a journey, paying no regard to appeasing mainstream music.

The album opens up with the folk inspired ‘Cardinal’ which is due to the instrumentation used here. She recently lost a dear friend, and she see’s the sighting of a cardinal as a sign from them. The bridge adds a bit of drama, changing up the dynamic of the song. The repetition of the lyrics in the bridge point to her eagerness to figure out what the message means. It’s a beautiful start to the journey Kacey is about to take you on. ‘Deeper Well’ the title track follows with the guitar pulling you into this rather light and dreamy moment. It feels very contemplative as she’s making changes in her life, by getting rid of the people and habits that she feels like are just wasting her time. She’s now looking for things that have more depth to them. The way her vocals have been produced really heightens the tracks dreamy nature. You get lost in the song as you find yourself closing your eyes and taking in the journey of growth she’s taking you on. 

On ‘Too Good To Be True’ the guitar sticks around and the vocals are placed right at the front, this one feels dreamy as well with a hint of sombreness. This is about the feelings that arise during the process of falling in love. Where you are excited by the premises of new love, however at the same time you fear something going wrong. She lets them know that if they are good to her, she’ll reciprocate that treatment. She hopes that he’s not too good to be true. The bridge features instrumentation and tender vocalisations. The song ends on a lyrical moment where she doesn’t want to wake up from a dream. A stunning moment that has an essence of vulnerability that you find yourself lost in. 

We move onto ‘Moving Out’ and this laid back reflective moment retains the previous tracks sombreness. The guitar driven production adds to its journey driven nature that is depicted through the lyrical content. The two are moving out of a place they called home, and she seems to be looking over the memories formed during the time they spent together there. She’s sad about the move, however she’s looking forward to what the future holds as well. It isn’t clear as to whether the two will be moving to a new place together or that they are going their separate ways. Kacey’s vocal delivery hosts a slight rasp to it and it really adds to the sadness put forth through the lyrics. The song closes out with dragged out instrumentation which makes you think of end credits rolling at the end of a movie or an episode of a TV show, which is fitting as here a chapter is closing to make way for a new one to begin. 

‘Giver/Taker’ dives deeper into the relationship as she makes it clear that things just aren’t working out for the two of them. She’s trying as she lets it be known that she’d give him everything he’d want, whilst expecting the same of him. In the bridge she wants reassurance that he will be fully devoted to her, as she wants him all to herself. The production paired with her vocals fills the space around you as you feel the track embrace you in its arms. Kacey isn’t allowing anything to get to her on ‘Sway’ where she stands firmly, letting it be known that she’ll bend, not break. As she’s willing to alter or compromise where necessary. She asks the person of interest to let her know what his secret is to not being fazed. The production sounds like the sound of horse hooves which play to the songs journey towards growth nature. The reflective track closes out on these cascading layered vocals that give it a grand and uplifting ending. 

Now on the guitar led track ‘Dinner With Friends’ it seems like she is yarning for someone. It is a cosy track that you find yourself immersed in. It is a beautiful moment that may make you miss those you haven’t seen in a moment or wished were nearby. The difference in melody of the verses and the chorus offers variation, altering the mood. Though she’s yarning in the verses, during the chorus she seems to be reminiscing about specific things relating to the person of interest. There is a hint of happiness in her remembering him, as it feels as though she’s smiling whilst singing the chorus. The structure of the song is interesting as we get two verses, then the chorus and another verse. The song ends with the chorus that closes out with her humming. 

‘Heart Of The Woods’ explores the connection between humans and nature, as she sings about the tendency of humans to lookout for each other in moments of need. Its a short and light moment that due to its duration may remind you of ‘Mother’ from her album Golden Hour. The production and vocal delivery give it a brighter edge enhancing the tracks hope driven lyrics.

‘Jade Green’ starts with production that makes you feel as though you are being carried by waves along a river. Here she feels a little vulnerable and anxious, thus she finds herself holding onto a bracelet given to her by someone who’s no longer a part of her life. The bracelet provides her with a sense of comfort. It also points to how even though we move on from someone, there is always some part of them we don’t want to let go off. The chorus hosts a similar feel to that of the opening track and the structure takes from that of ‘Dinner With Friends’. The guitar then takes centre stage at the end for a brief outro.

Now on ‘The Architect’ she has a few questions for the creator about life and all its occurrences. She’s unsure as to whether she’ll even get a response, however she really wants to know whether things could be done differently. By the end she questions whether the ‘architect’ even exists, due to the lack of answers to her questions. The production is tender and plays to the songs nature of being lost in your own thoughts. The chorus has someone lightly harmonising in the background. The bridge features instrumentation and airy vocalisation which makes you feel like you are floating. 

‘Lonely Millionaire’ provides for a slight shift in the production and styling of the album so far. She’s letting it be known that money doesn’t make it easier when it comes to the feeling of loneliness and that she’d trade it all for the person of topic. You might find yourself grooving to this rather chill moment. It in a way is this albums ‘Velvet Elvis’ where even that track felt a little out of place on Golden Hour. She’s gone from feeling lonely on the weekend to being a lonely millionaire. The bridge is dreamy with her ‘La la la’s’ and then we go into the final chorus. The track closes out with a mix of her humming and the ‘la la la’s’. The hook is an interpolation of JID’s song ‘Kody Blu 31’.

Kacey showcases her vocals on ‘Heaven Is’ as it is easily the most beautiful vocal performance from her on the album. You find yourself drawn into the track here and it has this feeling of warmth. It sounds like a lullaby and doesn’t feature a proper chorus. She sings about how just being with him is the equivalent of being in heaven. She wants nothing more than him. The production takes a backseat, as her vocals are the prominent feature here. ‘Anime Eyes’ is one of her most fascinating tracks musically, as she sings about love that elicits her eyes to light up. The production in the chorus in particular will make you feel this surge of joy. The track is magical and that bridge lifts the entire mood making it feel as though you are ascending a staircase, as all these emotions burst out of the seams. In a way mimicking fireworks going off. Everything then stops throwing you off for a moment and it gradually comes back shifting the entire dynamic of the track, ending it on a dreamy ethereal note. It definitely is one of the most surprising moments on the album. 

‘Nothing To Be Scared’ brings the album to an end on a hopeful note. The verses feature her singing about the precautions we often take in attempt to protect ourselves from getting hurt. She also in a beautiful way puts forward the message of, if its meant to be it will be. The first chorus is her letting him know that in a moment of need he can find comfort in her, in the next one she flips it. It shares the sentiment put forth in ‘Heart Of The Woods’. There’s a feeling of warmth and comfort through her vocal delivery and tender production, as she reassures the person she’s speaking to that there is nothing to be scared of. It’s a stunning finish to the record and in tune with how Kacey perceives life to function.

Overall the album is a masterful body of work that is cohesive both sonically and thematically. She yet again switches things up and gives us something different to what she’s done before. This one does in a way draw from the songwriting style of Golden Hour, though it is a much more sombre record in comparison. People have been expecting a ‘Golden Hour 2.0’ from her and they should know that they’ll not be getting that. That in itself has resulted in them being disappointed or complaining about the record. They did that with Star-Crossed and now they are doing it with this record. Star-Crossed was a great record and one that deserved a lot more recognition. Deeper Well is even stronger and one that will definitely find high placement in this years year-end lists. It also seems to be an early favourite for an Album of the Year nomination at the next Grammy Awards. Which she and the record truly deserve. As she’s created something yet again that many aspire to, but can’t quite execute. With each listen this record grows and continues to feel fresh. The album is one that will sound perfect on a long drive through roads surrounded by greenery.

#Kacey Musgraves #Deeper Well #Golden Hour #Music #Billboard #Album #AOTY #Album of the Year #TheGrammys #Folk #Alternative #Country Music #Country #Star-Crossed #Love #Life #Journey

[goldenmusicmoments]

Selena Gomez's New Era Just Isn't Working:

Selena Gomez started her new era in August last year with the release of ‘Single Soon’, a fun pop track that managed to achieve moderate success. She then in interviews around the time discussed what we could expect from her upcoming album. She described it as a light and fun pop record, something to let loose to and feel blissful whilst listening to. The single was an interesting start to the era and though it was a cute pop track, it didn’t do much beyond that. It wasn’t so well received failing to garner success like her previous lead singles have, as it only cracked the top twenty. She then waited a long while to release a follow up single. ‘Love On’ was released in February this year and though it is a step up from its predecessor, it still wasn’t strong enough to make much of a mark. People forgot about it two days after its release. It went on to chart in the top sixty of the Billboard Hot 100 and departed the chart in its second week.

Both singles have failed to generate buzz for her upcoming album that she was said to be releasing very soon. In a recent interview she took a u-turn and seems to have decided to rework the sound of the album. She may not be releasing soon and instead going to be starting again on a clean slate. With both ‘Single Soon’ and ‘Love On’ becoming potentially standalone singles. Which actually is a great idea. As the two sound regressive artistically for Selena Gomez. She’s come a long way and evolved as an artist, especially when you look at what she was first making to what she’s making now. She’s switched things up now and then, taken creative risks that may have not paid off in the moment, however people eventually realised how great those tracks were. 

So here’s to hoping she decides to take more of a risk and not play it safe. Now that she is shifting away from the original vision for the album, she has a chance to do just that. She also revealed that this album may end up being her last album, before she fully focuses on acting. Though like many before she could end up finding inspiration down the line and revisiting the music scene. If it is her final album, she should definitely close the chapter on a high and one that leaves a lasting impression on the fans and critics alike. 

Putting all that aside the publics opinion of her has seemingly started to shift and many have started to question her integrity and whether she’s genuine in what she does. So maybe that also is something that is impacting the reception of her new releases. Looks like she has some damage control to do at the same time in order to sort out her reputation. 

#Selena Gomez #Single Soon #Love On #Music #Billboard #Artist #Singer #Pop #Era #Pop Star

[goldenmusicmoments]

Ariana Grande Drops Her Much Anticipated Album 'Eternal Sunshine':

Ariana Grande finally got started on releasing new music earlier on this year with the release of ‘Yes, And?’ that served as the lead single. The song was a catchy dance track and one that made quite the statement. Especially as there was as lot of talk revolving around her personal life. The song debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was a major talking point in music during its release week. She then not long after revealed the album title as ‘Eternal Sunshine’ which was inspired by Jim Carrey’s film Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. The tracklist was gradually revealed and everyone was getting more excited, with many now trying to decipher the journey the record was going to take using the titles. The album was just released last week and has opened up to quite the reception. So lets dive into the album.

The record opens up with ‘Intro (End Of The World)’ which is a short cinematic introduction to what is to come. She starts of by questioning the relationship and whether it is worth staying together. As it seems that the relationship has run its course. The production is rather pulled back and subtle, allowing the lyrics to be the focal point. Her vocals are beautiful here and she closes the track on “And if it all ended tomorrow, Would you be the one on mine?”. Which is quite the question to pose at the end, really setting the tone for the rest of the album. 

We get right into ‘Bye’ as a short part of its chorus kicks things off. Then into the verse. The vocal delivery and the lyrical content of the chorus both combine to give this track its sassy nature. The repetitive chorus in which she is telling the person of interest that she is done with him, is catchy as you’ll find yourself singing along from the get go. She lets it be known that he had a chance to save the relationship, however now it is a little too late. A track that you get lost in and it feels like it is over too quickly. Her vocal delivery here is smooth and clear, then for the climatic moment she takes it up a notch. The production is closer to the vocal, however it doesn’t overpower the vocal as she is keen on people paying attention to what she wants to say.

On ‘Don’t Wanna Break Up Again’ she sticks to the pace that’s been set so far, however she now sounds rather sombre. She hints at things changing, that the person of interest stopped caring after a certain point in the relationship. As instead of being beside her as she’s laying in bed, he turns up the TV. She’s come to realise that trying again will only result in her breaking his heart again, so it is better that the two go their separate ways. You find yourself vibing to this track and the snare drum like beat will have you bopping your head to it. Her vocal delivery along with the way they’ve been layered and placed on the track is a highlight here, really well done.

Then we have a short interlude ‘Saturn Returns Interlude’ which features a female speaking, she seems to be giving a pep talk saying that it is time to wake up and face reality. It then seamlessly transitions into the title track ‘Eternal Sunshine’ that starts on the sound of laughter. Her tender vocal paired with the trap beat creates for quite the atmosphere. Here she reveals that the two weren’t capable of changing and that he wasn’t exactly honest. The two were stuck in a loop, that they came out of after separating. They’ve now moved on for the better. It’s definitely one you feel immersed in as it takes up the space around you. The vocal production is so pleasant and the details are really picked up on when listening to the record using headphones. 

‘Supernatural’ really shifts the mood as it has this sensual and moody feel to it. The production, vocal delivery and lyrical content all collide to give it that feel. She finds herself totally infatuated with this new person of interest and she wants all in. She’s letting him know that he should make claim of her. It leaves an instant impression and is a standout moment on the album. You’ll be humming the melody of its hook even after the tracks done. This will be a great single choice at some point. Now she’s back to the demised relationship on ‘True Story’, she incorporates a part of a leaked track that went viral titled ‘Fantasise’. She is letting it be known that she no longer will stick around and allow herself to be treated poorly by this person who claims to love her. The throwback production seems to draw inspiration from the likes of TLC and Aaliyah.

Next is ‘The Boy Is Mine’ which samples Brandy and Monica’s hit song of the same name. Though it doesn’t really sound much like the track and that throws you off a bit. It begins on a lighter note, however picks up as the track progresses with the bass coming in. Here she is marking her territory as she lets it be known that the boy of interest is hers. Though unexpected she is truly caught up in him. Some great production choices, especially the way the beat slows down for brief moment as the chorus kicks in. The lead single ‘Yes, And?’ follows and this dance track definitely isn’t the strongest track on the album, she clearly held back on the stronger moments for later. The single serves its purpose of making a statement. She even released a remix featuring Mariah Carey, though the announcement made a lot of noise and got people excited. Once released the song opened up to quite the mixed reaction. Some liked it and others weren’t so impressed.

‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)’ which is not only the standout track on the album, it also is one of her best in her discography. She released it as the second single along with the album release. The track starts of with the sound of a heartbeat that gradually grows in volume and is threaded throughout the production. It is a rather sad moment on the record, as she sings about the two being apart and how that is impacting her, she seems to miss him and maybe hopes of him to return to her. The lyrics have a duality to them as they can also be applied to the media and how they interact with her. The chorus lifts and you feel engulfed by it. The visuals that were released alongside it really add a new layer and understanding of the track, heightening the emotional nature of the song. She’s erasing all the memories she has with this person, though she finds it painful to let go, it is something she feels she has to do in order to heal. The music video draws inspiration from the film that inspired the album title. 

She feels that things would have been much easier if she hated the person she is letting go of on ‘I Wish I Hated You’. She brings the pace down on this track giving you a more emotive and tender moment. She is doing everything she can to let go and it is impacting her emotionally in a significant manner. As you hear it in her voice at one point, making it feel as though she was crying in the studio whilst recording the track. That in itself adds vulnerability and rawness to this sombre moment. You feel like you are floating on the beat due to the production. ‘Imperfect For You’ follows and she sticks to a calm pacing. She is fair in her awareness, as she lets it be known that both had their flaws and that they weren’t exactly perfect for each other in the end. As always we find ourselves thinking that we can make things work, and some times no matter how hard we try they don’t. She says that she’s since changed and she’s not the same as she was at the start of the relationship. The productions quite quirky and paired with the song forms for quite the blend.

The pace lifts on the album closer ‘Ordinary Things’ that features her Nonna. Here she sings about wanting to make the most of the time that she has with this new person. She doesn’t care what the two do as long as they are together. That being with him makes even the ordinary feel special. The track ends with a voice note from her Nonna, who seems to be sharing what her relationship was like with her partner. Providing for a full circle moment as she answers the question Ariana asked in the opening track.

Overall this is a great body of work and one that deserves to garner a lot of success and recognition. She’s really put her all into it, in order to deliver something personal and something that spoke to her recent experiences. It is cohesive both sonically and thematically, and is definitely her best body of work to date. It seems to grow on you even more with each listen. An experience from start to finish. This album definitely deserves a listen and it will surely be a highlight amongst this years releases. If anything this is the record that is worthy of being her career defining moment. 

Stan twitter has become so toxic and exhausting. All they seem to do is attack each other and fight over who’s the more successful artist. It seems as though they instead of being fans of the music are fans of statistics. There are very few now that are supporting those they are fans of and actually in it for the music. There have been a few Ariana fans who’ve constantly come for Taylor Swift and that has done Ariana no favours. As during the release week of ‘Eternal Sunshine’ a wave of Swifties decided to take their revenge and take over the release. Which is incredibly sad, try not to fall down to the level of others and instead prove to be the bigger person. It isn’t that hard.

#Ariana Grande #Eternal Sunshine #We Can't Be Friends #Mariah Carey #Taylor Swift #Brandy #Monica #Jim Carrey #Music #Album #Artist #Singer #Billboard #Vocalist #Pop #R&B #Record #2024 #Wicked

[goldenmusicmoments]

Jennifer Lopez Makes A Career Defining Body Of Work With 'This Is Me..Now':

Jennifer Lopez made the album announcement in 2022 and waited till now to release it. She really waited for the right moment and perfected its release. The album was worth the wait and for her to herself invest in the visual film that accompanies it, highlights her dedication to her art. Which in itself is inspiring. A lot of people seem to underestimate Jennifer Lopez and attack her with the usual, 'She's not talented', 'She should quit making music' and all the rest. It has become rather exhausting at this point, and on most it seems so unwarranted. People have formed such a strong dislike for her that they fail to see her differently to what they have formulated in their own minds.

After hearing the album and watching the film, it is hard to say that you are not impressed. She really put her all into this and focused on curating a body of work that takes you on a journey through her life. It is such a personal journey, however you'll find yourself resonating with moments. She seems to be going in circles, that is until she final acknowledges the actually problem. Once she addresses it things change and she breaks out of the cycle. She is then reunited with who she was meant to be with at the end, getting the happily ever after she always wanted.

It represents her journey through life and how that brought her to this point in her life. A lot of people assumed it would be all about Ben Affleck, though he is a key part, he isn't the focal part. The order in which the tracks appear in the visual is different to how they are placed on the album. That was something surprising, however it worked out really well. Jennifer Lopez is talented and there is no doubt behind that. She has constantly pushed herself and worked so hard to stay working. She's fought for her voice to be heard and she's not giving up, no matter what the haters have to say.

She isn't a vocalist, however she can sing. People have really run with constantly bringing up Ashanti and saying that she needs to give her credit for the vocals. When they've not actually understood how that worked. The vocals on some of her early tracks that were used and were Ashanti's were background vocals. Though that is a common occurrence in music where they've had another artist record the background vocals or used vocals from a demo of the song on the final track.

She actually is a solid music artist and has hits that you will always go back to. That have found such a prominent part in music history. 'This Is Me...Now' however is easily her best body of work to date. For her to be able to deliver in such a way at this point in her career is a major feat and one that deserves to garner her more recognition. It goes to show that you can curate a record and have it be concept driven, if you put your mind to it. She formed the right team of collaborates and sat down with an idea, she was determined to make it function in the way she imagined and she did just that. This is a career defining moment for her and it may end up being one of this years standout releases in music.

She really invested in the visuals and it shows in the end product. At first there were investors, however for some reason they dropped out. So she then decided to take the project on herself. That in itself showcases her belief in herself and that is something we don't often see. The film is truly a beautiful visual representation of the story she is telling. It is of a high quality and she really went all in. It features appearances from the likes of Ben Affleck, Keke Palmer, Jane Fonda, Post Malone, Sofia Vergara and Kim Petras to name a few. It is so well choreographed and to see her give her all to the dance sequences with so much conviction is powerful. There was a particular dance sequence during the moment where the title track is featured that gives you Michael Jackson vibes.

Regardless of whether you are a fan or not, you have to go check the film out. You are surely going to be impressed, especially if you put the hate aside. 'This Is Me..Now' proves that Jennifer Lopez deserves to be where she is today.

#JLO #Jennifer Lopez #This Is Me..Now #Ben Affleck #Jane Fonda #Post Malone #Kim Petras #Sofia Vergara #Keke Palmer #Music #Artist #Album #Powerful #Film #Amazon #Visuals #Singer #Pop #Latina #Superstar

[goldenmusicmoments]

The GRAMMYs Award Show:

So last night were The 66th Grammy Awards. It was quite the eventful night and on most part the winners were worthy of taking home the trophies they did end up taking. I guess my predictions weren’t correct in the end.

During the Pre-Grammy award ceremony there was as a hiccup in which Nicki Minaj’s track ‘Barbie World’ was announced as the winner in one of the rap categories prematurely on X and on the website. However on the live show it was awarded to a different artist. This caused quite the chaos on social media as the Barbz in particular were furious as they believed that it was taken away from Nicki last minute to make a mockery out of her. Then you had others that were saying this was karma for how Nicki Minaj had treated Megan Thee Stallion. In actuality it was neither as an error like that had occurred once before.

During the main show Miley Cyrus who won her first ever Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal Performance gave quite the performance of the winning song ‘Flowers’. She really had fun with it and it ended up drawing a lot of positive attention for being a standout moment. The song went on to win Record Of The Year as well. So a huge congratulations to her on winning two awards.

Taylor Swift surprisingly announced that she will be releasing a completely new album titled ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ this year during her acceptance speech for her album ‘Midnights’ winning Best Pop Vocal Album. Many expected that she was going to announce ‘Reputation (Taylor’s Version)’ and instead she threw everyone off with that announcement.

There was a lot of speculation around who was going to present Album Of The Year, as the academy had hinted at a big name who wanted to keep it a surprise till the very end was going to be presenting the award. People at first thought it was Beyoncé, however she was seen at the award show and had to be there since Jay-Z was being honoured with an honorary award. During his speech he called out the Recording Academy for not awarding his wife the award for Album Of The Year, seeing as she’s the most awarded artist. He even said that there were nominees that didn’t even belong in that category.

Some people had caught a picture of Celine Dion backstage and then it was her who everyone now suspected. Celine Dion was the surprise star and she presented Taylor Swift with the Album Of The Year award. Taylor who now holds the record for the most wins in that category was overjoyed and dragged Lana Del Rey with her to the stage. Lana seemed hesitant, however Taylor was insistent on her being up there with her. When Taylor got on stage she was very much all over the place and a little lost in the excitement of the moment. That she forgot to acknowledge Celine Dion and grabbed the trophy, going straight to then making her acceptance speech. People on social media went wild with that. Stating that she was mean for doing so, especially since Celine has been so poorly health wise and yet she made the effort to come present the award.

However there wasn’t anything malicious in it. Taylor was very joyous when Celine was presenting and the two took a cosy photo backstage. Taylor’s win in the category also generated a lot of criticism. As many believed that SZA’s album ‘SOS’ should have taken the award home. Which is true, ‘Midnights’ though a solid album didn’t actually deserve to win over the likes of ‘SOS’ or ‘The Record’. Which at this point shouldn’t be surprising as the committee always seem to sometimes make a decision that is questionable.

Overall it was an eventful night and there was a lot to celebrate. Let’s see what this year brings in terms of music releases and then what the next Grammy nominations will look like.

#Taylor Swift #SZA #Miley Cyrus #Nicki Minaj #Beyoncé #Celine Dion #Megan Thee Stallion #TheGRAMMYs #Billboard #Music #Artists #Awards #Winners #Album Of The Year

[goldenmusicmoments]

Nicki Minaj Has Lost The Plot:

On Friday 26th January 2024 we had Megan Thee Stallion drop her new single ‘Hiss’. After its release there was quite a lot of talk around it. Seeing as Megan was calling people out on the track. A line referring to ‘Megan’s Law’ triggered Nicki Minaj, though how she came to the conclusion that it was a dig at her is still unknown.

Since then Nicki Minaj has spiralled out of control on social media. She’s not stopped trying to attack Megan Thee Stallion and still is continuing on. Some of the Barbz are calling Nicki’s behaviour out and have said that they’ve had enough. However she’s also got hardcore fans who are sticking by her and defending her rampage.

They are going as far as to reveal information that really shouldn’t be made public about those that speak against Nicki Minaj. Which just points towards how toxic the fandom is. Blind support will always be silly, you can be a fan and still hold that person accountable when they are in the wrong.

Nicki Minaj is talented and she has done so much as a female rapper. However her constant bickering is really going to overpower her legacy and drive people away. This nearly four day rant is the cherry on top. She’s even gone on to release a diss track and claims that she has another five tracks ready to go. You’d think that someone who’s achieved so much wouldn’t be so caught up on stuff like this, however here she is. She’s listed out all her achievements so far with her most recent album as a way to prop herself up against Megan’s achievements. It all screams petty.

Megan Thee Stallion has yet to give a response and here is to hoping she remains silent. As Nicki is doing all the work for her at this point. Nicki has put no thought whatsoever into any of what she’s done since the release of ‘Hiss’. It all screams childish and all this has done is drive people away from her and make more people side with Megan Thee Stallion.

Nicki could have looked at the reaction her outburst was generating and taken a moment to think things over. Maybe she could have called Megan to clarify things and confirm whether the line in the song was aimed at her or not. It definitely would have saved her the embarrassment. It really is going to be hard for her to recover from this, as there was already such a strong hate train forming against her during the release of ‘Pink Friday 2’. She’s now gone and cemented that.

People like Ben Shapiro and Jeffree Star are amongst those that have taken her side. Who she’s then responded to, which then will further alienate her fans. As siding with the likes of them goes against all she’s stood for. It is all a mess at this point and some serious damage control will need to occur. Though in total honesty at this moment in time redemption seems to be a distant possibility.

#Nicki Minaj #Megan Thee Stallion #Ben Shapiro #Jeffree Star #Music #Beef #Barbz #Hiss

[goldenmusicmoments]

Lil Nas X Back At It Again:

Lil Nas X just dropped his new single 'J Christ' and he is relying on controversy once again. At this point that has become his go to choice in order to promote his releases. He had been posting on his socials that he was going to expose his fellow celebrities and that he was collaborating with another singer. It didn't exactly do what he hoped it to do. And there was no featured artist on the track.

He uses religious imagery and compares himself to Jesus. In the music video he has lookalikes of Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey and Ice Spice to name a few. You do have to give it to his label for having quite the budget for the visuals. However the music itself doesn't sound different or new to what we've heard from him before.

Controversy being used as a tactic to generate interest for his releases will only be surprising for a short moment, after which it becomes expected. It also ends up taking the attention away from the music. His era's last for a short moment and then they are forgotten, and oft times the talk is not about the music itself.

Did it in the end generate much buzz? Not really and Ariana Grande's much anticipated new single ended up overshadowing his.

#Lil Nas X #Taylor Swift #Kanye West #Ariana Grande #Ice Spice #Mariah Carey #Music #Music Video #Controversy #Release #Billboard #Viral

[goldenmusicmoments]

Ariana Grande Makes Her Highly Anticipated Return With 'Yes, and?'

Many have been waiting for new music from Ariana Grande and she finally releases the lead single 'Yes, and?'. Ariana does the right thing to switch things up from the sound of her past couple of records. As people were growing tired of her staying stagnant in terms of creativity and sound.

She is exploring dance-pop and house music, drawing inspiration from Madonna's hit single 'Vogue' in particular. The sounds also been compared to what Beyoncé went for on 'Renaissance'. The visual seems to pay homage to Paula Abdul's hit 'Cold Hearted'. It also gave inspiration from Glee as it hosted a similar feel to some of Rachel/Santana’s performances from the time they were in New York.

It definitely is a catchy track and one that you'll find growing on you. However she has found herself in the middle of controversy through her recent relationship with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater. Particularly due to people believing that she was the cause of his marriage coming to an end. As soon after the rumours of the two dating started to swirl it was announced that Ethan and his wife were separating. Ethan and his now ex-wife had also just had a child about a year ago.

The situation helped generate a lot of buzz around Ariana Grande and she then in turn decided to use it as fuel in the song. As the song features lyrics that address it to some degree, and then for the visuals she has guest actors repeating things her haters and critics have been saying. Which in a way reminded many of what Taylor Swift did with her comeback single 'Look What You Made Me Do?'. However it doesn't really do the same thing, as for Taylor people had created a false narrative. Whereas here it has all been a result of her own actions.

Nonetheless it is exciting to have Ariana Grande back making music and it will be interesting to hear what the rest of the album sounds like. 'Eternal Sunshine' is what many believe to be the title of the album, though nothing has yet been confirmed.

#Ariana Grande #Ethan Slater #Taylor Swift #Madonna #Beyoncé #Music #Album #Comeback #Drama #Billboard #Artist #Pop #Dance Pop #House Music

[goldenmusicmoments]

Ryan Hall’s Chaotic Record Postteenangst Has To Be Talked About:

After recently revisiting the album there felt a real need to talk about it. This record was very close to making the top ten albums of 2023 list. Ryan Hall’s an interesting artist, one that isn’t widely known yet. He deserves recognition for his artistic vision and creativity when putting together an album.

Postteenangst is a record you have to experience in its complete form. As it is a journey from start to finish taking you on a rollercoaster ride through a relationship that seems rather toxic. Though the two know that they are doing each other more harm than good, they still can’t seem to resist each other. The record is chaotic through its production choices and each track transitions from one to the next so seamlessly.

Amongst the chaos there are a few tender moments that feel dreamy in nature. You find yourself completely immersed in this record and feel each emotion running through him. His vocal delivery has a moody essence to it. His ability to deliver a body of work that is cohesive both sonically and thematically is impressive.

This is definitely one of the standout releases from the previous year and if you haven’t yet heard then you have to. Ryan Hall showcases that he is an artist who’s certain of who he is. He is one to watch and it will be intriguing to see what life his next album will take on.

#Ryan Hall #Postteenangst #Album #Music #Artist #Billboard #Alternative #Love #Heartbreak #Chaos #Toxic #Record #Rock #Pop #RyanHall

[goldenmusicmoments]

Top 10 Albums Of 2023:

Ryan Beatty - Calico.

Hazlett - Bloom Mountain.

Gracie Abrams - Good Riddance.

Brandon Ratcliff - Tale Of Two Towns.

Samia - Honey.

Cannons - Heartbeat Highway.

Boygenius - The Record.

The Aces - I've Loved You For So Long.

Holly Humberstone - Paint My Bedroom Black.

The Japanese House - In The End It Always Does.

Once again narrowing down to ten albums from the initial list of contenders proved to be quite the challenge. There have been some phenomenal releases this year and many that didn't get the recognition they deserve. These ten albums stood their ground for various reasons. Ryan Beatty's album 'Calico' is definitely 2023's Album of the Year. The rest of the albums aren't placed in a ranking order. If you haven't yet heard any of the records on this list then you have to do so immediately.

It will be exciting to see who is gearing up to release new music in 2024. We already have had a few announcements for album releases and then there are predictions of who could potentially be coming out with new music. However as usual it will prove to be quite the stressful task selecting the ten standout releases.

Happy New Year to you all!

#Ryan Beatty #Gracie Abrams #Boygenius #Holly Humberstone #The Japanese House #Hazlett #Samia #Brandon Ratcliff #Cannons #The Aces #Calico #Bloom Mountain #Heartbreak Highway #Honey #The Record #Music #Albums #Artists #2023 #Album Of The Year #AOTY #Billboard #Happy New Year #Top Ten

[goldenmusicmoments]

Fred Again.. You Deserve All Your Grammy Nominations (Particularly Best New Artist!):

On my post about the nomination reveal for the upcoming Grammys, I implied that Fred Again.. wasn’t deserving of his placement in the Best New Artist category. I am now taking that back and have to say he deserves the nomination. I am going to go as far as to say he would be a worthy winner in the category.

I seemed to have assumed that since I hadn’t yet come across him, others wouldn’t have either. Which never is a fair assumption to make. Due to his nomination I decided to go and check him out. I have now become his biggest fan and have had his music on repeat all night. I may just be obsessed as all I want to listen to is him. He is a greatly talented artist and one that is so in tune with his craft. His ability to make you feel every sort of emotion through the music he creates is beyond magical. If you haven’t yet, then you have to go listen to his discography.

It is worth listening to a full album from start to finish as it is a complete experience. One that you find yourself fully immersed in and this feeling of elation over takes you. You could start with his latest body of work that was released last year October titled ‘Actual Life 3 (January 1 - September 9 2022)’ which falls into the consideration period for these nominations. His success has continued to increase from one record to the next. With this one reaching the top ten of the charts and the singles performing really well as well.

He is proving to be a rare artist and one that will definitely keep excelling in everything he does. He is now tempting me into wanting to experience him live. I thinking I am rooting for him to win now and hoping that his placement amongst this year’s nominees gains him a lot more recognition. I am currently going through his entire discography as I am seriously impressed. So much so that I’d want the track ‘Bleu (Better With Time)’ to be injected in my veins.

#Fred Again #Music #TheGRAMMYs #DJ #Producer #Artist #UK #British #Best New Artist #Euphoria #Bliss #Fan #Obsessed #Talented #Experience

[goldenmusicmoments]

How Did Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 Fair At The End Of Its Release Week?

So now that the first week of Pink Friday 2’s release comes to a close, let’s take a look at how it faired. The album after release was predicted to debut with anywhere between 170-190k equivalent albums sold. As the week progressed that figure increased. However then Nicki Minaj had asked fans to share images of their purchases on social media, to which she later revealed Billboard had told her that she’d be penalised for that. It was said that Billboard were intending on removing 100k sales from the final figure. Which if they did is unfair. Maybe they thought she was promoting mass purchasing in order to inflate sales and thus they decided punishment would stop people in the future. An odd thing for Billboard to do if that is so.

The album in the end opened with a figure of 228k equivalent albums sold first week and she debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart. However she was still ridiculed and received hate for the albums performance. Which seems so uncalled for, why is it that people are so obsessed over wanting Nicki’s career to downfall? I still don’t get it. She broke records with the albums performance. With the highest first week stream figures for an album by a female rapper. To her now having the most number one albums on the Billboard 200 as a female rapper, three in total so far. You have to bear in mind that it is Christmas time and people aren’t going to go out of their way at this time to spend on a record. As they are spending their money on the festivities at this moment in time. So that very well has played a role in the final figure being lower than what it could have been.

The album managed to chart 17 tracks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Which is a great feat. However again the haters found a way to attack her and make a mockery out the positions of the songs. Again the Billboard Hot 100 is currently flooded with Christmas music. That in turn prevented the tracks from charting much higher. Had she released during a period outside of this Christmas surge, the chart position of the tracks that debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart would definitely have been higher. Those that hate never seem to put in much thought into why things at times work out the way they do.

Nicki then went onto join the livestream of Kai. Which again drew scrutiny from those that dislike her. Many of them saying that it was a low point for her and that it screamed desperation. Who knows what her intent was and maybe it wasn’t the best of ideas. However it’s her decision to make and she felt it was something she wanted to do.

Nicki Minaj should definitely be proud of the performance of Pink Friday 2. As it did do really well, especially during the period in which it was released.

#Nicki Minaj #PinkFriday2 #Billboard #Music #Album #Charts #Drake #LilWayne #JCole #Rap #HipHop #Pop #Barbz #Beyhive #Billboard200 #BillboardHot100 #Christmas

[goldenmusicmoments]

Nicki Minaj's Much Anticipated Pink Friday 2 Opens Up To A Mixed Reaction:

Nicki Minaj finally releases Pink Friday 2 five years after her last album. The album was preceded by a string of singles and teasers. Some of the teasers were said to not be on the album, but ended up on the record. Nicki wasn’t very straightforward with what we could expect on the record and it seems like she was purposely trying to keep her fans on their tiptoes. The album also ended up being delayed which caused quite the reaction, however she assured the Barbz that it was because she wanted to give them something worthwhile. 

The album has now been out for a couple of days and it has received quite the mixture of reviews and reactions. Some people love the record, some found it had standout moments and then moments that were lacklustre and then those that didn’t like it at all. Going as far as calling it her worst release so far. She pushed the record as her best yet and one of the greatest records ever, which in turn ended up setting expectations sky high. Doing that is never a good idea, however Nicki seems to have had and still does have a lot of belief in the body of work. She’s been teasing four additional tracks that she’ll be adding to the album and that is something to look forward to. 

After listening to the album it is a mix of highs and lows, there are some really strong moments that you are drawn to immediately, there are some that grow on you and others that you are left disappointed by. It isn’t really a focused record and seems a little all over the place, she should have shortened the tracklist having quality be the priority over quantity. That way she would have curated a body of work that makes more of an impact. The album doesn’t really feel like a follow up to her debut, which is what many thought it would be due to its title. However Nicki showcases versatility for sure as she pulls at the heartstrings with the real and vulnerable moments, then there are tracks that highlight her talent when it comes to songwriting and clever references. There is no doubt that Nicki Minaj is one of the greats and she definitely has cemented her name in music history. 

There has always been high hopes that she has it in her to create an album that works in its entirety, but every time she’s been given the opportunity she has failed to make the most of it. Every record seems to be a mixture of ups and downs, lacking focus. With her debut coming the closest to being a well rounded and stellar effort. Nicki has the prowess to create something of that caliber, but it seems at times though the idea is there its execution falls flat. 

Pink Friday 2 also seems to have caused a hate train from the Hive for some odd reason. They’ve been going in on attacking the record and its commercial performance so far. Which is so fitting for the Hive as they go out of their way to hate on every and any female artist they can. It is all in a desperate attempt to hold Beyoncé firmly on the pedestal they’ve placed her on. To act as though no one can touch her and then be this worked up over another artist and their release, is very contradictory. It is still unclear as to what triggered the Hive to start swarming on this release.

Unfortunately the predictions for the opening figures of the album are disappointing as you’d expect a higher figure. Though you can see why that could be and that is the performance of the preceding singles. ‘Super Freaky Girl’ may have started atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart, however it fell off and was forgotten just as quick. Nicki ended up too caught up on chart success and so did her fans that they failed to generate a hit that had longevity and one that made an impression strong enough to excite others for the project it was accompanying. ‘Red Ruby Da Sleeze’ was definitely a step up and deserved better, however it ended up lacking the effort to push it. Nicki didn’t officially announce it as a single and neither did she make it clear whether it was a standalone release or linked to the upcoming album. 

Then she released ‘Last Time I Saw You’ and it was promoted as the second single, she even performed it at the MTV Video Music Awards. The song was moderately received, as usual the premises was there but the execution was lacking. It was a rather emotional song due to it being about the loss of her father so you could feel how personal it was to her, however it just didn’t make much of a connection with a wider audience because it had something missing. It debuted in the top thirty on the Billboard Hot 100 and then soon after departed. So there wasn’t much to create enough buzz for the album. Not only were the general public loosing interest, it seems her fans were too. As she’s had quite the supportive fan base and them alone could have pulled in a bigger figure than what is currently predicted (170k - 190k first week). 

The album isn’t terrible, but it is underwhelming. However Nicki doesn’t deserve the hate she’s been receiving lately. It showcases how quickly people seem to switch up on a female artist in particular, which is sad. She will always be one of the greats who’s done so much for rap music and has then in turn opened doors for all the other female rap artists that have popped up since. She still has so much to give and this record is just a stepping stone. Nicki needs to detach from the pursuit of commercial success and focus on creating a body of work that stems only from the passion she has for music. That will then result in something that will make a much grander impact.

#Nicki Minaj #PinkFriday2 #Beyonce #Hive #Billboard #Rap #Music #Rapper #Artist #Album #MTV VMAs #Drake #Lil Wayne

[goldenmusicmoments]

Hazlett's Debut Bloom Mountain Is A Beautiful Exploration Of Emotions:

Hazlett just released his debut album January this year. However I happened to discover it during the second half of the year. I feel as though I did stumble upon it nearing its release, however didn’t bother checking it out. So when he found his way on to my feed on TikTok I decided I might as well give the record a listen. It turned out to be a magnificent experience, one where there is no fear of feeling all sorts of emotions. He’s vulnerable in his delivery and really puts forth his feelings in a beautiful way. It was vital that you all were taken on this journey as well and be blown away by a release that surely stands out from the crowd this year. Now lets get lost in Hazlett’s world and don’t be afraid of the emotions he wants you to feel.

The album opens with the guitar led ‘Please Don’t Be’ and the instrumentation gives you this feeling of urgency or being on edge. His tender vocal delivery paired with the grandness of the production gives this track a feeling of vastness. Here you find him hoping that the person of interest isn’t in love with someone else. You feel that he is in a sombre mood through his vocal delivery and the lyrics paint such a picture. A strong start that highlights his talent of putting forth emotion and being a beautiful songwriter, really setting the tone for the rest of the record.

We then move on to ‘Even If It’s Lonely’ which follows on from the previous track with similarities in production and continuity to the journey he is taking you on. The moment his vocal comes in you are captivated and feel the sadness in his delivery. Here he yarns to be a part of the persons life. He says that he’d be content with sleeping on the floor instead of the bed, as he lets them know he had hopes of being a little bit more. He feels that his feelings won’t be reciprocated in the way that he had hoped and that if it is for the better then he’d be willing to distance himself. It revolves around the common thing we all desire which is to be loved. The song closes out on a voice note in which the female speaker shares what’s on her mind. She shares the wisdom her mother passed on to her. Its a touching end to a heart aching moment. Loneliness is hard on a person and oft even admitting it can be tough. 

On ‘My Skin’ the acoustic guitar takes the forefront as he keeps to the sombre tone he’s set. Hazlett seems to be dealing with the person of interest moving on, he finds himself struggling to let go, whilst the other has already gotten over it by the looks of it. The sight of her with someone else hurts him and though he knows that moving on is what will let him heal, he doesn’t want to let go just yet. As the track progresses you hear the bass come in and the tambourine peaking through certain moments. There is a shift in the production that closes out the track and provides for quite the transition into the next. He holds on to the guitar on the heartbreaking ‘Everybody Hates Me’ that you find yourself completely encapsulated by, especially when his ‘OooOoh’s’ come in. The focal point here is friendship and how he felt that his friends may either have been busy or grown weary, as he feels this distance between them. Which in turn made him feel as though they hated him, this entirety that maybe something about him had pushed them away. However he comes to realise that they were going through their own issues and he lets them know that he’s there for them. The lift in the chorus makes it feel as though the track takes up the space around you. 

We get a smooth transition into ‘Skeletons’ which now switches things up by featuring the piano. He now takes the focus away from how he feels as he observes the person of interest. He lets them know that he can sense that something is up, even though they are putting on a front that everything is okay. He wants them to know that he is there for them. He clearly has been paying a lot of attention to them as he’s got a grasp on things they do when they aren’t being honest with how they are feeling. There is warmth to this track as it feels like arms opening up for an embrace. This tender and caring moment that really touches your heart. On ‘Oh Downhill’ things seem to shift and the prodding production with the strum of an electric guitar string really gives of this feeling of unease. He now finds himself feeling confused as to why he ever cared for the person of topic. He realises that they did him harm, and yet he the one apologising. Pointing to an unbalanced relationship where he was giving more than the other. His ‘Oooh’s’ heighten the feel of this track and the outro closes things out on a chaotic note.

Now we reach ‘Part Time Lovers’ and he is clearly hurting, to such point that even in a party setting he finds himself in tears. In the chorus he then reveals that he is tired of having to change constantly for this person, however he doesn’t seem to want to completely let go as he says ‘Maybe we’re better off as part time lovers’. He also points out that he found it sad that the person of interest didn’t pay enough attention to notice that he was hurting. The verses are tender, but when we reach the chorus the production lifts and that vast feeling finds its way to the front. You find yourself lost in the chorus and then the track closes out with the repetition of ‘Alone we wonder’ which could be him consoling himself that in the end we all wonder alone. Then the guitar finds its way back on ‘Hesitate’ and it is the only track with a featured artist (OSKA) giving it a conversational feel. Here they sing about them running away from their issues rather than confronting them, whilst putting on this facade of everything is okay when they are out and about. In the chorus they prompt each other to be open with how they really feel and wonder why they can’t seem to break things of even though they are well aware that this is the end of the relationship. The vocal delivery during the chorus makes it seem like a desperate plea for a resolution. Hazlett continues to pull at your heart strings and demands that you feel the pain he feels.

‘Tell Me What You Dream About’ lifts in its pace particularly in the chorus, though its upbeat nature may make you want to move to it, it still manages to retain the emotional essence he wants to keep exploring. The guitar strings that are the centre point of the production make you feel like you are floating and then the bass comes in for the chorus. The bass then lingers for the rest of the track and you find yourself tapping your feet to its groove. Here he wants to really know where her mind wonders and he’d give everything to get the insight. Judging by the verses it seems she’s up and down all the time in regards to her mood or how she is feeling. It doesn’t seem to be a healthy relationship or an ideal one to be in. The track closes out on a lengthy instrumental with flickers of faded vocalisations.

The album ends with ‘To Sleep In A King Alone’ where it seems the two have finally fully detached. However it’s hitting him a lot harder than he thought it would and that it feels rather lonely. Things are a lot different than how they’d imagined them to turn out and this seems like new territory even though they’ve been here before. The production at the end of each chorus gives this sense of unease to the track. The chorus in itself makes you feel like you are drifting on his vocal. Again a dragged out outro with vocalisation that really adds so much to the atmosphere of the track. An ending that may not necessarily be a happy one, but it seems to be a much needed one as attachment was causing more pain than anything else. 

Overall this album does what Hazlett intended so well as it fully immerses you in an emotional experience. It is a journey through different stages of a relationship that begins with him wanting the person so bad, to then there being ups and downs. Though more downs he still finds it hard to completely let go. In the end however they face the inevitable and that is that the two have to go their separate ways. As that is the only way they’ll heal and rise from the heartache. From the beginning it’s clear that he was the one putting in more than the other person. The mood of the record stays consistent and it is sonically cohesive. He’s got such a great talent for putting forth emotions through his vocal delivery as he makes sure to have you feel each and every lyric. The production gives the record a feeling of vastness. This record really is a stellar effort and one that is a must listen from this years releases. If you haven’t yet given it a listen then make sure you do.

Hazlett also just dropped an extended play titled ‘Goodbye To The Valley Low’ which is another worthwhile listen. An artist to watch and it will be exciting to see how he grows with each record. Seeing the popularity artists like Noah Kahan or Zach Bryan have gained recently, there is no doubt their fans will find a place in their hearts for Hazlett. As they do share similarities, but aren’t exactly the same, each managing to stand on their own. We’ve seen a wave of phenomenal new artist come out and here is to hoping that they get the recognition they deserve. 

#Hazlett #Noah Kahan #Zach Bryan #BloomMountain #Folk #Alternative #Heartbreak #Love #Pain #Emotions #Debut #Debut Album #Album #Music #Artist #Billboard #Songwriting #Singer #Friendship #2023 #Record #Review #Journey #Personal

[goldenmusicmoments]

Madison Beer Delivers An Immersive Experience On Her Sophomore Record Silence Between Songs:

Madison Beer releases the follow up to her stellar debut titled ‘Silence Between Songs’. Prior to announcing the album she had released a couple of songs, giving us a bit of a taster for what’s to come. The album proves to be a sonically cohesive record and one where she explores a sound she truly loves. Madison is creating music she wants to. She is underrated as her talent and music don’t receive the recognition they deserve. Lets take a look through her sophomore record.

Spinnin’ - This opener starts the album on a rather emotive note and the ‘Aah’s’ at the beginning give it a dreamy edge. She delivers the lyrics in a classical tone vocally and it adds drama to this track, giving it a cinematic feel. It feels apocalyptic as she seems to feel like everything’s come to a standstill and she’s struggling to move on. She highlights how sometimes rising out of a dark place can be difficult and you find yourself stuck in a cycle that isn’t doing you any good. The production on the record is slick and during the chorus it mimics the sound similar to that of a car revving. Which gives it a unique touch adding to the tracks dynamic. A captivating start to a record that you find yourself lost in and it really sets the tone for what’s to come.

Sweet Relief - She picks up the pace altering the mood from the previous track as we get right to it. It has a sexy vibe to it as it explores having a crush on someone. All she thinks of is the person of interest and she can’t seem to escape him. Her vocal delivery feels laid back and the catchy hook finds a home in your mind instantly as you find yourself humming along. The bass is the the driving force here as it remains at the forefront and it makes you want to move to this track. She closes the track with backing vocals that soar.

Envy The Leaves - Here the production immediately catches your attention and its nature gives the track a sense of urgency. Her tender vocals give the track a dreamy and classical feel which is a prominent feeling throughout the album. This brings back that cinematic touch we experience on the opener. She says that she’s jealous of the leaves and snow, as they don’t feel emotions. She doesn’t want to feel any sort of worry and instead live life thinking she’s happy even when in actuality she is far from it. A mesmerising moment that ends with a surprising soft rock outro where Madison harmonises over an up-beat instrumental. This is definitely a standout on this record.

17 - Explores how hectic she’s felt that her life has been since seventeen and because of that she finds it hard to recall much of it. She wishes she’d taken things slower and lived life more. It also points to the entirety of how fast time seems to be moving which makes you feel as though you are running out of time to do the things you want to do. The production has a western tinge to it and, the pacing difference between the verses and chorus play to the movement of time. 

Ryder - A heartfelt moment where Madison speaks to her brother and here she finds herself acknowledging her shortcomings in their relationship. She expresses how now she sees things from a prospective where she understands why he was the way he was back then as the two grew up in the same house. She lets him know that she knows more than he may think she does. She regrets neglecting him and his feelings during their childhood, feeling that they lost out on moments that could have been. Especially if she’d come to the realisation much earlier. Pointing to how when you are kids you often can find yourself caught up in how you are feeling that you don’t pay attention to that of those around you. She ends this guitar driven track letting it be known that they’ll be alright. It is never too late to make amends and reconnect. It is a stunning sombre moment that leaves you with something to think on. 

Nothing Matters But You - Now Madison gives us this haunting track where she lets the person of interest know that no one else matters but them. It opens up with a wave of strings. The chorus heightens the haunting feel and this really plays to the classical sound she loves to explore in her music. The production compliments her vocal delivery and it feels as though the track fills the space around you, enclosing you in its dramatic nature. This track makes you think that she could work well on a James Bond soundtrack. The lyric ‘Make a girl think the world’s only spinnin’ for you’ could be a reference taking it back to the album opener. 

I Wonder - This playful track has her wondering how she’s managed to wake up in a blissful state. She stated that this serves as a response to ‘Spinnin’. The snare drum beat with a tender tambourine peaking through makes you want to tap your feet to it, as it has this throwback feel to it. Her vocal delivery is effortless and airy, as she switches up the pace for a moment. 

At Your Worst - Here Madison takes you down an emotive journey as this song is about her father. The choir like opening really draws you into this deep track. The guitar led production has touches to it that give it an intriguing nature. She sings about how she felt that she was mistreated as a child, she acknowledges that he had his reasons for why he was the way he was. She lets it be known that it doesn’t in turn make what he did to her right. She’s trying her hardest to not end up like him, however she realises that she is like her father and that is a thought she doesn’t like. It’s a beautiful moment that leaves you in your own head.

Show Me (How I Fell In Love With You) - On this dramatic track that feels rich through its production we find her observing the person of interest in order to be just like him. She hopes to use his tactics to win people over. It has a sultry feel to it that is enhanced by her vocal delivery. That in turn makes you feel like it can fit on the soundtrack of either an action or spy film. She released a visual for the track that fits so well with the essence of the song.

Home To Another One - The pace picks up on this captivating track that does well in sticking to the dreamy classical inspiration running through the album. You’ll find yourself lost in its infectious nature and that hook is one that you’ll instantly be singing along to. Here Madison finds herself thinking about the person who she was once in a relationship with and she feels as though she still feels glimmers of him around her. He’s moved on, whilst she hasn’t. Which plays to the theme that’s threaded in the album of her being stuck. The opening in a way gives it a fairytale like feel and then the chorus introduces the bass which gives it an upbeat feel. 

Dangerous - We reach this gorgeous piano led track that eventually brings in the strings for its building moment. Which gives this track a dramatic tone. Here you really feel her vocally depict the emotions behind the lyrics so well. She sings about that feeling of self-doubt, where you question yourself and wonder whether it really is that hard for people to love you. She’s trying to figure out what about her is the reason for love being dangerous. It has such a grand feeling to it due to both the production and her vocal delivery. 

Reckless - Madison is heartbroken on this sombre moment that is tied together by the snap of a drum. The track opens up with the sound of a the tune that plays when you open one of those jewellery boxes and you feel the hurt in her voices as soon as the vocal comes in. The person of interest seems to have paid her feelings no mind, whilst telling her that she was his only, he was seeing someone else behind her back. She finds herself wondering how someone can be reckless with someone else’s heart. The production is threaded with strings which add to the dynamic of the track and give it a dramatic feel. There is a lift in the pace before the track ends on a tender closing.

Silence Between Songs - Now we get to the title track and this one starts in a way that makes you think it maybe a more blissful moment. However though it is more upbeat, it speaks on trying to numb any sense of feeling in order to deal with the hard moments. Here she seems to be trying to run away from the feelings that come after the demise of a relationship, such as loneliness, heartache and the loss of someone you saw a future with. She is struggling to let go and forget the person of interest. It has a sultry edge to it due to her vocal delivery.

King Of Everything - The closing track provides for quite the ending to this journey. Its piano driven and she seems reflective over the person of interest. Scooter Braun seems to be the person she’s singing about here, as she states that he seems to think a lot of himself and yet is unaware that those around him don’t really care about him. Then she points that things for him seem to be falling apart as once he was the king of everything and now he is the king of nothing. The outro gives it a cinematic touch that ties in with the essence of the rest of the album. 

The album is a strong effort from Madison Beer and she delivers a body of work that is sonically cohesive. Especially when comparing it to her debut on which she took a more experimental route. The record takes you on a more emotive and heartfelt journey, with one or two turns in the road that drift off track for a bit. She is drawn to classical music and loves to add a cinematic feel to her music. Which you feel throughout this album. Madison still is underrated and deserves so much more recognition. She’s not trying to appease mainstream music, instead she divulges in creating records that truly represent who she is as both an artist and person. It is definitely one of 2023’s highlights and if you haven’t yet given it a listen, then do so now.

#Madison Beer #SilenceBetweenSongs #Music #Album #Billboard #Artist #Singer #Songs #MadisonBeer #Silence Between Songs #Scooter Braun #ScooterBraun #Heartbreak #Love #Reckless #Dangerous #Release #Classical