Song of the Week: "Modus Operandi [feat. Frankie Cosmos]" by Juan Wauters
Juan Wauters – Modus Operandi [feat. Frankie Cosmos]
Uruguayan-born, New York City-based singer/songwriter observes the inequality made apparent by the COVID pandemic in “Modus Operandi” which includes a guest verse by Frankie Cosmos.
Songs of the Week for 2023
January
“Happiness” by THICK
“Abathembu” by uKhoiKhoi
“Blood Rushes” by CIVIC
“Doomscrollers” by Quasi
“Fold” by Bonobo & Jacques…
Queens, NY -- Uruguay-born artist Juan Wauters will be releasing his sixth studio album Wandering Rebel on June 2 via Captured Tracks. Last week, he shared newest single “Nube Negra” featuring Y La Bamba. The ruminating song spans just under 3.5 minutes long, with an acoustic guitar-driven instrumental. There’s a folk-y core to the track that gives the song a narrative style, emulating songs that unravel a story as it goes on. “Nube Negra” is a traveler’s song - from the lyrics touching on escapism (even though you can’t escape problems that will inevitably follow you wherever you go) to the soft western layers, giving the song a touch of adventures in the Wild Wild West.
On the track, Wauters shares: “Nube Negra” was written and recorded in NY with Carlos Hernandez. The song and the video touch on the idea of relocating to a new town in search of a new life, leaving one’s problems behind without realizing that those problems will follow us along. Once the song was written we wanted a guest singer for the Nube Negra (black cloud) part and thought Luz’s voice (Y La Bamba) would fit well, given the mysterious qualities of her voice.
US Tour Dates:
Thur, June 1 - Hudson, NY - The Half Moon
Fri ,June 2 - Freeport, ME - Desert of Maine
Sat, June 3 - Cambridge, MA - Lilypad
Sun, June 4 - Philly, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
Tue, June 6 - Columbus, OH - Rumba Café
Wed, June 7 - Louisville, KY - PORTAL
Thur, June 8 - Rock Island, IL - Rozz Tox
Fri, June 9 -Chicago, IL - Avondale Music Hall
Sat, June 10 - Detroit, MI - Lager House
Mon, June 12 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
Tue, June 13 - Charlotte, NC - Petra's
Wed, June 14 - DC,DC - Comet Ping Pong
Tue, June 27 - Seattle, WA - Substation
Wed, June 28 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir/ Monqui
Fri, June 30 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord
Sat, July 1 - Modesto, CA - Greens on Tenth
Sun, July 2 - Los Angeles, CA - ECHO
Mon, July 3 - San Diego, CA - Voodoo Room at House of Blues
Wed, July 5 - Phoenix, AZ - The Rebel Lounge
Thur, July 6 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
Fri, July 7 - Albuquerque, NM - Sister
Sat, July 8 - Denver, CO - Hi-Dive
Mon, July 10 - Oklahoma, OK - Res Head
Tue, July 11 - Austin, TX - The Ballroom
Wed, July 12 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
Thu, July 13 - Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves
Fri, July 14 - Nashville, TN - Third Man
Sun, July 16 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Made
How Never Have I Ever Uses Music to Hint at the Future
I’ve always loved the way music tells a story, especially in movies and tv shows. These things usually go unnoticed unless you’re a college student trying to ignore homework on a Tuesday afternoon. I have been aware that NHIE has been whispering a secret story through its soundtrack for a while now but never had time to actually compile it into one monster of a post. So I’m doing it now!
This is where I try to convince you that the show has been hinting at Devi ending up with Ben all the way since season one. There are over 100 songs in the official soundtrack and of course, I can’t go through them all so I’ll just stick with the most important moments from all three seasons and lyrics that I think encapsulate the core message of the songs.
SEASON 1
The Pilot – Introductions
Paxton’s intro song (Dancing On My Own – Robyn) makes a lot of sense for both characters. It talks about trying hard to get someone’s attention and failing at it. It is a song with a dramatic, pulsating beat that plays over Paxton’s big entrance into Devi’s class.
I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her, oh
I'm right over here, why can't you see me? Oh
I'm giving it my all, but I'm not the girl you're taking home, ooh
I keep dancing on my own (I keep dancing on my own)
Ben is introduced with a softer melody (Rubia – Juan Wauters). It is in Spanish, a language I don’t speak as well so I won’t try to translate it but I will leave you with this Pitchfork review of it written by Steven Arroyo :
“Rubia” still succeeds wonderfully on these terms, a longing love letter to someone with a memorable nose in a far-away country…
Te guardo un lugar en mi corazon
No quiero irme, chequeo hora son
Me iré pensando que
Muy pronto contigo yo estaré
There is an important moment near the end of the episode when Devi goes to talk to Paxton (and asks him to have sex with her) in which Playing Games by Anna of the North plays.
I've been playing games with your heart
Left you thinking in the dark
Just to make you feel unsure
Then I know you want me more
This whole song is very interesting to me. The singer seems to describe a situation in which she has the upper hand in a relationship.
I’ve been playing games with your heart, so I know I’ve made my mark is a lyric I think perfectly shows Devi’s desire to enter a relationship. It is not because she actually likes Paxton. In fact, she doesn’t even know him yet. I think it tells of Devi’s reasons to have a boyfriend – to make a mark not just on him but the school, and her peers as well. She wants to stop being “invisible” as to somehow regain some power over her situation in s1 (the death of Mohan) as well as distract herself from it.
Episode 2
The song Dancing on The Limit (by Prizes) plays as Devi dreams of Paxton coming into her room to have sex with her. It is the first “love song” of Devi and Paxton which I find genius since it doesn’t actually depict reality.
I'm never gonna quit it
Back in love within a minute
We're dancing on the limit
But I love the way you're making me move
It is a fantasy, something Devi feels when she imagines what would be like to be Paxton’s girlfriend.
Episode 6
In Ben’s episode we get so much more insight into who he is, and not just that shell of an obnoxious overachiever he built for himself. We also get insight into his feelings for Devi when he is having dinner with the Vishwakumars where after choosing not to “nuke her back”, he actually has a fun time with her family as the song (Call Me by Sarah Rebecca) in the background goes :
Call me angel, I could save you
I want you, I want you, I want you, I want you, I want you
At the very end of the episode when Devi Venmos Ben so that he never has to “accept food from a pedo again” another love song can be heard (Lost – Boy Harsher).
I’m the one that holds you
In the middle of the night
I'm the one that wants you
Forever til we die
Episode 7
In this episode Devi and Paxton kiss for the first time to Fire For You by the Cannons which at first seems like a really sensual song… until you actually read the lyrics.
I could've died for you
How could you not know?
I was alive with you
But you brought in the cold
Was I being lied to? Wish I never met you
Started to regret you
Episode 10
Boys Like You - Kids at Midnight
We’ve reached my favorite NHIE song. I love the synths. I love the 80s vibe. I love everything about it (No wonder why that Malibu kiss got an MTV nomination).
Certainly the most interesting thing about this song playing during this scene is right as the camera lowers on Devi’s phone, we cut to Paxton leaving a voicemail with these lyrics in the background :
She said, "Boys like that should be in second place”
Now do with that what you will but this is the most intentionally placed lyric in season 1, in my opinion.
I know it hurts right now, one day you'll realise
There's no need to hide yourself from the world
All my life I've been hiding myself
Just waiting for a boy like you
SEASON 2
Episode 8
In the scene we see Devi apologize to Ben about the cheating when the song Up All Night by The Undercover Dream Lovers starts playing. The song is seemingly about second chances and not letting someone go. I thought the theme of driving was interesting considering Malibu.
Caught up on the freeway
You test my patience all the time
Find another exit, ooh
Blocking you from mine
Episode 9
Heat Waves – Glass Animals
During Paxton and Devi’s kiss Heat Waves plays and I have to admit the song as well as the scene are amazing. However, I’ve seen this song misunderstood by Daxton fans so much, probably due to the scene trending (mostly on TikTok where people enjoy quick content without much context).
The writer of the song, David Bayley says this about what it means, mentioning another song called Your Love : “They're both definitely two of the songs that are about relationships and sort of knowing that they're doomed,"
Bayley uses the term Heat Wave to represent an illusion of a highway mirage (the air that rises off asphalt on extremely hot days making it seem like the road is wet).
So the love that the writer describes is just like the heat waves – an illusion.
Now I gotta let you go
You'll be better off in someone new
I don't wanna be alone
You know it hurts me too
You look so broken when you cry
One more and then I say goodbye
Episode 10
GOLDEN – Running ; Ben comes into the girls bathroom to try and make Devi feel better after she is rejected by Paxton. As he is saying “When are you gonna to realize that that dick doesn’t deserve you” the lyrics playing are :
But I get these feelings
That I can't explain
It’s in my veins
being the underdog all the time
Hello Pongo – Summer Love
Another love song that plays when Ben and Devi see each other at the dance.
I've been lookin,
for you my summer love
forever summer love
Sam Smith – Love Goes
This song is – do you wanna guess? Not a love song. It is a sad one.
I hope you understand that I have to send you away
You may not understand, but I know that you will one day
You're broken, I know this
And if you knew it, you would love me a whole different way
But that's how love goes, goes
I also think it’s funny how just as Devi and Paxton are about to slow dance the DJ plays a different, more upbeat song which tells us they aren’t really that compatible with each other. They just never manage to catch that love song!
I wonder if season 4 brings us a Ben and Devi slow dance…
SEASON 3
Episode 1
Josha Daniel – Dream of You ; We finally get something close to a love song for Daxton in the first scene of season 3 even though it it pretty vague and repetitive.
We are never gonna waste our time again
I can't sleep when i dream of you
I can't sleep when i dream of you
Ilo Ilo – Clementine ; Devi and Paxton almost have sex
Clementine
Trying to erase you from my spotless mind
Hit fast-forward but I'm stuck in rewind
Episode 3
Afternoon Bike Ride – Before The Fall ; Devi tells Nalini she and Paxton broke up
After an autumn of ends lеd to silence
Winters cloak covered the tracks of the tyrants
Spring couldn't bring on the promise of June
With no voice to sing and nothing to bloom
I found the mention of June interesting even if it wasn’t intentional because it almost seems like an answer to Heat waves (Sometimes, all I think about is you, Late nights in the middle of June).
Mel Blue – Finding You; Ben tells Fabiola Devi broke his heart
I lost you love
You lost you too
I lost myself
I’m finding you
Episode 5
Carla Morrison – Eres tú ; Ben and Devi say goodbye to each other after their bet at the coffeehouse
(I found a translation for this one)
Today I woke up wanting to kiss you
I have a thirst to caress you
Entangle myself with you and not let you go
You're so intoxicating
It's you
Episode 10
“Because I’ll miss you. A lot.”
“Wait. There’s the stomach knots.”
Jaguar Sun – Car Keys
Oh, how you've grown
Look back now
And move on
Don't worry, about a thing
Just grab those car keys
And drive into the rain
Another song involving cars, driving… I’m starting to think all of this makes sense! Also I love how the song mentions growth because Devi did grow so much in season 3.
Prinze George – Take off
Saw you in the living room
You were wild with light and I wanted you
Tried to do the woman thing
I was eager, young and abandoning
I would force you to love me
I would force you to stay
I would force you to love me
I would stand in your way
And you can't take off without me now
After Boys Like You this has to be my favorite NHIE song. It also has an 80s vibe to it and the two songs feel very much connected in my mind. The lyrics talk about standing in a lover’s way. Preventing them from leaving you and closing that chapter of their life.
I am still in your way
This lyric that appears later in the song shows that after everything that happened to them in season 4, they are still in each other’s way. They can’t forget about each other even after actively pursuing other people.
After analyzing so many songs, I really have to give credit to the show. Most of these were chosen so carefully to fit certain moments. You can really tell the show was made with a lot of intention and love, at least soundtrack wise.
As far as proving who the main couple (endgame couple, whatever you wanna call it) in season 4 is, to me that is pretty obvious even without the support of the soundtrack. I’m very curious about the songs we’ll get to hear in the new season and I also wonder if we will hear some old ones again.
The Aquarium Drunkard Show: SIRIUS/XMU (7pm PDT, Channel 35)
Via satellite, transmitting from northeast Los Angeles — the Aquarium Drunkard Show on SIRIUS/XMU, channel 35. 7pm California time, Wednesdays.
Intro ++ Keith Jarrett & Jack DeJohnette – All We Got ++ Mor Thiam – Ayo Ayo Nene ++ Ebo Taylor – Love And Death ++ Alabaster DePlume – A Gente Acaba (Vento Em Rosa) ++ Arthur Verocai – Dedicada A Ela ++ Louis Banks – Song For My Lady ++ RK Nagati – De L’Orient A’ L’Orion ++ Fela Kuti – My Lady Frustration ++ General Echo – Arleen ++ Benny Yurco – Flor Amarilla ++ Scientist – Bad Days Dub ++ Tom Zé – Mã ++ Almon Memela – The Things We Do In Soweto ++ J.B. De Carvalho E Seu Terreiro – Fui Na Umbanda ++ Haruomi Hosono – Bara To Yaju ++ Erasmo Calos – Sorriso Dela ++ Dr. Alimantado – Ride On ++ Earth Girl Helen Brown – Feed Me ++ Whitefield Brothers – Weiya (Serengeti Beat) ++ Juan Wauters – Candombe ++ Peter Gabriel – Exposure ++ Count Ossie – Ruth One Mile ++ Piero Umiliani – Rite ++ Adrian Young – Starlights ++ Tone Scientists – Tiny Pyramids ++ Brahja – Keepers ++ Ill Considered – Djinn ++ Morphine – I Know You (Part I) ++ Robert Wyatt – Heaps Of Sheeps | art formless forming