Single of the Week
25.03.08
Say
Artiste: Ryan Cabrera
Album: The Moon Under Water
You won’t believe how important an intro is to a song. For example, when I heard Jason Mraz’s weak start on I’m Yours, I just didn’t bother to listen any more because I didn’t think the song could be impactful enough. Besides, I hate banjos. Till now, I still haven’t finished a full listen of I’m Yours yet.
In contrast, Ryan Cabrera’s Say has one of the most fantastic intros I’ve ever heard. The repeating clap track is brilliant enough, and combined with the good drum start and early vocals, created a good setup to the rest of the song.
Then the question became, with such a marvelous intro, could the song get any better (or remain just as good)?
You bet. The verses are well-phrased and rather meaningful upon review. Although the chorus reminds me too much of the ‘Hardogay’ video (coming from a very corrupted class like 4C, I know all about that leather-wearing Japanese weirdo) and the “SAY SAY SAY” the main character declares like a mad bitch.
But the highlight of this song is definitely from 01′24″ to 02′09″, where it features an amazing drum rush arrangement, and after that a quiet break from the action, with a solo keyboard key and a slightly-there muffled ride cymbal beat (or so I gleamed from repeated listening), followed by a short second verse with more brilliant lyric phrasing.
Another highlight is at 02′48″, where Ryan stops singing and lets the instruments carry the weight of the song for a few seconds, before he gives background vocals and adds to the overall flavour of the tune. I didn’t like the abrupt ending though; the final “Say” didn’t really do it for me.
I thought the song could have ended better if a repeated short drum piece were used to end the song with a literal bang, like how the song started in the first place.
Definitely Mr. Cabrera’s best song so far. It doesn’t have the overly-commercial pop sound of On The Way Down, and it is definitely catchy enough, unlike the boring sound of True.
If all the other songs on The Moon Under Water sound like this first single, then you can be sure I’ll be getting the album first thing once it comes out!
To download the single, click on this link:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/9496617a6c3a42/
If you like this single, go get the album when it comes out in coming summer 2008! (Already I have a good impression of it already!)
