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Guillemots: Made-up Lovesong #43
"The best things come from nowhere."
...and when they do, how do you even start to comprehend them? How do you sum up the perfect-in-every-way feeling? Is it even possible to put into words the way one feels love? The all-consuming beauteousness of life's finest node. Is it even possible to ever come to terms with an emotion that has stumped the finest historical literary minds?
Of course, I'm the stupid emotional mess that walks along a street, telling myself that this discarded can of Coca Cola is just so poetic and burned-out camper-vans are poignantly moving in ways that no one else understands. When you're in love, the pointless little things become the most amazing, beautiful things you could ever imagine.
I'm the fool that can't believe I'd ever be cared about, that I'm cared about now, singing my heart out through kisses and gestures, loving through sparks and shining dragons. I can't even begin to explain that feeling deep inside when everything fits together like the most incredible puzzle imaginable, when the rain feels like droplets created by heaven, just to shower me in absolute joy.
Listening to 'Made Up Love Song #43', none of this even matters anymore. In fact, nothing else matters at all.
A softly glissading synthesiser throbs whilst singer Fyfe Dangerfield sings to me, mirroring my every thought. It's one of those melodies that you dream about being able to write and sing, but not even this can prepare you for the elegantly controlled ascent that builds and climbs and works its way into every single part of your being.
For a song that could resonate powerfully in a simpler guise, Guillemots' layering and texturing, rather than detracting from its intent, merely conspire to enthrall in an even more vital and life-affirming fashion. There is no way in which I can physically take anything away from this experience and like the subject in focus, love, this is utter, utter perfection in its purest and most wondrous form.
Hyperbole? You can only effectively apply that word to something that doesn't deserve it. The fact that 'Made Up Love Song' is the runaway single of the year is completely elementary; what needs to be understood is that this is the kind of sheer, unabashed glory that evokes an emotional response that can truly only be matched by love itself.
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This is a lovely song
I may even stretch to say it's the most beautiful song of the year so far... Ahhhh, to be young and in love...
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brilliant review
lovely song; they're hit and miss in my view but this one's really gorgeous.
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colin is totally gay for fyfe
they look a like too.
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it is their best song by a country mile
but 10/10??? come on, as much as you dress it up it's still jumped-up coldplay...
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Agreed.
Mhmm.
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I thought it was their second best single, after Trains To Brazil
...for a long time. I now place this one at the top of the list. If I was going to give any single 10/10 this year, it'd probably be this one.
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I really can't see what all the fuss is about!
it's not that great at all, in my opinion!
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^^agreed
I don't know why but I just can't get into Guillemots at all, which is strange because it seems like the kind of thing I'd like. I don't know, maybe they'll grow on me.
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Amazing.
It's just one hell of a song. :)
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NTR!?
What're YOU doing here?
But yes, this song, makes my heart jump, in the best possible way.
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Yeah agreed.
I'm not fully bought on Guillemots hype, but this song alone ALMOST gets me there. The most joyous, beautiful song I've heard in ages.
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the albums alright
I thought the last single was better to be honest. The one about the trains to Brazil or somesuch.
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I like the intro
but the song leaves me pretty cold - maybe I need to be in love.
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Easily one of the best singles of the year so far.
It's just a shame that the album is so damn bland! And thats coming from a Keane fan!! What a dissapointment. The three singles and Sao Paolo are the only songs with any excitement stored inside them. The rest is one long battle to keep the eyelids from lowering.
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The video is terrific.
Pure escapism. The bit where he puts his hand over the camera and it cuts to the band on the beach just fits with the song so well.
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PINKSTARS!
I'm commenting on such an amazing song. I forgot I had an account here for ages.
P.S Get in touch about me seeing you.
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Review from some magazine:
"As well as being the kind of swooping, epic and thoroughly forgettable grown-up pop that other bands do better, it is also a big fat anomaly. Because, as you might've guessed from their names (Fyfe Dangerfield, Lord Margrao, Rican Caol and Aristazabal Hawkes), the remainder of the Guillemots "ouvre" is overly zany odd-pop that is so convinced of its own wackiness it might as well come with a free spinning bow-tie."
I'd hate to go with NME over DiS, but...
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That review has a good point
There is something forcibly eccentric about Guillemots that always made me slightly uneasy. However it doesn't get in the way of a masterpiece like this song.
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*sigh*
Colin writes a wonderful piece on how a piece of music has transcended the intangible feelings in his head (and possibly the most intangible feeling there is) into a melody and people respond with stuff like "thought their first single was better actually". What does it matter if their other single was better? Is that all people's opinion on music stretches to? A sliding scale to put singles and album tracks on... what happened to the power music has, and artistic expression?
Thanks Colin, this review is wonderful.
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mmmmm
interesting point
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Totally and utterly
AVERAGE song!
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What?
giving my opinion on a song? I found the song average, why should i elaborate more?
I thought We're Here was better, but not by much.
How THE FUCK can my opinion on a song on a thread about that song be pointless??? Have you never heard of a difference of opinion?
I think you need to have a rethink Sean.
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Agreed
It's a pretty fucking nice song but it's not a 10. It doesn't have everything by any means.
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you create a context
you put things in pecking orders and all you do is eat away like a little bird at the ability to be able to take something for what it is.
this is an undeniable song with beautiful lyrics and joyful sentiments.
sometimes you should just keep your opinions to yourself unless you have something constructive to offer. who needs to know what YOU think if you don't offer reasoning or alternative suggestions? what does your original post acheive rather than to attempt to water down colin's opinion?
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I create a pecking order?
i can't take things for what they are? Are you telling me that my opinion that this song is total boring garbage is wrong? Oh i get it, because YOU like it that makes me wrong?
I've heard this song maybe 3 or 4 times. I don't like it much, i don't hate it, i just think it is boring and average... TOTALLY average. Between this thread and the thread on the music board at least four other people gave a similar response to mine. Yet you singled out mine!
JESUS, what the hell is wrong with you? I was offering my opinion. Can't i offer negative opinions on music on your website? Was i being personal towards you or Colin? NO of course not. So stop taking that way.
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Why the fuck can't he express his opinion?
Is yours THAT gospel and precious?
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actually
revise my above opinion. i listened to this song on the way to work this morning and it made the world a more colourful place. aw.
still not 10/10 though ;) 9/10 max...
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I have heard this song a few times now
and my opinion is that it's a bit toilet.
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i'm starting
to love this band, the vocal melodies are outstanding!
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NB:
I am more than happy to have a fight with anyone who calls this song 'dull'.
Seriously, just let yourself go and enjoy it.
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I think...
...this band suck. That's it.
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yeee ouch...
...without digging out the album I can't remember what song this is, but I do think there's a smattering of sublime songs on the album.
This, if it's what I'm thinking of, is one... not a 10/10 in my book, but my book's entirely different to Colin's. It has bigger text for a start, cos I'm a DUMMY.
But... hmm... Guillemots don't suck. A few songs do, but the band... nah.
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Well...
..they can play their instruments, I am not doubting that. I just find the music cringeworthy. But it is all a matter of taste. I like Abba
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Oh, Pickles...
...how could we stay mad at you...
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I always preferred
Lauren Zoric to you anyway, Pickles.
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I'm in love with From The Cliffs...
this and Who left the lights off baby? are my stand out tracks:D
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I'm not
entirely sold on Guillemots. All their singles are 7 out of 10s for me, this included.
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theres a bit 2/3rds of the way through
in which the singer starts to wail out of tune in falsetto. one of the best bits of music ive heard this year and pushes this single (for me) from a 6/7 to a 9
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i dearly wanted to love this
but it just doesnt do it for me :(
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it's lovely
I'm not sure i agree with Colin's "let yourself go and enjoy it" comment because you could justify the quality (or lack of it) of any band by saying that.
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I love love love
this song, and like guillemots a lot. Only thing is I think this tune is by far their best (on record anyway). But yeah, good review and that.
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ok, if this song were done by a different band...
Does it still get 10/10? Some things kept yanking me out of the song:
a) white boy voice that's just a shade too precious
b) melody really isn't that strong and the now required wacky noise elements are simply tacked on like postcards from Baltimore on refrigerator magnets.
c) Was there any real reason for the ragged "we just kinda started playing this" intro on such a heavily produced song?
d) "poetry in an empty coke can" Ummm, ok, look, it's all very well and good to be talking about this coke can poetry business, but you'd best be able to back it up. Is it the can itself? The backwash? The smell of Captain Morgan's rum wafting from it? What?
e) Did I mention the white boy voice thing? I agree, that falsetto is scary.
f) the long repeato run-out which adds...what? It extends the song for 30secs yet really doesn't extend my enjoyment of it.Whatever. A lot of people like this song and I'm sure they have their reasons for it. I don't like it all that much and I gave my reasons above. If this were some unknown band's first single, would critics still be ladling on the gravy like they do?
RstJ
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"white boy voice"
what do you even mean by that?
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he means
he's not black.
well!
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this is
a lovely song, and stands up to repeated listenings, i've had it on loads all month. I have a different version from the single though, the falsetto is much more bearable, and the ending is better - much shorter. I really don't like how unecessarily prolonged the ending is on the single version, it spoils it for me.
still, it's very close to a 10 from me even with that considered.-
White boy voice
It's that voice that a lot of our indie bands have. A skinny white guy who can't really sing all that well (and sings fairly high) but usually makes up for it in enthusiasm and lyrics (think Malkmus or any band from Seattle in the last 10yrs). Problem is, it detracts from this cut because the music is so polished. But obviously it works for a lot of people.
DiS can be pretty confusing. This got a 10/10, whereas Morning After Girls got a wild review...but only a 6. Weird, especially seeing as how they apparently killed at a show recently.
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anyone that has seen this band live
knows that Fyfe isn't just a 'skinny white boy that can't sing that well'. He is an astounding vocalist; passionate and powerful yet wonderfully agile.
basically, robertsjames i couldn't disagree with you more!
you sound like someone that wants to dislike them because they've had so much positive hype. Well they're not unknown but it is their first proper release,And of course the single version has to sound a bit more polished and radio friendly, thats hardly unusual. Maybe they've got so much 'gravy' cause they're actually really good!
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S'lovely
I listened to it this morning on the way to work and it made me want to smile at strangers.
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I just got it.
its pretty good. album is wack tho. might be a grower tho...
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I'm a bit late with this one
but I think this song is 10/10. It's stunning and contains the loveliest sentiments. I don't think I've heard a better song this year.
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you always were a bit slow
but i agree one hundred per cent so it's ok.
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?
why is this suddenly on the front page again :)?
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this is a lovely piece
colin, you should be proud.
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