Robyn - 'Hang With Me'
It's always great when a song comes with a little bit of room in it, a little space to play around in. It doesn't have to be much, just the sense that there is something incomplete in what you are listening to, something that you have to fill in for yourself.
That's not to say everything has to sound unfinished, just that you don't have to either explain or repeat every single impulse that went into making the song. You also don't have to make everything childishly simple. Clear is good, but if you leave some of your thoughts unfinished, and let everyone else finish them for you, it's almost like a conversation.
This is a perfect example. A fairly straightforward early-days relationship song about trust, from the perspective of someone who's a bit too tightly buttoned-up to let her defences down. She'd like to, but she's not going to.
It's also a song which raises questions left and right, and refuses to answer a single one of them.
(. For a tour video it's amazingly unsweaty.)
For example: why does Robyn want to put someone through what seems to be a fairly rigorous selection process, just in order to be pals with them? Why does she want to be reassured that they can just be friends, and then sing "I know what's on your mind, and there'll be time for that too"?
Why does she insist that it would be a terrible idea for that selfsame person to "fall recklessly, headlessly in love" with her? Why is she so sure it'll lead to heartbreak? Is it because she's been hurt so badly in the past that she HAS to be in control of her relationships, to an obsessive degree, and therefore she knows she'll spoil things? Chances are it is, but we don't KNOW, and it's the not knowing which is the fun.
Well, the not-knowing and the deathless rush of the chorus, which is mighty. And Robyn's frail warble, which is always at its most powerful when she's acting tough. All of which combine to sell a song which - from other voices and dumber lyricists - would possibly struggle to be quite the thing it now is.
Luckily, this is not a problem we will ever have to deal with. *dusts off hands*
Download: Out now
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(Fraser McAlpine)
'Hang With Me' is Robyn's best single yet -- which is saying a lot considering her prodigious output over the past five years."
"It's difficult to chide her on not breaking new ground when she does what-she-does so well."
"I am in LOVE."
Comment number 1.
At 7th Sep 2010, stocksy wrote:I really really like this song but is it just me who thinks shes trying to fit too many words into the chorus. 'Just don't fall recklessly heinously in love with me' is a bit long-winded!
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Comment number 2.
At 7th Sep 2010, kutox wrote:Amazing! It's less sad and emotional than Dancing On My Own, more upbeat and 'friendly', and the more I hear it the more I love it. It's just so sweet and lovely, makes me want to hug someone every time I hear it. Robyn can do no wrong.
I want to give it a perfect score, but my critical head says it's not quite as epic as Dancing On My Own, although of course there's absolutely no shame in that.
4.5/5
P.S. by the way, Body Talk Pt. 2 is officially streaming online as of today. Not sure if I'm allowed to post the link here but if anyone wants it I'll post it. Royksopp yesterday, Robyn today - great week so far!
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Comment number 3.
At 7th Sep 2010, OddOne wrote:I think 4 stars, it's not quite as poignant as 'Dancing On My Own', but it's sure as hell better than most of the chart drivel these days.
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Comment number 4.
At 8th Sep 2010, spirit wrote:Yeah ! Love this song .
It has some wonderful vocal melodies .
I have been on Robyn's tour bus with Sam Sparro's entourage , and it was certainly a bit more lively than in this video .
Don't be fooled people , she is a gorgeous little ball of energy.
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Comment number 5.
At 10th Sep 2010, kookie25 wrote:Lucky Spirit!!! i'm very jealous.
anyway, i've been waiting for this blog entry :-)
ADORE this so much. i seriously think she can do no wrong. I wasnt all that into the acoustic version, but as well as loving the new remix, it's brough new appreciation for the acoustic one. I really don't think there is anyone making music like Robyn - not thats dancable and emotional the way hers is.
I was sad that they didnt feature any footage in the video from the thursday night gig at Heaven (Saturday is in the video) as that way, i might have been in the video as i was at the front :-)
but that aside, i heart robyn.
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Comment number 6.
At 14th Sep 2010, pinkparadox wrote:The acoustic version of this makes me cry, I empathise way too much with the lyrics.
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Comment number 7.
At 16th Sep 2010, Haducon2 wrote:I hated Robyn before the 'Body Talk' era, but she's really changed my opinion.
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Comment number 8.
At 16th Sep 2010, spirit wrote:After THAT night on her tourbus , eh Connie ?????
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Comment number 9.
At 4th Oct 2010, kutox wrote:Did anyone else here buy Body Talk pt. 2?
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Comment number 10.
At 4th Oct 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:yep, brought it, loved it! It's better than Part 1 if you prefer poppy Robyn instead of more experimental Robyn, which I do.
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Comment number 11.
At 4th Oct 2010, OddOne wrote:Robyn will release a revamped 'Indestructable' for the third single from the 'Body Talk' era.
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Comment number 12.
At 4th Oct 2010, kutox wrote:Both parts are very close in terms of quality - Part 2 is more clubby and dancey, but Part 1 has the better single. I think they are both equally experimental, in their own ways. It's so hard to decide between them, but for me, Part 1 just shades it.
It was inevitable that a new version of Indestructible would be the single from Part 3, after she did the same thing with Hang With Me :) Quite clever the way she's done it
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Comment number 13.
At 6th Oct 2010, kutox wrote:By the way, for those who bought Body Talk Pt. 2 elsewhere, here is the iTunes bonus track from said album:
I didn't love it at first, but after a few plays I was hooked. It's awesome, a great bonus track ;)
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