McFly - 'Do Ya'
Brief clear-up here, before we get onto the actual review:
1. I am not saying the things I am about to say because this is a charity single; there are all kinds of wonderful implications to the fact that this is a charity single, from the worthiness of the cause to the fact that McFly don't *have* to use their huge record-shifting power to do charity work but consistently choose to. Still, our remit here on Chartblog is to review things simply because they chart.
2. Also, with regard to the things I am going to say here, I am not going to say them because the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is dumbing down, because I am not a "proper music fan" or because I do not know who Isis are.
3. Just to quickly get over this: this song is by McFly. If that really screws with your head, though, you could think of them as being called Marty, having beards and substitute the word 'pop' with 'art' whenever you deal with the question of what genre of rock they are.
4. THIS SONG IS AMAZING.
The following are things which make it amazing:
-The fact the first five seconds sound exactly like the start of 'The Beautiful People' by Marilyn Manson, confusing people of about my own age all over the country as they start to say "You know, he was actually still good on this album if you ignore this one and- what the hell is going on?"
-The verses are actually pre-choruses and are sung by Tom in a falsetto so determined that you kind of want to give the guy a medal. It's like he wrote the song, said "oh and hey guys, I thought that bit could be sung really high."
"Yeah, that'll sound brilliant! Hang on, I'll just get Dougie."
(HOURS PASS)
"OH, OK, FINE. I GET IT. I have to write the songs and always do the falsetto."
-It clocks in at under three minutes. How many other songs that clock in at under three minutes have time for bonkers falsetto, retro-style harmonies, bizarro Marilyn Manson referencing, an odd yet not unpleasant resemblance to 'Sit Down' by James (odd not least in its lack of unpleasantness) a ridiculously catchy buffet of choruses for you to find yourself humming at work and the cunning use of castanets? Not that many, I'd imagine.
-The video makes very literally NO SENSE AT ALL. A nice Christmas video you say, Tom? Something to remind people of the spirit of giving, what with it being a charity single and all? Sounds brilliant. Oh, Dougie ordered a set of extras dressed as zombies, so they're all outside. You do know about that, right?
-The glazed look on Harry's face throughout the video also suggests that the other three may have clubbed him at some point during the process in order to convince him to wear that jumper.
-Think about the UK music scene. Can you think of literally any band other than McFly who could or would do this song? No, no you can't. That's why McFly are brilliant. And kind of mad. Which makes them more brilliant.
Download: Out now
CD Released: November 24th
(Hazel Robinson)
PS: they've done a slightly rubbish cover of 'Stay With Me' by The Faces for the B-Side, which is slightly rubbish in the heroic way that's an upstanding pillar of Britishness and would probably start the NME off about how Rod Stewart's always been brilliant if, say, the Kooks did it. Here's them performing it on Children In Need:
Comment number 1.
At 18th Nov 2008, katstevens wrote:I heartily endorse this McFly product and/or service. I think this is their catchiest single since 'Sorry's Not Good Enough'.
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Comment number 2.
At 18th Nov 2008, HG wrote:Did you time this review to coincide with the video? I set the video off playing and begin reading, and get to the part that made me go "Christmas zombies, you say?", and sure enough the doorbell rang.
Also very glad to see the return of the McFly-mobile. ("Time for Heroes" post? They could be the new Scooby Doo gang.)
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Comment number 3.
At 18th Nov 2008, bmf1991 wrote:You say the CD is released on July 21st, surely this is a mistake?!
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Comment number 4.
At 18th Nov 2008, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:It IS a mistake, yes! Good spot!
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Comment number 5.
At 19th Nov 2008, Kim-ley wrote:This is one of my most favorite songs on the album...but their videos are always a little off (in a good way, of course, but still). And jeeze, every good Christmas video need zombies. I don't know why no one else thought of this.
And what is it with them and that van? It looks like the same van from the Lies video. Must be saving money, I guess.
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Comment number 6.
At 20th Nov 2008, LuiiiZa wrote:"... you could think of them as being called Marty, having beards and substitute the word 'pop' with 'art' whenever you deal with the question of what genre of rock they are."
Right, I don't care whether they're called Marty or Bob, whether they have beards or not... I don't care if they have loads of teeny fans that think they are 'hot'... I don't care if they are pop, or rock, or punk/pop... all I care is that I am sure they are really talented and that they surely have a bright future... they are so young and have achieved more than loads of great artists... the future will bring great things for them, they do deserve it.
And this song is one of the greatest songs I've ever heard... once again, well done McFLY!
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Comment number 7.
At 21st Nov 2008, hackerjack wrote:It's like Slade all over again :o)
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