Empire Of The Sun - 'We Are The People'
Everyone knows the difference between a four star and a five star song. Five star songs are songs you're so excited about that you cannot wait to hear it again, even while you are still listening to it. Five star songs are songs you wish you could give six stars to. Or nine. Or twenty. It doesn't matter if you're just caught up in an exciteable moment or you're genuinely hearing something which will take an active role in your life for the rest of your days, so long as you keep adding those imaginary stars, it's worth the full five.
This, for all that it has a lot to recommend it, is not quite a five star song.
(. Well no wonder you're hot, in those gloves.)
I so wanted to love this, y'know. It's imaginative, it has been arranged to sound all widescreen and epic, it's being sung by a man who knows the value of pop stars who dress up, it's got a big chorus, the melody is kind of unresolved, so it lingers in the imagination after the music has faded away...
...and yet...
It's partly that Luke Steele shares a certain vocal hiccupery with Luke Pritchard from the Kooks (that's a bad thing, in my book), and partly that the relentless churn of those four chords gets a bit wearing after a while. But mainly that there's a palpable air of "is that it?" when the song fades. I get that it wants to take me somewhere, I get that the place it wants to take me is magical and faraway and there are probably flying horses with hippo faces there, each one leaving a rainbow vapour trail in the heavens like someone had been scribbling with enormous sky crayons, but at no point do my feet leave the ground.
Now, any fairytale reader will tell you that all you ever have to do, if you want to travel to a magical land, is shut your eyes and wish. I am here to tell you that this does not work. Nor does clicking my heels, or saying the name of the band three times into a mirror, or going to my happy place, covered in fairy dust*. I even tried climbing into the mirror, but it turns out the only real difference is everyone's hair is parted on the wrong side and the newspapers are impossible to read, so I came back.
Where's Peter Pan when you need him, eh?
Download: Out now
CD Released: June 1st
´óÏó´«Ã½ Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
"This song starts off slow but the chorus triumphs thanks to Luke Steele's unique voice and gift of melody"
"A laid back summer tune that would provide the perfect soundtrack to a lazy evening sat around a fire, toasting marshmallows."
"Empire of the Sun is an spunky little duo made up of two other Aussie acts I also don't follow closely"
* Don't ask how I got it. Let's just say there was a bell and some tinkering, 'K?
Comment number 1.
At 29th May 2009, -RachelS- wrote:You've actually MET Tinkerbell? Amazing...
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Comment number 2.
At 29th May 2009, thranjax wrote:Well, Spirit really has chosen the wrong couple of days to go away hasn't he? Enter Shikari and now this....
Unlessssss of course Fraser knew he was going away and deliberately reviewed Empire of the Sun then because he's afraid of him. I mean, only four stars! Spirit will go spare, he really will....
I have to admit, I do like MGMT better still...
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Comment number 3.
At 29th May 2009, spirit wrote:Well of course... this is the wonderful thing about music......
One man's four star song is another man's five star song....
We are all individuals with different lives and experiences and thus will not all like the same stuff equally...
To me this song does all the things that would warrant a five star song from Fraser.
Anyway back to this song..... which some will like , some won't....... but here is my personal take......
It speaks to me...
Great song... great video !!
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Comment number 4.
At 29th May 2009, spirit wrote:It's a five star song !!
But then five stars must go to Fraser for...
" Well you would be hot in those gloves ! "
Great stuff !
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Comment number 5.
At 30th May 2009, thranjax wrote:"We are the people who rule the world"
Not in that hat and those gloves, darling.
The desert opening draws attention (for me) to the rhythm and structure of the guitar at the beginning and its similarity to another song - I expect him to start singing about plants and birds and rocks and things.. I hadn't noticed that from just listening to the album.
Briliant song... like fraser says, doesn't quite take off to a five. It's all objective of course.
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Comment number 6.
At 30th May 2009, BloggingLiam wrote:Great review and one I very much agree with. Well done for not mentioning MGMT in the review either, despite the obvious comparisons.
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Comment number 7.
At 30th May 2009, fluffyfinches wrote:Hmmm... not sure about MGMT but this sounds exactly like the Pet Shop Boys. Why can't you come up with something ORIGINAL? There's nothing special about this song.
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Comment number 8.
At 30th May 2009, spirit wrote:Well I love this track , and the videos use of colour , despair , hope with it's Faust elements and it's awe and wonder have always proved a winner for me .
Radio love We are the people , it was Radio 2's most played song last week and on the Radio 1 A list, being played 20 times ... it is currently the eighth most heard song in the U.K at this precise moment in time .
In terms of sales, it is currently at 37 on downloads alone , it will continue to rise and when the c.d is physically released on 1ST June , by the time of the chart on 7th June, (that's eight days away chart police !) I expect it's peak position to be between 16 and 24... and this will give impetus to the album... to continue to rise.
The first four tracks are rather good.
(OK business head away )
For any Empire fans out there ,( is it really just me ? lol ) the plans for the live shows are going well and will prove to be v. entertaining... can't wait !
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Comment number 9.
At 30th May 2009, spirit wrote:If any one wants to hear a dance remix of We are the people, then I heartily recommend the Wa WA remix that you can hear on you tube ,.....
ENJOY !
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Comment number 10.
At 30th May 2009, catman231 wrote:Airtime aside, I really don't think it's that brilliant a song, it never seems to quite get there (wherever there is). Hopefully, future songs will prove more enticing... I remember initially (circa. BotT) not really liking Kings of Leon but after a few listens I became a massive fan, who knows? (Funnily enough I really dislike KoL's newer material so it's funny how stuff goes full circle).
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Comment number 11.
At 30th May 2009, spirit wrote:Aha .. it's that handsome chap who should be revising !
I really take your point, that Empire track for me took loads of listens to really enthrall me.. I did not get it for ages.. .. certain songs and especially albums can take ages to really positively prick your consciousness........
Anyway Mr Radioactive , would love to hear your ten fave Radiohead songs.
(In Rainbows took me a long time to love... but boy ... the wait was worth it >>> )
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Comment number 12.
At 31st May 2009, spirit wrote:Well it would now appear that I am certainly not alone...
To quote Radio 1 D.J Fearne Cotton on tonight's chart show....
" And at 26 , Empire of the Sun with We are the people.........
Is that not the most perfect song ever for the Summer ! "
I was beginning to feel like Will Smith in I am legend !
Not any more... cheers Fearne !
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Comment number 13.
At 4th Jun 2009, bigboxshops wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 14.
At 4th Jun 2009, toadymoady wrote:I'm poisened by the sun, errr... song. gets me completely, haven't listened to anything else this week. i even can hear it when i am not listening to it and it completely relaxes me. would say that's a five star then?
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Comment number 15.
At 7th Jun 2009, thranjax wrote:Having said all this, I have just heard the latest album by Phoenix and have (temporarily) forgotten about EOTS and MGMT. Just listen to Love Like a Sunset or Fences!
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Comment number 16.
At 11th Jun 2009, spirit wrote:Empire of The Sun- We are the People
Now at number 14 !!
On all the radio playlists... single of the week by many , many, reviewers... it lives and breathes as a 5 STAR SONG !
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Comment number 17.
At 11th Jun 2009, thranjax wrote:Spirit, did you not get the memo in 15 above, forget Empire, think Phoenix!
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Comment number 18.
At 11th Jun 2009, spirit wrote:Forget Empire Of The sun ?
Are you jokin ?
Mrs Spirit and me had the album blarin out every day in the car driving around the Costa del Sol...
Never before has an album sounded so fitting and apt in the Spanish sunshine !
We are the People is a bone fide 5 STAR song !
The live shows are around the corner and I want to be involved....
Sorry my good friend they are imprinted on my heart...
P.S can't wait to hear Pheonix ! lol
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Comment number 19.
At 11th Jun 2009, thranjax wrote:you and your spanish sunshine! it doesn't sound so good in the frozen north!
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Comment number 20.
At 21st Jun 2009, spirit wrote:Here's some Empire of the Sun news for any devoted souls out there !
The video for the third single " Standing on the shore , " has been released, and is now available to view on Youtube. ( It's a little bit epic ! )
The track gets it's single release in Australia on Monday , and will be released here in a few months.
Empire of the Sun will play their first live date headlining the Brisbane Festival in September.
U.K and European dates will follow this .
Exciting times ahead !
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Comment number 21.
At 24th Dec 2009, spirit wrote:The next EMPIRE OF THE SUN single to be released in the uk is a re mixed version of WITHOUT YOU , that is out on JANUARY 18th 2010.
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Comment number 22.
At 24th Dec 2009, harrythedog10 wrote:I thought that had already been released seeing as there's been a video for it since september.
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Comment number 23.
At 24th Dec 2009, spirit wrote:Hi Harry . The EMPIRE are now an international chart brand now , so the videos for all four singles are available , they are being released at different times in different countries . HOPE you like the new mix and video ?
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Comment number 24.
At 24th Dec 2009, harrythedog10 wrote:I really like the Without You remix actually it's much better than the original.
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Comment number 25.
At 26th Dec 2009, spirit wrote:Totally agree, the remix takes the song to a different place and time .
Luke reminds me of Bowie in his delivery of the vocal.
Stunning video too .
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Comment number 26.
At 19th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Aha !
When I banged on about Empire of the Sun , almost a year ago , I did receive some doubting comments .
Well like em or not , they have been nominated for 2 BRIT AWARDS !
International breakthrough act , and the one I take most delight in, and almost brings a tear to my eye , and fills my heart with glee, Best International Album for WALKING ON A DREAM .
As a person , and professionally , this album means so much to me , and I feel very proud that it is being recognised by the panel.
Words cannot express...
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Comment number 27.
At 19th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Well words can express !
Comment number 40 on RYBAK !
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Comment number 28.
At 19th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Good to see EotS getting some good press but overal I was disappointed by the nominations.
*rant begin*
Three nominations for JLS? No nomination for Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers in British Single.
And finally the worst of them all Robbie Willaims as an outstanding contribution to music! Seriously! It just follows in the long tradition of terrible winners of the award, The Spice Girls, Oasis, Duran Duran. It ridiculous, surely Damon Albarn deserve the award more than any of them. Who knows next year we could be giving the award to Leona Lewis.
*rant over*
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Comment number 29.
At 20th Mar 2010, spirit wrote:Arguably , my favourite track from Empire's debut album , Half Mast , has had a remix and a new video shot in New York .
The new version is more percussive , and has more of an edge, but the melodic chorus soars , and the song really shines .
Available at You Tube now .
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Comment number 30.
At 20th Mar 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:I love the new version. So good. Empire Of The Sun are so talented and deserve more mainstream success.
You gonna do an album review of Walking On A Dream over on Ryback, Spirit?
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Comment number 31.
At 21st Mar 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:The video reminds of a futuristic version of that scene in Grease when Danny sings 'Sandy', actually the song kind of reminds of it as well. Strange.
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