Marina & the Diamonds - 'I Am Not A Robot'
Life sometimes has a way of telling you things you didn't know you needed to know. More often than not, the lessons are not good ones. They're usually things like "make sure you leave earlier next time" as you wait forlornly at the bus stop, or "don't ever say 'I thought we were ALL going to make an effort'", when you arrive at a swanky party and see all of your best friends dressed in what they believe are their finest clothes." The lessons arrive too late to be of any damn use.
However, a strange thing happened this morning while I was playing this. It's an ode to the frailty of human emotions; a song declaring that hiding behind a machine-like dispassionate front is not a very healthy thing to do. It basically implies that we're sometimes a bit too reliant on modern technology as a shield to hide our finer feelings behind, in case we get hurt.
And this morning, while Marina was singing her heart out, there was a power cut.
(. Sponsored by Dulux*)
This effectively proved her point and set off tiny paranoia klaxons at one and the same time. Is there an electronic intelligence somewhere, attempting to suppress Marina's throaty warbles to try and stop her from spreading this message of ultimate humanity? In an age where entire human relationships can be conducted via the medium of keypad and monitor - without eyes ever meeting across a steaming cuppa, or hugs exchanged - is the idea that we all try to remember we're just jellificated dollops of love and fear and pleasure and pain so subversive that The Machines would seek to suppress it?
Well, no, clearly not. But it's still a lesson worth remembering. And so I have two proposals to make, one easy, the other requiring a little bit of courage and some actual physical action.
PROPOSAL ONE: Let yourself hum the refrain to this lovely song as you go about your business. On the train, in a queue, milling about town on your own...if you're muttering "guess what, I'm not a robot", you're striking a blow for people power.
PROPOSAL TWO: Find someone in your life that you would like to give a hug, and give 'em a hug. Not a sexy hug, or a creepy hug, or a handsy hug, and definitely NOT an emoticon hug, just a hug. Then go and get that cuppa.
Just don't be surprised if the kettle refuses to boil.
Download: Out now
CD Released: April 26th
´óÏó´«Ã½ Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
* No it wasn't. Other paint manufacturers are available.
Comment number 1.
At 19th Apr 2010, U14429597 wrote:I've been reading Fraser's reviews for about 6 months now and have finally decided to make an account! So hi :)
Love this song, especially the high-pitch line at the beginning of the song -'your just a little BABY!' but I think the chorus is a bit too repetitive so 4* for me!
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Comment number 2.
At 19th Apr 2010, spirit wrote:Hi Adam , so lovely of you to join us .
Do share , what was the exact moment and reason , that you thought :
"Right , I've been reading these blinking reviews for 6 months now , without saying a word , NOW is my moment ! "
Was it Marina's beauty , the intelligence and majestyof the song , or something completely different ?
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Comment number 3.
At 19th Apr 2010, flatknees wrote:this is only just coming out as a single?! been around a long time... gonna go with 'are you satisfied?' as the next single..
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Comment number 4.
At 19th Apr 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:Flatknees, Shampain will be the next single from Marina's debut album The Family Jewels and it will be released in July. I think Are You Satisfied? would be a great single though and hopes she releases.
I don't get the critic and fan hype surrounding this song though. I mean its not awful, it has a nice message but I think there are much better songs on the album. I'll discuss this in further detail when I review it next week.
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Comment number 5.
At 19th Apr 2010, U14429597 wrote:@2
hahaha thank you for the lovely greeting! Well, I was thinking at the beginning of this review 'Hmm, I do like this song, but I think it won't get a good review *sadface*.' But i was wrong, so I decided 'This was a surprise, I MUST air my opinion!'. I agree with you on her Beauty, Marina is (she really is!) beautiful if not rather insane! My kind of girl...
But this chrous is A BIT repetitive to be honest.
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Comment number 6.
At 19th Apr 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:I have been hailing this as amazing for a while now. Absolutely love it! Her album is a real triumph too.
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Comment number 7.
At 19th Apr 2010, spirit wrote:It's true , he really has !
And he is right .
Again !
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Comment number 8.
At 19th Apr 2010, OddOne wrote:I do apologise for not being active for many days now because my computer is currently VERY virus-y and it will probably be a few weeks before I can properly comment again; I'll be nicking computer time from my sister occasionally though, so none of your world's will come to an end just yet.
Smiles all round please... :L
Anyways, I never really agreed with Marina's re-release choice, I would've much preferred 'Mowgli's Road' to get a re-release, but that was two weeks ago, now I completely agree with her choice of re-releasing this single.
Liam really deserves credit for noting this as a hit months in advance, I can see it making Top 20, (despite my wanting it to make Top 10) because it's very much an acquired taste but that big old chorus really sets the song off.
5 stars from moi.
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Comment number 9.
At 19th Apr 2010, bnew12 wrote:I like this one even more than Hollywood, and I thought that was really good. I think this might be her first top ten, but I'm not to hopeful. It's more likely to chart the same as Hollywood. (By the way, I actually got this on the American iTunes Store, so maybe they will promote it their.)
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Comment number 10.
At 19th Apr 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:Hopefully, I'd love to see Marina make it in the States. Florence seems to be doing her thing over there, I heard Kiss With A Fist on that new Courtney Cox show Cougar Town as well as in a trailer for all the new shows (True Blood Season 3 WOOO!) coming to HBO this Summer.
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Comment number 11.
At 19th Apr 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:'Cosmic love' also made an absolutely EPIC appearance in Greys Anatomy.. seriously it was just amazing. It is pretty much my fav TV show, so when Florence kicked in I think my brain nearly exploded.
Ok now I look like a massive Grey's fan boi. I am.
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Comment number 12.
At 19th Apr 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:I would say this song is better than 'Hollywood', but maybe not as good as the brilliant 'Mowgli's Road'. Oh who knows, all 5 star songs, as well as some others from the album.
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Comment number 13.
At 19th Apr 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Also 'Obsessions' would be an amazing single. The album's just jam packed with gems.
I thought on listening to 'Hollywood' .. "surely not another talented British solo female artist.. I bet the album doesn't live up to this". It did. Wow.
Also. Ellie Goulding. Although I wasn't gripped at first, I was completely wrong. She is also brilliant. 'Guns and horses' is an absolute corker of a track, possibly my fav off the album. Other people mentioned this months ago but I must admit that when it comes to Ellie, I was slow.
Move over and stay over Pixie Lott.
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Comment number 14.
At 20th Apr 2010, spirit wrote:Glad , a lot of you , like myself , really rate the Marina album .
It's a jewel ain't it ?
Totally agree with Liam that :
Hollywood
I Am Not A Robot
Mowgli's Road
3 , five star singles in a row !
Marina is a stunning and beautiful woman , very charming company , with a kooky , entrancing , insight and intelligence , that really flows into the character of her songs .
Her voice , live , also , has such power to charm .
Fantastic .
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Comment number 15.
At 20th Apr 2010, djcalzar wrote:I have to admit I love this song and agree we whave some stunning British female talent out at the moment. Can I add another to the OMG my brain has exploded category? Polly Scattergood's Version of New York New York is truly EPIC and sends shivers right up my spine. Search Crysis 2 as it's not available as a single and is currently being used on the trailer for the upcoming Crysis game. She's currently in talks with here record company to see if it could be released as a single.
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Comment number 16.
At 20th Apr 2010, djcalzar wrote:What happened!!!!! I think my last post went wrong anyway just in case here goes again.
Love this song and agree we have some amazing British Female singers out there. Can I add another to the OMG My Brain Exploded category? Polly Scattergoods version of New York New York is just Epic and sends shivers right up my spine. It's currently only available to listen to on the Crysis 2 trailer. She's currently in talks with her record company to see if they can get it released as a single. I have to say love the new single Please Don't Touch which is out soon but would love a copy of the New York track.
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Comment number 17.
At 21st Apr 2010, flatknees wrote:shampain is the next single?? don't really rate that track at all, shame..
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Comment number 18.
At 21st Apr 2010, MrazAttack10 wrote:You're all gonna hate me but i really don't see how this song is five stars. I cant understand what Marina is saying at times and her voice gets on my nerves. Hollywood was good but this isn't as good, 3 Stars
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Comment number 19.
At 21st Apr 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:@ MrazAttack10,
I agree completely. The song has some good bits but in my opinion nothing compared to Hollywood.
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Comment number 20.
At 23rd Apr 2010, kookie25 wrote:hmmmmm. i am constantly confused about the great reviews about this artist.
I saw Marina etc support Paolo at an itunes gig and i thought it was absolutely terrible!! I think her voice is not great (not to my taste obviously). I spent most of the gig kind of looking on in terror.
each to their own i guess!
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Comment number 21.
At 12th Jan 2011, U14750494 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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