The
lead single from Patrick Wolf’s latest album Lupercalia is an
interesting case in a musician’s power to involve the listener. For me, and for
people I know that’ve heard the song, it’s impossible to listen for more than a
moment without joining in. I’m certain that, once Patrick begins touring, this
is the song that’ll have people up and dancing. So how come the song has this
power? How come I listen to this song and want to bounce around the room, but
don’t when I listen to, for example, Kate Bush’s Deeper Understanding?
The difference between the two songs is obvious - one has that Join In! feel
and the other doesn’t - but getting behind The City and explaining
it is the interesting thing. So let’s take a look.
First up, Patrick
sticks close to major chords. This is a surefire means to bring an optimistic
mood to a song. Second, there’s lots of people snapping their fingers and then
clapping. This is quite clever because, to a casual listener, the handclaps do
nothing more than establish the song’s rhythm. In fact though, the presence of
lots of people clapping brings a communal emotional charge to the song, making
it feel like a group event. Third, and perhaps most important, there’s
Patrick's repeated line: won’t let this city destroy our love. This is
directed at Patrick lover in terms of the song’s plot but, of course, it’s
an invitation to the listener too, both in the collaboration implicit in the
plural pronoun, and Patricks’s tone. He’s inviting the listener to
reassert themselves in the face of whatever’s getting them down and, in
consequence, it’s almost impossible to not feel uplifted.
To be honest, 12
months ago I’d have heard The City and figured out what
Patrick was doing inside about a second, and thought, oh brother.
Today though, I’m glad that he’s putting out stuff like this because, though
it’s clichéd, I reckon it’s good to have someone reminding us to feel good in
spite of the bad in our lives.
