Passion Pit - 'Little Secrets'
Every year I feel myself maturing musically. This doesn't mean I get any better at singing, or dancing, or indeed being able to play any musical instrument whatsoever (apart from the ). It just means I start to understand what I think is important to appreciate and value from the music I buy... basically what trend I'm going to follow like a chart sheep.
It's usually when people start asking what CDs* I want for Christmas, I start to plan out what musical journey I'll take that year. For me, 2009 was the year of R'n'D music (R'n'B/dance), which didn't work out to be that good a trend to follow, or possibly a trend at all. But I'm more confident 2010 will be different. This can't go wrong. 2010 is definitely going to be the year of HappyMusic© and Passion Pit are going to be one of the groups leading the way.
(. The next NASA theme tune?.)
(Now before we go any further, let's make it clear that Mika is not included in my HappyMusic© category. Just because he jumps around topless blurting words out like "golden" and "fluffy", doesn't make his music HappyMusic©. Although it might make it SillyMusic© .**)
My quota for HappyMusic© must contain the following: Uplifting hooks, a danceable beat, epic choruses, slightly irreverent lyrics, and more often than not, a string orchestra or a children's choir. Passion Pit deliver on all fronts.
From the get-go, 'Little Secrets' delivers its chirpy electro-synth backing, typical of the Pit's style, before the contagious high-pitched melody kicks in leading to an epic feel-good chorus. And just when the song couldn't make you any happier, they bring in a children's choir to bump it up. Oh the joy! It really does take you "higher and higher and higher, higher and higher and higher."
So, you'd think this would get a quick and easy 5 stars, but HappyMusic© does have to sacrifice something quite important for its cheerfulness: it's almost impossible to perform live. Passion Pit may sell a lot of albums, but I can't see them selling out tours. Also, I know I said HappyMusic© should have slightly irreverent lyrics, but 'he tried to squeeze the lemon juice to rain' takes it a step too far.
Even with these slight faults, I'm backing HappyMusic© for the trend of 2010, let's just hope it picks up quicker than R'n'D. It probably will.
Download: Out now
CD Released: Out now
Â鶹Éç Music page
*That's right kids, I still buy CDs. How uncool.
** Note from Fraser: GRANT said this, not ME, GRANT.
(Grant Black)
Comment number 1.
At 17th Dec 2009, harrythedog10 wrote:Hey! I buy CDs all the time* because they're the best way to listen to music, apart from seeing music live obviously.
Anyway I love this song it's catchy, fun and still contains substance, definately one of my songs of the year as I've been playing it on repeat all through the summer.
*I'm not saying I'm cool I'm sure many would disagree.
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Comment number 2.
At 18th Dec 2009, spirit wrote:Great little song , and I loved their earlier single " The Reeling " with a passion .
Seeing them live in such an intimate venue as The Cooler in Bristol and having a long chat with Michael afterwards was one of my fave 2009 moments . ( There have been many ! )
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Comment number 3.
At 18th Dec 2009, spirit wrote:TRIVIA CORNER :
Passion Pit are named after the area in drive-in cinemas , where couples go to make out....
It's minus 3 outside , so if it's all the same to you ,instead of us going out tonight to a drive-in cinema, I would like to stay in reading Joe McEldererry's autobiography , whilst listening to Rage Against the Machine , with a nice cup of hot chocolate.
Nice !
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Comment number 4.
At 21st Dec 2009, thranjax wrote:any marshmallows in that hot chocolate?
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Comment number 5.
At 21st Dec 2009, spirit wrote:Oh yes !
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Comment number 6.
At 26th Apr 2010, LlamasInBananas wrote:um actually little secrets has a not so... HAPPY meaning. its all about heroin. and the line: 'he tried to squeeze the lemon juice to rain' is actually about when some people do heroin, they use lemon juice to get the solids out, and thats what hes talking about doing. the cheery 'higher and higher' is about him getting high on drugs. :)
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