National Boyfriend Day by ARDEN ALEXA is a poppy and fun take on looking at an ex, with a tongue-in-cheek venom that sways between delving into a relationship and reminding the listener not to take life too seriously. The track opens with a crackly guitar sound. It has a light distortion on it. This sonic choice gives the track a sense of nostalgia. It harkens back to the earlier days of the relationship.
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This sound also allows the melody to become established without overwhelming the listener. The track is immediately bouncy and energetic, hiding subtle tension in the guitar strumming that defines the intro. As the vocals come in, the attention switches to the charismatic delivery. It is smooth and comfortable. While talking about being wronged by a partner, power, and authority is conveyed through her tone. It makes you second guess whether each line is genuine, sarcastic, or a mixture, creating this subtle comedic tension behind every line she delivers.
After ebbing and flowing in energy, with the drum beat coming in and out, the track flourishes into a bolder, more modern sound with pulsating synths and a shiny timbre. They come in alongside the guitar and provide an entirely different take on the sonic tapestry that the song had established. While the guitar feels gritty and nostalgic, the synths feel modern, energetic, and confident. The evolution of this sound shows the two sides of ALEXA’s theme on this track. The original sound on the guitar represents the candid honesty of a traditional song about lost love. Whereas, the synths reject that sad story, redefining the relationship in a modern and acerbically funny context.
Overall, the fresh take on relationships explored on National Boyfriend Day stood out thematically and sonically. I am impressed with its mix of timbres and complex emotive tone.
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