The Forteloud Family's
Songs of 2016
Jamie // Agnes by Glass Animals
Agnes is the final song of Glass
Animal's newest album 'How to Be a Human Being'. Ever since its release I have
lived, breathed, and embraced every aspect of this album. The upbeat riffs and
playful tempo from the majority of the tracks make this album an absolute
party; Youth, Pork Soda and Life Itself demonstrate this perfectly. We even get
a computer game inspired jam in the form of Season 2, Episode 3! But it isn't until Agnes that we are hit with Glass Animal's secret soft side. The album's party vibe completely slows down here; almost like a final shallow breath
seeing us to the end of an almighty feat.
The song starts with a slower, calmer
tempo from the get go. Subtle synths take us to a very simplistic piano pattern
which is repeated throughout. We're introduced straight away to our newest and final persona.
'Agnes just stop and think a minute'
Calling the character (and song) Agnes (meaning
'holy' or 'pure' in Greek) shows intense irony as the song is actually written purely
about addiction and its negative implications. Dave Bayley = A lyrical genius.
I think the entire theme of losing someone you love to drugs is just so intense. We rarely see the addiction from the outside, someone looking in and describing with a clear head exactly how the person is harming their health. Many artists these days take these said recreational drugs to get the creativity needed to write the songs in the first place, but instead Dave's view of the slow progression into addiction is in my opinion a much needed thought provoker in a famously stoner industry.
From a recent interview Dave says himself: 'This is my favourite song on the record, and the saddest song I will ever write'... As soon as I hear the first chorus myself (even now for the hundredth time) I get a swell of emotion. It's power from every lyric just makes it utterly glorious. If you haven't heard Agnes yet, be sure you grab some much needed Kleenex beforehand!
So with all the above said there is no surprises in me naming Agnes my favourite song of 2016.
Hands down. Hat taken off. Glass Animals take the gold.
I think the entire theme of losing someone you love to drugs is just so intense. We rarely see the addiction from the outside, someone looking in and describing with a clear head exactly how the person is harming their health. Many artists these days take these said recreational drugs to get the creativity needed to write the songs in the first place, but instead Dave's view of the slow progression into addiction is in my opinion a much needed thought provoker in a famously stoner industry.
From a recent interview Dave says himself: 'This is my favourite song on the record, and the saddest song I will ever write'... As soon as I hear the first chorus myself (even now for the hundredth time) I get a swell of emotion. It's power from every lyric just makes it utterly glorious. If you haven't heard Agnes yet, be sure you grab some much needed Kleenex beforehand!
So with all the above said there is no surprises in me naming Agnes my favourite song of 2016.
Hands down. Hat taken off. Glass Animals take the gold.
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Charlotte // Ultralight Beam by Kayne West
From the moment I heard this song I loved
it and since then I’ve been listening to it non-stop when I’m walking to and
from different places in my daily life. I highly recommend this song from Kanye West’s new album The Life of Pablo, and highly recommend
listening to the album itself as well.
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Daisy // Kids by One Republic & Live by Billie Marten
I really could not decide between two songs
for 2016. So I’m going to have to be really cheeky and put two down! Both songs
talk of dreaming of being something more than they are right now. Ironically
one describes the frustrations of how being young can limit the places you want
to go to and the things you want to try. The other describes the desire to be
young once again to have the feeling of being completely free and fearless in
everything you do. This is where I am in life right now. Not a teenager anymore
but still not quite feeling like an adult. Perhaps it is no wonder why these
songs would appeal to me right now! Both songs are fantastic examples of their
genres. ‘Kids’ by One Republic is a textbook example of a pop song written to
perfection with an infectious chorus, punching verses and melodies that match
the lyrics you are singing. ‘Live’ by Billie Marten is a gentle mix of folky
guitar riffs and sweetly-mellow vocals that would melt butter. The lyrics,
again, float gently along with Marten’s beautiful vocals and make me feel at
ease with every listen. Both songs, to me, are reminders to take life with your
glass half full, remembering that if you aren’t happy where you are now, there
is always the hope for something more and something better.
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Ellie // Why So Lonely by Wonder Girls
Why So Lonely was my most played song in 2016, and I don’t
find that surprising at all! I literally replayed this song for a solid two
weeks. I was so excited for Wonder Girls to release a new track, as they’re
one of my favourite K-Pop groups, and their last few previous releases were
just amazing. They kept with their theme of being inspired by previous decades,
and this release was inspired by the 70’s. It has such a smooth, chill sound
with an infectious melody, and it’s a song I feel like I will never be able to
skip past on shuffle. Bring on the Wonder Girls 2017!
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