Don't Wanna Touch The Sky

When you first hear Jamie T's songs, you just feel good. At first sight they're the most full of joy songs you've heard in your life. Let's dance, baby, let's forget about all of our problems. But you can't dance forever; and, at a certain moment, you just sit down and listen. And then it comes. Straight in your face. Jamie T's songs are not about happiness. With some kind of a cruel sense of humour, he just hits you in the most sensitive spots you have. And the music continues to sound joyful, but now you know.

I must admit it happened to me too, at the first listening. I'd say it was one of the strangest musical experiences I had. And all of this helped me when I was about to listen Jamie's new song, Chaka Demus, from his forthcoming album Kings and Queens.

If you’re not aware about what hides in Jamie's mind, you might think "Oh wow, look how nice, and happy, and full of colour, and full of life this track is!" Of course, you’d be wrong. It's true; the instrumental seems to be made especially for a song called "Life is so easy, everything it will be so good, in Lord we trust". There's a very energetic drum line, with some energetic guitar riffs to back it up. Count in the backing vocals... and the world is a happy place to live in.

And then the lyrics come, as a punch in your stomach, as a cold shower, as a bitter pill. There's nothing about dreams or hopes there, there's no will to change anything, as things never change, or maybe they do, but for the worse. You just have to pretend you don't feel anything, you don't mind anything and you're okay with everything. And smile. "Who made the suns turn to stormy weather?" is the main question of the song, the question that never gets an answer. Why should it get one? It's useless. It doesn't matter. Just keep your voice casual, a little childish, like nothing happened, like nothing happens, and tell your story like you don't care.

If you like this kind of contrast between lyrics and instrumental, you should listen to this song. If you're a fan of British alternative scene, you should listen to this song... No, in fact, you should just listen to this song. And dance, and pretend you forgot about all of your problems.

*photo courtesy of Jamie T's official site