Pixie Lott – ‘Broken Arrow’
There is no reason why you should be, because the run-up to the release of this song as a proper single has been lengthy to say the least, but IF you are coming at this for the first time, can I make one small recommendation which will hugely improve your experience?
Ignore the vocal trickery: all the rasp and “aaaowww” and hiccuping. Just let it wash over you. If you find yourself clearing your throat while listening, or wondering if you should cottonbud your ears out, it’s probably just Pixie trying to emote the lyrics a bit too hard, and that can be distracting. So just try and concentrate on the lyrics for a bit.
It’s not too hard to do, there’s a nice backwash of clockwork piano and whooshy noises at the beginning, and when the fuzz bass and choir kick in, she’s pretty much singing normally again.
Also, once you’ve let those hoots and squeaks slip by, they’re basically gone forever. Second listen, third listen, you won’t even notice any more.
(Here’s the video. Which contains some SHOCKING product placement.)
And they’re not bad lyrics. It’s a fresh twist, sadly telling someone that you’d love to love them, but you’re a bit damaged by your last relationship and if the truth is to be told, you’re a smidge maudlin about how that all ended up. Oh sure, your new beau may just be the person who can make everything alright, but you’re really not sure about it. Actually, you’d rather snuggle down with some sad music and stick your face into a pint of ice-cream.
I guess there’s something a little, what, Scripty about that chorus, though. Pixie might be singing about “sitting in the front row”, but I’m hearing stuff about a cheap bottle of wine and sitting up talking all night. It’s most confusing, especially as Pixie has a low voice for a girl and Danny Script has a high voice for a boy, and they’ve both got a bit of a rasp thing going on.
Maybe they should do a duet? One where Danny tries to convince Pixie that they should get together, for the first time, and she tells him sadly that she can’t, because of a wound she sustained at the battle of Hastings.
Which would be both creative AND efficient AND educational. A win-win-win.
Download: Out now
www.pixielott.com
BBC Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
Music Reviews 10 says: “It’s definitely not as good as her third single Cry Me Out but it’s not too bad.”
Unreality Shout says: “This would sit well on the type of American TV show that employs pop ballads to supplement emotional scenes between characters. You know, the Grey’s Anatomy syndrome.”
View full post on BBC – Chart blog
