What’s up everyone!?! Hope your week was enjoyable and productive. If not, don’t fret. Here at Philip’s Music Corner, I list the five artists you need to listen to. Among this week’s releases, definitely go check out the new collaboration between 4x Grammy-nominated artist, Charlie Puth and singer-songwriter blackbear, the latest teaser song from The Killers’ upcoming sixth album, a rocking new song from the guys of Daughtry, an emotional and feel-good single from alternative band, LANY & a new original song from the very popular a capella group, Pentatonix! All that and more in this week’s edition of New Music Friday for August 14, 2020!!
“Hard On Yourself” by Charlie Puth & blackbear
Coming off the release of “Girlfriend” back in June, is this new single called “Hard On Yourself” from Grammy-nominated artist, Charlie Puth. This is the first time he collaborated with singer-songwriter, blackbear (real name: Matthew Tyler Musto).
Both of them are sharing their helpful advice with their listeners in this song. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself when it comes to dating. You don’t have to act fake in a relationship in order to please your significant other. You don’t have to attend parties you don’t want to, just to impress that someone. You need to relax and accept your own beauty. There will only be one version of yourself, so don’t sell yourself short.
I thought this was a well produced song from the two of them. I thought the message in the lyrics was well executed. This has the potential to be another radio hit for sure and perhaps some Grammy consideration next year. Puth is really proving his mastery of songwriting during this pandemic.
I’m definitely looking forward to hearing more songs from him later this year as we get closer to a third album release. What about you? Thoughts on this new song? Use the comment box down below to voice your opinion(s).
“Dying Breed” by The Killers
The Killers are back with another new song release from their upcoming sixth studio album, Imploding The Mirage which drops next week, August 21st.
“Dying Breed” follow the previously released songs “Caution,” “Fire In Bone” & “My Soul’s Own Warning.” Click the video above to watch the visualizer for the new track.
This song, like all of their previous songs in their discography, has that “magic touch” to it. It has that classic The Killers vibe to it. A solid, catchy song that has a soaring chorus that will sound brilliant in an arena concert when they resume their touring in a post-pandemic world.
Front man Brandon Flowers crafted a lovely track overall, as the lyrics are dedicated to his wife Tana as revealed in the band’s interview with NME. I thought the second verse was sweet when he belts out, “When everyone’s compromising/ I’ll be your die-hard/ I’ll be there when water’s rising/ I’ll be your lifeguard/ We’re cut from a stained glass mountain/ Baby, we’re a dying breed.”
I’m stoked to hear the remaining songs off the new album next Friday! It’s going to be a treat!
“World On Fire” by Daughtry
Grammy-nominated rock band, Daughtry is back with a brand new song which pretty much sums up the craziness that is 2020 so far. This is a solid rock song in my opinion. The chorus is intense with the lyrics, “Can you hear the crowd like a thousand sirens?/ In the night like thunder striking/ The sickness is rising/ The angels are crying/ That’s the sound of a world on fire.” Then in the second verse, when Chris Daughtry shouts out and sings, “Stressed out, head trauma, took a beating/ Takes more than a pill to numb the feeling/ Bang, bang, no mercy for the healing/ Oh, 20 dead without a fight, without a reason/ 20 more in a cop car, bleeding/ All tryna win a war without a meaning,” wow, I really felt that.
Everything from the growing pandemic death toll, to the management (or mismanagement if you will) of the pandemic all around the world, to the Black Lives Matter marches/protests and the unjust police violence over the past six months, you can’t help but think this song as a whole encapsulated those themes/ current events perfectly.
So far this year, the band has halted their upcoming album release and touring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they’ve announced a virtual tour this summer in partnership with concert venues all across America with proceeds going to said venues. So if you want to buy a ticket to one of their upcoming events, check that out here. It will include VIP packages too.
“you!” by LANY
Alternative band, LANY dropped the leading track, “you!” off their upcoming third studio album, Mama’s Boy which releases later this fall on October 2nd. This song will really hit you in the feels. It’s a touching song about having someone new entering your life when times are dark. You have this special person to guide you through these tough moments in life. You then appreciate them for all their worth because they have saved you from going the wrong direction.
The music video for the song features the band performing in a deserted landscape (it matches the lyrics in the first verse by the way). Whenever they get to perform this song on tour after this pandemic is over, I predict the fans will be swaying their arms to this song. It would make a great ending for their concert set list.
Also, the addition of a children’s choir in the latter part of the song made for a “cherry on the sundae” moment in my opinion. I don’t know about you, but I got goosebumps from listening to this song. It’s soooo good!
Fun Fact: Singer-songwriter Sasha Sloan co-wrote the song for the band. She’s best known for writing for other artists too, including Charli XCX and Camila Cabello.
Overall, LANY has made another amazing song from start to finish. Looking forward to what the band has in store for their new album later this fall.
“Happy Now” by Pentatonix
It’s a breath of fresh air when we get a new single from chart-topping a cappella group Pentatonix. Following the recent release of their At Home EP, which featured cover songs like “when the party’s over” from Billie Eilish and “Break My Heart” by Dua Lipa, is this new original song titled “Happy Now.” It will be a part of a new body of work slated to be released later this year filled with even more originals.
“Happy Now” is a track for listeners who want to move on from a previous relationship. You want to close the previous chapter in your life and be happy once again but there’s still some slight hesitation. You start questioning whether or not it’s legal to be happy, whether it’s okay to have a good laugh again, or to go on a new adventure with or without someone else new. Of course, you can also interpret it from a different angle, for example, as someone who just wants to embrace single life again, post-breakup. No shame in that too!
Most humans will have that conflicted feeling when it comes to dating someone new so it’s okay to feel that way. Hopefully with this song from the quintet, you can overcome that hurdle and enter a new era of happiness.
Check out their 2021 tour dates, right here.
That wraps up another exciting edition of New Music Friday here at Philip’s Music Corner. As always, please stay safe and happy listening! Let me know in the comments below, which song from this week’s list is your favorite and why.
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