I’ll be honest, I’m one of the latecomers when it comes to Belle and Sebastian. I should also confess that I discovered this song through a reference in 500 Days of Summer. Even though these facts define me as a number of different clichés, I can’t help but think that there’s someone, somewhere who will be interested in reading my thoughts. There’s something about this song that just feels so good to listen to, which I suppose, is why it has surpassed the ordinary lifespan of a 90’s indie hit. Along with Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sky, the song is a specific kind of melancholy that marries a grungy vocal that veers towards monotone with simple lyricism and folksy instrumentation. I listen and I’m nostalgic for a time period where I hadn’t even hit the double digits necessary to appreciate indie rock. What is it that makes the music so timeless? It is emotive and relevant in 2017, perhaps even more so than when it was first released. A number of complex instruments create a rich sound. Piano, bass and acoustic guitars are supported by steady percussion and coloured with wind instruments creating moments of details. The song has a beautiful shape to it, beginning with a strong baseline which quickly develops into an easy going musical atmosphere, driven by what sounds like live claps in combination with a full drum kit. The piano adds a cross-genre feel to the song, separating it from grunge and placing it somewhere in the realm of melodic alternative rock. It continues to rise, with the famous line “colour my life with the chaos of trouble” acting as a kind of high point. The song reaches a beautiful denouement, with barely there instrumentation and a gentle vocal, keeping its momentum, but changing its tone as it draws to a close. It’s interesting to consider which songs survive the ages, and which are forgotten. Perhaps it is a kind of universal emotion that is communicated that creates this kind of longevity. Something that speaks to an experience that is common to all human, or something that makes you feel a timeless emotion. Whatever it is, I’m grateful for these songs and the way in which they make me feel connected to humans that felt the same way as I do today, in years past.
