While the industry’s retreat from the Loudness War is welcome news, spotlighting artists who prioritize dynamic range, Gigi Perez’s ‘Sailor Song’ presents a curious case. Boasting a dynamic range exceeding 12dB, far surpassing many contemporary chart-toppers – consider Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ or The Beatles’ ‘Now And Then,’ none of which even reach 6dB – ‘Sailor Song’ initially impresses on a technical level. However, dynamic range alone cannot compensate for fundamental songwriting weaknesses.
The Loudness Wars inadvertently emphasized the importance of crafting musical energy through means beyond mere volume boosting. Artists had to rely on compelling performances, innovative songwriting, and nuanced arrangements to create impact. Unfortunately, ‘Sailor Song’ stumbles in these crucial areas. It leans on its dynamic range as a crutch, attempting to inject excitement into a production that lacks inherent momentum.
Harmonically, the song stagnates within a repetitive three-chord loop of E-G#m-B throughout its duration. This harmonic stasis offers little in the way of musical progression or interest. Adding to the monotony, the acoustic guitars relentlessly strum a 3/8-3/8-2/8 pattern, creating a rhythmic predictability that is hardly lifted by the featureless synth-bass line and the unremarkable electric guitar solo that enters at 2:26.
These shortcomings might be more easily overlooked if the vocals were captivating. While the initial Bon Iver-esque indie sonic texture of the vocals holds some appeal, its charm quickly fades, revealing deeper issues. The melody is relentlessly repetitive, with both verse halves mirroring each other and choruses hammering out the same four-note melodic shape in every bar. The dense vocal layering, rather than adding depth, actually diminishes the melody’s impact by forcing multiple parts into rhythmic conformity, thus making it sound even more monotonous. Furthermore, it emotionally distances the lead vocal, creating an unnerving detachment from the listener. Even the homophonic parallel-third backing vocals in the second verse feel uninspired and cliché. And the rhyme of “knees” with “begging…please” feels tired and overused.
While ‘Sailor Song’ might grab fleeting attention in a short TikTok clip, it struggles to sustain interest over a full listen. Listeners seeking more than superficial sonic dynamics will likely find themselves wanting more substance from Gigi Perez’s songwriting in this track.
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Published on 13 Dec 2024
