London Grammar perfects atmospheric (and sometimes outright epic) sounds. This remix that I discovered last year turns it into a different direction. I honestly prefer the jilted lover remix over the…oddly-placid-in-the-face-of-infidelity original?
After writing that last sentence I had to listen again and really study the lyrics to try and get a feel for the original.
I never was able to understand that first lyric in the intro. Turns out it’s:
“Imagine if I’d have had a baby”
Which…fuck. Tough, tough, TOUGH, sentence. As I listen to the rest of the song, I feel more and more that it’s about a love triangle. Is the voice we’re hearing the voice of one of the points of that triangle that’s waiting for the other to leave the third? The line in the beginning about “I saw the words she wrote that broke my heart” kind of leads me there.
The more I listen to the original I see that my “oddly placid” judgment was hasty. Our voice is definitely sad and I think questioning their own decision/part in the triangle. It’s almost an existential questioning of self.
Our remix though…
I love how we start out with beautiful strings and shimmering chimes. Things were good then for our voice.
Starting at 1:06, those low synths are menacing. Even though it’s the same lyrics of the song, I think the remix has more venom to it. The voice is angry about their involvement in this triangle. Less questioning existentially and more admonishing existentially. They are cynical and wiser to the game now.
That’s my assessment anyway. Both are beautiful in their own way. Just like all of you.
It’s been a while since I’ve told you, but, love ‘ya.
BGDG.
everything, etc. 