There are two things which are always adorable and those things are Will Young and puppies. So it makes complete sense that someone somewhere had the brilliant idea of combining the two into one music video, to be released at a dark time in human history in order to rescue mankind from its sadness. Kind of our failsafe plan, if you will.
And so the other day, in the midst of economic strife, political uprisings and the wrong person winning Project Runway (we assume - we haven't seen it, but it's a safe bet), Will Young's 'Come On' video was released from its protective casing and projected around the interwebs for all to see.
And what has happened since then?
Yesterday the European debt crisis was largely resolved, the U.S. stock market closed about 12,000 for the first time in ages, a boy was rescued from the rubble of the Turkey earthquake 5 days after becoming trapped, and a bunch of gay soldiers sued the ass off the U.S. government for denying them equal rights.
They always say "it's what happens beneath the surface" that matters...
A couple weeks ago we told you all about how Will Young got amazing again and is ACTUALLY BACK THIS TIME. Well all that is still true but the whole thing is in fact a bit better than we originally stated because not only is Will Young amazing again and ACTUALLY BACK, but he is back with a dancy (read: amazing) song that has been REMIXED IN SPECTACULAR FASHION.
'Jealousy' was already certified pop genius, but with a bass-bump and a donk on it, it becomes something WHOLLY TRANSCENDENT.
Some highlights:
1. The beginning
2. The thing that happens between 1:28 and 1:30
3. The NEARLY FULL MINUTE of buildup that starts quietly at 2:40 and ends, shirt off and arms up, in a giant bomb of molten discoglitter at 3:30
4. EVERYTHING ELSE
This, ladies and gentlemen, is what a very good song sounds like when it buys a fancy outfit, straps on some f*ck-me heels, drops a double-stacked ecstacy and GOES TO TOWN.
Will Young has seen the music industry from just about every angle in his ten years on the scene. He won the first Pop Idol over in the UK, long before American Idol even existed, and arguably was the first poster child of the reality-show driven music world we currently live in. That fact makes him either a villain or a hero, or an unsuspecting pawn in a game no one could have expected to go on so long, but really that's neither here nor there because IT HAS HAPPENED and we just have to deal with the fact that millions of people tried to make Ruben Studdard a star.
Anyhoodle, Will was instantly huge, only to be famously overshadowed by the runner up of the show, Gareth Gates, after a few months. But while taking a back seat to Mr. Gates and his ridiculous dimples for a couple singles, William was busy penning what would go on to be one of the defining British albums of the noughties. He cranked out singles like 'Leave Right Now' and 'Your Game,' winning accolades and - surprisingly - artistic credibility along the way. Suddenly WiYo was back on top and a bona fide superstar.
Over the next few years Will came out as a gay man (to the shock of everyone no one), and chucked out some of the finest tunes to have graced the radio waves. Then all of a sudden he wasn't really popular anymore because his songs weren't that catchy, and then he did a video about getting pregnant and everything got kind of awkward. Which is where we are now.
Suffice it to say, Will's been up and down and has SEEN SOME THINGS in his time in "the business," but all that experience looks to have paid off as he gears up for his big, spectacular comeback.
It kicks off with brand new single 'Jealousy,' which at first listen is a huge departure from Young's earlier adult contemporary-ish output, but is actually just an electro'd up version of the melodic pop he's always done. It's simple yet perfectly executed, understated yet moving, and most importantly, is VERY VERY GOOD.
The single got its first play on Monday and is already being hailed by "the blogs" and also people who read "the blogs" so you know it's the real deal. But if you have any doubt, why don't you all just take a listen for yourself:
Ever wanted to watch Will Young get knocked up? Well here's your chance. And you can hear a very very good song at the same time. After his artistically triumphant and commercially abysmal last album, 'Hopes and Fears' is a return to form for Young.
Out Nov 9, with a greatest hits collection on the 16th
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