It Took Seconds

Three minutes and thirty-eight seconds: Since I’m getting some new followers (hi! and thanks!) I thought I’d mention a couple of things. The idea of the blog is hopefully pretty obvious! But what’s not so obvious is that a) I’m not selecting the “best” songs at each length - that would barely be possible! I’m picking ones I want you to hear or want to write about or just feel like picking. And b) I’m trying to pick only one song per artist, though at some point I might break this rule.

Meanwhile here’s Marit Larsen. During the high tide of teenpop criticism “Don’t Save Me” felt like one of the songs all participants - and quite a few neutrals - could celebrate. It’s still fantastic, so confident in its use of “Dancing Queen” style piano, so well put together, and best of all it feels alive, a song about a real situation which doesn’t just reach for rote emotions and reactions to deal with it. The “thanks but no thanks” feel - on the edge of a break-up, sympathetic but bubbling with barely suppressed excitement over letting a bad thing go - isn’t much explored in pop but it’s heartfelt and rings giddily true.

What would your 3’38” track be?