The talented artist Bird, aka Janie Price, on her new single The Tides, weaves a tapestry of emotions, stories, and melodies that invite listeners into a world where vulnerability and strength coalesce into something hauntingly beautiful.
A diverse range of instrumental accompaniments creates the perfect backdrop for the track to unfold. The seemingly simple yet enchantingly complex chorus of “La la la la la la la la la la la la la,” takes us on a journey that is both a melancholic descent and a soothing sail across an emotional sea. The repetitive, lulling melody of “La la la’s” acts as a gentle wave, carrying listeners delicately across the undercurrents of deeper, darker emotions explored in the verses.
Bird’s vocals, a rich and emotive instrument in their own right, navigate through the haunting soundscape with a commanding yet gentle presence. Her voice, an ethereal entity, serenades through the melancholy, offering a soothing, seductive balm to the soul. It’s a voice that doesn’t just sing but speaks, whispers, and occasionally allows silence to permeate through, providing a moment of reflection amidst the melodic journey.
The lyrics, co-written with the equally talented musician John Paul White, are a poignant exploration of emotional depths and the human experience. “I fall in again / Head first this time / It’s what I’ve been doing / For most of my life”. These lines don’t just speak, they echo, reverberating through the corridors of the listener’s own experiences, memories, and heartaches.
The metaphorical use of water – cool, enveloping, and occasionally overwhelming – serves as a powerful image of emotional struggle and surrender. It’s a place where tears can flow unnoticed, where one can be enveloped by feelings without judgement, and where the external world is momentarily held at bay.
The warning, “They told me watch the tides / Don’t let them pull you down,” serves as a gentle reminder of the dangers of dwelling too deeply within our own emotional abyss, yet it is also in this space that the most authentic, raw material is often found. It is this dichotomy that Bird explores so eloquently within the track.
The collaboration with John Paul White brings an additional layer of complexity and richness to the piece. The fusion of their musical sensibilities and lyrical prowess has birthed a track that is as thought-provoking as it is relatable. It’s a melody that embodies classic songs rich with emotional depth, allowing listeners to dive headfirst into their own experiences and perhaps find a piece of themselves within the hauntingly beautiful melancholy.
In a body of work that has been five years in the making, this track stands out as a testament to Bird’s ability to intertwine emotion, melody, and story into a piece that is as timeless as it is contemporary. It’s a track that doesn’t just play but permeates, offering a space for reflection, connection, and ultimately, an understanding that in our deepest despairs, we are never truly alone.
Bird AKA Janie Price’s The Tides is a song that captures a moment frozen in time, where feelings come and go and where listeners can lose themselves and, subsequently, find themselves. It’s a mellow, calming, and alluring musical adventure.