I've written about Woodkid a couple of times now, but it's only because you must - yes, MUST - listen to him. There's certainly no one else at the moment that deserves to be top of the list of music with feeling, for me.
There are two things that will stand out when you listen to Woodkid - strong, orchestral music and a good story. Strings, pianos and brass all make regular appearances and the music matches the tone and direction of the story every time. The album seems to be a mixture of genres - modern, popular music played by the London Symphony Orchestra for example.
There are some tracks that feel like absolute musical epics and some that tell a tale. The opening to Stabat Maker is slow, strong and haunting, and Woodkids voice is equal to the music - another instrument complimenting the music rather than an overshadowing presence. Shadows, on the other hand, is a completely musical piece but certainly not inferior.
Outside of Woodkid's album, The Golden Age, a favourite track has to be Wasteland, which was released on the Iron EP. To me, rightly or wrongly, it's a man expressing his gratitude for being rescued by love (it's all far more emotional than I would ever admit to feeling) - "How did you get to save me from this desolate wasteland" and "All the things you're trying to do make me a better man". He then goes on to reflect on all of the good things that he had forgotten in misery that are coming back to him - "Most of what I used to be had vanished in the waste, the memories of the boy I've been were drowning and you saved them".
As what is essentially a love song (not the genre I'd usually go for) I find the track completely refreshing. Rather than mourning a love lost the track celebrates the goodness of love found which, despite my heart of stone, is touching and enough to bring back the best memories. A simple musical accompaniment of an off-beat piano, joined by a lone violin and a brass section compliments the nature of the track. A demonstration of effective simplicity - no drum loops or synths required for impact here.
If you're after a more 'pop' song to gain your interest, you'll find it in album track I Love You. Almost exactly opposite to Wasteland, it's upbeat and punchy describing the desperation of a love not returned, not sad in its delivery but certainly honest and with a hint of injustice - "Whatever I feel for you, you only seem to care about you, is there any chance you could see me too, cause I love you". Equally, while it is more rhythm led there is still, what I think is, a church organ and a climactic string section towards the end.
The talent for a good lyric is a theme throughout all of Woodkid's music and his ability to tell a story is beautiful, using metaphors without sounding like a pratt is difficult to get the hang of (I should know - I manage to sound like a pratt all the time using metaphors, I'm sure). The Boat Song - "We tied a knot and raised a sail... The sea was rough and felt unknown... Can we keep our bearing straight, or will we be blown off course".
Deserving of a mention (they all are really but I want to leave you some mystery) is The Great Escape with its orchestral beginnings but then the fast, racing horse percussion and victory trumpets, plus "This road is finally standing up to this sky, boy we're free so what is fate to say how things are gonna turn out now". The track Conquest starting with fairy flutes, which are soon brought down a notch by big drums and slightly sinister brass, but again so catchy and with another great line "I'm ready to start the conquest of spaces expanding between you and me".
Finally, two tracks you might recognise from the Assassin's Creed adverts. Firstly, Iron, which I've raved about before, but it was my first Woodkid track and I loved it for being different, with its stirring and vivid imagery.
Secondly, Run Boy Run, which is urgent in its music and lyrics of escape and desperation. I should mention the string section at the end that inspired this 'music to make you feel' series. It was great to listen to something that made me excited to be listening to it, and happy to enjoy music so much again. I must have listened to that a hundred times or more.
So, it doesn't matter why you listen to him - my ranting and raving, his involvement with some of the most popular modern music videos (Lana del Ray, Mystery Jets, Katy Perry to name a few), it could even be his French accent if that's what it takes - but I hope that when you do he brings you as much joy as he has to me.
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