Goodnight Summerland

by Helena Deland

I was listening to this album again on a drive and I just think it’s great! I took three notes (by way of dictating to my Smart Watch Voice Assistant — keep your eyes on the road!!)

1. I have a theory that the “young adult”-ification of media also applies to contemporary songwriting (this is a qualitative descriptor not a value judgement). Very melodramatic songwriting, clear messages about young adult feelings like love and lust and figuring yourself out, etc. Very broadly culturally accessible stuff. I don’t think in broad strokes this is new but there’s a resonance to me with these qualities taking over all storytelling media. I think Helena is a complex writer and does not do this. I think she writes music for grown-up adults.

2. Insofar as it’s possible (ie laughably not) to have a single “favorite song” out of all songs, I think The Animals might be my favorite song. Gun to my head I could not paint you a holistic image of what it is “about”. But every time I listen to it different imagery, lyrics, and sounds stick out to me. Just a beautiful, introspective, ultimately kind of uncertain song. It’s awesome.

3. Who I Sound Like is soo sad. Good lord.