Single Selection: Ed Drewett ~ Undefeated

You would think that I have exhausted all the ways and words possibly to write about any new Ed Drewett music. Well you would be wrong as wrong can be, my incorrect chummy. In fact, as long as Edward James Drewett keeps making music that delights and inspires, I will keep finding ways of telling you all about it. Hurrah, etc. Fresh from one of my favourite songs of the year so far (Drunk Dial) and ensuring that I'd heard about Miguel before the Mariah duet/faceplanting some girl (Ed's cover of Do You), Ed is back with what may be his most inspiring, anthemic single to date. Undefeated (listen on SoundCloud here) is an absolute corker because it speaks to you in a different way than Drunk Dial did. From Ed's point of view, it seems to fit well (judging from some recent interviews) with the ups & down he's had in the past year or so, and coming to the realisation that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger helps you get through those tough times. However, as that song title was already taken by Kelly Clarkson, Undefeated works brilliantly as a rousing call to arms, motivating you to achieve your dreams - and the listener can transplant those universal themes and ensure the song is personal to their particular situation. A vibrant, percussive beat underscores the song and serves to provide an endorphin rush of giddy emotions that propels the lyrical content of the song to soaring new heights. Add to this the simple but effective synth riffs of the verses, alongside the more emphatic chords of the chorus (which act as a bold highlighter to Ed's mission statement of powering through the down times) & you have a percolating pop song that is guaranteed to make you feel oh so much better about a) life and b) pop in general. What works incredibly well here is the unfiltered vocals of the young fella-me-lad himself. There's determination & passion in that voice and it really creates a vivid atmosphere of hope & jubilation that is oh so easy to get lost in. Plus, there are genuine moments of euphoria within the production - note at 55s & 1m55s how every comes together in a volcanic eruption of musical alchemy. It's just 3 minutes of wizard aceness.

(PS - Ed is at several festivals this summer including V, Wireless and Fusion; the latter of which is literally in my own backyard. The beers will be on me Ed that day :D)