I first fell in love with the group Scarlett's Roses about a year ago when I first heard the dazzling pop-meets-ska-meets-rap song Truth Be Told (above). More on that doozy of a pop song in a minute, but ever since I've been completely smitten with the group (and not just because Ryan is a bit of alright :P) Since then, they've been building up a following through appearances at Pride gigs (can't wait to see them at Manchester in August) & festivals across the country. They've charmed with the lovely song Lisa (review/listen here) and most recently put out a free download of the ridonkulously catchy & brilliant Back To Disneyland (review/download here) This seems to have kickstarted an even bigger momentum behind the band that I'm confident will launch them in stratospheric ways anytime about, ooo (looks at watch!) NOW! And that's why I have to return to Truth Be Told because as exquisitely good as those other songs are, TBT feels like huge massive hit first statement of who we are single material. Here's why...
Amidst the gloomy washout that has been the British summer to date, the nation is in dire need of a peppy, engaging pop song to brighten their rain drenched days. And thank the gods that this song could absolutely be in the form of Truth Be Told. Set to an electrifying fusion of a scintillating guitar riff, a throbbing bass, delicious saxophone and a propulsive percussion, the song is a deliriously giddy vocal trade off that entices and delights the listener from the moment it explodes into life. The male vocalist, Ryan, provides rapid fire lyrics detailing how he has fallen for a girl completely wrong for him (and provides a genius convivial moment that will sound brilliant live when the pub goers in the video shout out "Ryan, you're dumb, son!" - 58s). And when Miss Scarlett herself provides her own point of view to the song, her vocals playfully wrap around Ryan's before her own solo kicks in, showcasing her witty charm & sparkling vocal style. And therein lies the perspicacity of this song - the trade-off vocals, the addition of Ollie's rap providing a new perspective on the story, the hand clap moments coming out of the middle 8 & the final sing-a-long chorus. All these combined with that gleeful instrumental have created a song for the everyman that is fucking hard to resist. Truth be told, if this doesn't make you fall hard for Scarlett's Roses, well then there may very well be no hope for you... :) (And as you can see above, there is a very delightful video to go along with the clip that won't need updating at all because it's perfect just the way it is. Here are a few of my favourite things about it)...
- 01 ~ As B*witched once said, Blame It On The Weatherman. Dan makes a jolly engaging weatherman doesn't he? Usually they are either female or older & not very attractive. Dan is not old, female or unattractive so is almost a new bread of weatherman ruling the nation. I also really like his glasses...
- 02 ~ Once Dan has done his thing (what a lovely speaking voice he has), it's over to the pub where Scarlett's Roses are indeed the ray of hope (what an ace album title that would be) injecting some vibrant joy into the denziens of The Rose's world...
- 03 ~ Will is giving it some oral sax outside the ladeez room. Classy :) That's one way to get some attention I suppose :)
- 04 ~ Ryan is having a good old moan about his problems in mellifluous (GOOD WORD) lyrical form while Dan provides some guitar accompaniment. This never happens in my local. It's usually a drag queen crying over her broken heel, sobbing "I'll never look like Alexis Carrington Colby Dexter now". OH MY.
- 05 ~ "RYAN YOU DUMB SON". As i've mentioned previously, this is a truly brilliant moment. Works even better within the video. Will sound amazing when everyone shouts it out at Manchester Pride. I will take my friend Ryan and point at him. It will be like a pop will eat itself moment...
- 06 ~ Hurrah! It's Scarlett. She's busy behind the bar chopping lemons and limes. It makes me really want a Pimms. (Actually this whole song could be used for a Pimms commercial). Her voice is effortlessly gorgeous. Like her.
- 07 ~ 1m18s. Dan's quiff is utterly amazing. No droop or nothing. That is some lustrous hair my man.
- 08 ~ CONTINUITY! Remember how Blame It On The Weatherman Dan said there would be nothing but rain, rain go away come back another day - except in one bright spot where the Scarlett's Roses are? Of course you do! Well just after the first chorus, a couple come in shaking off their umbrellas. Amazing. It's the little attention to details that please me greatly.
- 09 ~ Ollie enters! He is too cool for an umbrella. Meanwhile Scarlett snags a sneaky shot behind the bar. Perk of the job etc. Her boss looks a lot like Sally Webster...
- 10 ~ Ryan the storyteller. He has great facial expressions which really bring the song to life and add to that feeling of you just sitting, having a "tinny" (which for me would be a glass of sparkling wine) talking to your mates. It gives the song an intimate feel, even when you are getting different perspectives...
- (10 ~ "RYAN YOU SCREWED DUDE". See point number 5, only add a really angry looking old couple).
- 11 ~ Scarlett has come to collect some glasses. Only she is a bit rubbish at it as instead she shimmies through the bar giving her response to Ryan. He really is screwed, dude. Instead she looks around the bar, disappointed by her drab surroundings like a modern day Angie Watts realising that Den & The Queen Vic was as good as it was ever going to get...
- 12 ~ THE MAGIC COCKTAIL UMBRELLA! Scarlett works wizardry better than Hermione Granger as popping a little cocktail umbrella into a pint of Guinness transforms the pub into a summery, Hawaiian hotspot. As this goes on, Ollie gives it some grade A rapping and Scarlett's shoes go sassy (just like when Sandy ditched all her moral principles to become a hussy in Grease!)
- 13 ~ Scarlett's magic is amazing. Everyone is jolly and bright and witty and pretty, drinking cocktails of primary colours & generally looking stunning. Even the Hawaiian shirts look cool :)
- 14 ~ PARTY! It's all turned into a good ol' knees up with the band all on stage, giving it summer festival realness while everyone has a boogie along. Even the angry looking old couple :D There's even a blow up dolphin doing the rounds! CARNIVAL! 15 ~ "Bugger this weather reporting lark. I'm off to see Scarlett's Roses. They always make the sunshine". PREACH!
21 ~ Agnetha Faltskog, When You Really Loved Someone
20 ~ Mika, Live Your Life (NE)
19 ~ Eric Saade, Coming Home
18 ~ Danny Saucedo, Todo El Mundo
17 ~ Auryn, Breathe Your Fire
16 ~ Chris Wallace, Invincible
15 ~ Army of Lovers ft Gravitonas, Signed On My Tattoo
14 ~ The Wanted, Walks Like Rihanna
13 ~ Bruno Mars, Treasure
12 ~ Anton Ewald, Can't Hold Back
11 ~ David Lindgren, Move That Thing
10 ~ Pink, truelove
09 ~ Betty Who, Somebody Loves You
08 ~ Mariah Carey ft Miguel, #beautiful
07 ~ Scarlett's Roses, Truth Be Told
06 ~ MKTO, Thank You
05 ~ Eric Saade, Winning Game
04 ~ Agnetha Faltskog, The One Who Loves You Now
03 ~ Olly Murs, Dear Darlin'
02 ~ The SUmmer Set, Maybe Tonight
01 ~ Ed Drewett, Undefeated (2 weeks)
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