Single Selection: Capital Cities ~ Safe and Sound

There's no doubt that building a solid foundation for your pop career can sometimes take time - Icona Pop's I Love It was a hit all around the world before it finally got unleashed on a breathless-with-anticipation British public. Next up with a bona-fide smash is Capital Cities with their exquisite and ever so dreamy synth-pop tune, Safe and Sound. The song has been around for a good two years now, yet for whatever reason it hasn't quite had the massive impact it so deserves. It's time is here however as it is released in this fine nation of ours on August 18th 2013 as a precursor to their (VERY GOOD INDEED) In A Tidal Wave of Mystery. Safe and Sound essentially sounds like Erasure had they spent the past six months basking by the pool in Southern California. It's warm, lush, sunny vibe is perfect for the balmy summer days. It's just ever so retro, with a modern indie-twang to it to keep it interesting - but beyond that, the soaring chorus and sumptuous horns punctuating the instrumental breaks are just to die for. It's handclaps and inspiration to an ice cream beat & there is no way you can resist it's delicious charms. Ryan and Sebu (who wrote the song and are, of course, Capital Cities) give us enlightening and uplifting lyrics to match the charming music; these are complemented perfectly by their harmonious lyrics which add a captivating, organic vibe to the tune. The more you listen to it, the more beautiful it becomes - and that is definitely reflected in it's enduring & growing success over the past year.

AND! As if all of that wasn't blooming glorious enough, the chaps have only gone and updated the initial video with this sparkling gem (above). It's the perfect visual accompaniment to the track - and here are some of the highlights:

• Everyone knows that in Fiction Land, getting struck by lightning is actually a good thing. It can give you super powers or transform previously inanimate objects or just make magic happen. It is frankly more powerful than Harry Potter's wand. Lucky for us then that the concert hall where the Capital Cities boys are is hit by magical fictional lightning! HURRAH!
• To be fair, the building is pretty magical without the all-powerful lightning going off. That is some amazing architecture they got going on. You also get to see that the Capital Cities boys played the opening night in 1913. This is more freaky than Freaky Friday :)
• The magic lightning causes the photos and old film footage to come to life on that magnificent stage. Ryan and Sebu look incredibly dapper indeed in their (not pictured) top hat and tails :) There's something very elegant about black and white dancing isn't there? ALL dancing should be in black and white from this point on :P
• The memories lingering in the hotel continue to come to life, sparkling inbetween black and white & colour, with some brillo flapper dancing. AND A DANCE OFF :)
• The stage bursts into vibrant life as the Capital Cities guys bloom into colour and sing that infernally catchy chorus as the dance off takes place behind them. And boy are some of those people limber. I pulled a muscle just looking at them :)
• Love love LOVE that the fellas are willing to ham it up by donning leotards and costumes to replicate the dancing across the ages. They look surprisingly good in ballet outfits, for example :D
• Yes yes yes to strutting it and getting those funky disco moves on in a glaringly white suit. This whole clip is more conceptually thought out than all of season 2 of Once Upon A Time...
• As we approach the 2 minute mark, daring hip hop takes on sultry salsa & it's head spins and leg lifts galore as both styles blend seamlessly into the intoxicating musical landscape. Also, "big up" for the east coast swing! That fall to the floor BUT NOT QUITE move is phenomenal :)
• Remember in Grease when the school is chosen to be on American Bandstand and they all go a bit crazy dancing (except Cha Cha DeGrigorio, the best dancer at St Bernadettes (with the worst reputation) who takes it very seriously indeedio)? Well this dance off is just as amazing as that. I hope Capital Cities boys both come on at the end, do the Vince Fontaine flip, catch the microphone and have a look of terror on their faces that says "I HOPE WE GOT THAT IN ONE TAKE!"
• The lights go off, the magic is over but the memories will live forever. Like that persistent, mellifluous melody in your head, forever :)

Purchase/pre-order here :)