Jared Evan - Charlie Brown

Download Charlie Brown (revisited) here (Soundcloud)

This post could almost be called 'The Evolution of Charlie Brown' (which sounds like a university thesis but is actually the development of a song called Charlie Brown by hip-pop artist Jared Evan). It's a song so good that you can't keep it down - it keeps seeping back into consciousness, attracting new fans along the way every time it's reinvented. I'm new to the tune thanks to the mash up Jared has done of the song with MAX (more on that later) and have traced it's lineage back to it's original release back in 2012 (view on YouTube here). Initially released as part of the promotion surrounding his "The 4th Chapter" EP, it demonstrated Jared's skills as composer of emotionally intricate and beautifully relateable music that seemed to speak to the everyman. The song starts off with this delicate and disquieting piano melody that underscores the melancholy nature of the lyrics; this is quickly followed by a shuffling, finger click beat that worms it's way into your subconscious and draws you inexorably into the song. Jared has an engaging singing style with a lovely higher register that adds passion to the song as he sings of the traumas of growing up an outcast (equally as satisfying - his rapping in the second verse). Elegant strings in the chorus add to the gravitas of this damning indictment of how society deals with troubled young people and it's a compelling mixture of pop and hip hop that never fails to impress.

Flash forward two years and it's a message that Jared clearly believes in as he releases a "revisited" version of the song (see video above). There's more emphasis on resonant piano chords that serves to give more angst in his vocal delivery and put this against a musical backdrop that's even more haunting than the original. There's a tangible pathos to the la-la-la layered vocals at the end of the first chorus that is achingly sad and it's the rare song that can engender such organic empathy and sympathy from the listener. It's also clear that Jared didn't just want to do an empty remix - the new structure of the music really does unveil the nuances of the song in mesmerising new ways. There's an organic growth to the song that seems to have matured with Jared (and those original fans of the tune) over the years...

...And that brings us to how I found the song. As regular readers are aware, MAX was my favourite pop find of 2014 and his regular YouTube releases continue in 2015 (thank the Gods). He's teamed up with Jared to give a medley of his own song Streets of Gold and, of course, Jared's Charlie Brown. Both singers excel in the subtle hip-hop influence of this live acoustic performance and their voices blend together beautifully. Jared gives an acapella percussive rhythm and the infusion of Streets of Gold melody and lyrics alongside Charlie Brown give the story a newfound optimism and hope. Together they pack more innovation and sentiment into the song than you'll find in any self help book. MAX continues to astound me with his energy and passion for music and the introduction of Jared Evans into my music world is just another excellent bonus.

(Read more about MAX by clicking here - plenty of reviews and purchase links)