SINGLE REVIEW: KIER - TWENTY SOMETHING
Having been part of her live set for some time now, it is great to finally see "Twenty Something" get its official release, hopefully as part of Kier's highly anticipated second album. One of Kier's great strengths is her observational skills, and "Twenty Something" is full of truism's that will immediate click with the listener giving them pause for thought, as well as laugh out loud lines.
Even the cover, with Kier, staring out sternly over a birthday cake acts as metaphor for the whole song - it's a party you should be happy!
The opening 14 seconds musically set up the intro, after that it is Kier all the way as she unloads the position she currently finds herself in. That intro of clapping, piano and guitars immediately establishes the pace, and an almost party vibe as Kier unloads a number of home truths in a relentless rapid release of lyrics.
"In and out of jobs, in and out of places
In and out of love, buckle up and face it
Don't know where you're going, don't know where you're at
You wished to be here, why the hell'd you do that?"
With barely a pause for breath it is straight into the next verse
"Nothing seems to stick, nothing seems to end
You're still the same kid, with the same four friends
Did a few bad things, but you'd do it again
You don't know if you're happy, so you try to pretend
The same people breathe the same disappointment
You still want your Mum to book your Doctor's appointments!
You're heart's still young, but it's all f***ed up
So you close your eyes, and wait for some luck"
The strength comes in the sheer openess of the lyrics, they don't seek to be shocking or glamorous, they just tell it as it is.
The chorus is Kier's honest assessment of where she finds herself, and if they were equally self analysing, to a degree it must reflect some of the same realities starting to hit many of those in a similar age bracket.
"You're twenty something, you thought you'd be something by now
You're twenty something, thought you'd be living in a big ol' house
You're twenty something, you're really trying to figure it out
What do you bring?, you just sing, hanging on by a string
You're lost till the end of twenty something"
There is so much to love in this single, that we could reel off lines for ages but that is for the listener to go find and enjoy. As we've repeated since hearing it for the very first time, "Twenty Something" will undoubtedly raise a smile but also take a few steps back and just admire the songwriting prowess that comes up with the lines
"I can't hear a word when I walk in a crowd
But when I'm alone the silence is loud" sung with a real emotional kick.
The latter verses are full of inventiveness, such as the order Kier runs through the years of her twenties, or when she breaks the fourth wall at one point to quickly address the listener about a possible future sequel. They also provide an optimistic outlook of what may lay ahead in the years to come. We could wax lyrical for ages it really is that good.
Musically mentions should also go out to Ash Wilson's electric guitar work and Matt Daley's keyboards, as both play a major part in establishing and maintaining the overall momentum. It's all held together with some smart production techniques from Jack Trouble and Wayne Proctor as well, which keep the listener always hearing something new.
Undoubtedly getting added to our Best Single of 2026 list.
Want more? Go book a ticket on the hottest tour of the autumn - satisfaction guaranteed!!!
