SINGLE REVIEW: RHIANNON PAIGE - LIVE LIKE IT'S THE 80'S

One of the highlights of this years C2C, was to finally get to see Rhiannon Paige, even then we only saw her in a reduced format as a duo but it was still a great introduction. One of the stand out songs on the day was her forthcoming single "Live Like It's The 80's" which even on first listen seemed great fun, on one level with Rhiannon a child of the 90's building her impression of what life was like back then, subtly using it to point out some of the flaws and failings of living in the 21st century. Nostalgia and social comment wrapped up in a 3 and a half minute package.

On hearing it for the first time #TEAMw21 said that it should shoot to the top of the UK Country single charts, on hearing the fully recorded, we are hearing nothing to dissuade us from that opinion. From the opening seconds of sounds of a radio being flashed across the FM spectrum, it is clear that this is a single designed to raise a smile while making a point.

Having not seen Rhiannon in full band mode, it was a nice surprise to hear what a heavy muscular sound they provide. The percussion, solid and powerful, the lead guitar prominent all providing the backing for Rhiannon to contrast then and now

"I don't want a filtered view

I want mix tapes and a real debut

MTV on a Friday night

Not a 10 second vibe that's gone in a flash"

The chorus is glorious with Rhiannon announcing the opening line with nearly no backing until the final word. A piano being pounded adds to the overall full on sound.

"I want to live like it's the 80's

Roller skates and rewind tapes baby

When love was loud, and life was raw

Every Mall had a record store

No more feeds no fake routines

Just fish net flannels and Levi jeans

I don't care if it sounds crazy"

Even the end of the chorus is not the end as an inventive use of backing vocals stretch it out even further, possibly a nod to Paul Young's 80's backing singers who would do something similar.

As the song develops further Rhiannon expresses more her displeasure with modern life, social media et al leading to a more superficial existence, harking back to a time when a mobile phone meant that you had a long extension cable! There is an acknowledgement that the 80's were not universally brilliant but Rhiannon still finds plenty of positives.

"They weren't perfect but they were there

Not stuck behind a glassy glare

Give me love from a movie scene

More real life - less machine"

It results in quite a heartfelt plea

"We lost the spark, we lost the fire

They had flaws but they had desire

I'm not made for this wired life

I need something more, something right!"

The final chorus see things move to full celebratory mode, and as the backing vocals complete their work, everything coming to a shuddering stop, on this single where not a single second is wasted.

Rhiannon Paige will be appearing at Country Calling https://www.country-calling.com/

Not to be missed!!!