SINGLE REVIEW: RONNY CRISS - STUPID HEART

#TEAMw21's attention was drawn to Ronny Criss's latest single "Stupid Heart" by a recommendation from our firm favourite Stephanie Ryann, and a fine tip it out turned be.

An uptempo rocker that roars into life after a few seconds of keyboard trickery, sees a full band going flat out with powerful drums and guitars leading the way with Ronny himself providing some sweet harmonica. Written with Shawn Byrne this song is too good not to shout about.

After that blistering introduction, Ronnie who has a warm reassuring timbre that perfectly suits the sound. He is in a somewhat tortured state, with things on his mind stopping him from getting to sleep.

"Something's bugging me inside

Gotta get it off my chest

Lie awake feeling bad at night

You know I can't get any rest"

Walk the floor all night

Over some darned thing I can't control

Crying "Lord I can't take it anymore"

It's a feeling that comes over many of us, now perhaps more than ever as events seem to unfold around us without any opportunity to do anything about them.

"And I can feel the weight of the world

I stumble as it turns

Seems to me I care too much

When the hell will I ever learn?

Lately it's on my sleeve

For the whole world to tear apart

Only one darn thing makes living like the sun

Stupid heart"

The latter verses show Ronnie professing the problems it has brought him yet for all that complaining he is declaring that he could not be true to himself any other way

"Maybe I should have tore it out

The first time it let me down

and carried on without a care

I swear I wish I could right now

Too bad, that ain't me and I can never be who I am

Yes I'm stuck being the one that gives a damn"

Ronny suddenly stops everything to initiate a "Na na na na" chant, initially a capella but gradually the band join in as well.

With care taken over the additional backing vocals this is foot stomping joy from start to finish. Let "Stupid Heart" blow away those winter cobwebs and make you feel glad to be alive and know that there is nothing wrong with caring a bit too much.