SINGLE REVIEW: SAVANNAH GARDNER - THIS PAIN IS LOVE

Written in 30 minutes during a walk in Richmond Park, the new single from Savannah Gardner is something of a masterpiece. Given the natural order of things, its subject matter is something we will all have to face one day and #TEAMw21 and Savannah have trod a similar path over the last 12 months, and so maybe that is why "This Pain Is Love" resonates so strongly. It's a song that takes on the most serious of subjects head on, is achingly real in its descriptions and chooses to look up not down. All of this is wrapped up in a sumptuous Jack Trouble production that ensures that not so much as one note is out of place - nothing superfluous is added, nothing is missing - it is sheer perfection.

The opening sounds are such sweet simplicity, a solid drum beat and a couple of guitars yet combined they make a warm smooth backing for Savannah.

Anyone that has ever lost someone they deeply cared for will recognize the pain described in the opening verse,

"If I should fall and crack my chest wide open

You would see a troubled state

I can’t compare this broken heart

To anything I’ve felt before today"

The verse all but runs immediately into the chorus and lyrically splits in two, the first half rationalises the pain while the second half finds hope and positivity, somehow making sense of it all.

"This pain is what we feel when we love someone

With our whole hearts and we wake up and they’re gone

And I cross my heart I don’t hope to die

But now I’m not scared, cause I’ll see you on the other side

Grief is a pernicious hurt that can come at the least expected moments, it undoubtedly likes to visit when you are on your own and once more Savannah's lyrics bring this home with a vivid reality, her voice lingering on the phrase "I'm lonely" leaving us in absolutely no doubt.

"I’m so good at hiding all my feelings

But when I get home I’m lonely

Now all that’s left is rage and misery

And memories of you and me"

The bridge section sees Savannah almost chanting a mantra - reinforcing that this pain is not of hurt, it is one of love. it uses just the lightest bit of electronica and finds Jack's vocals gently backing Savannah's.

"This pain is love

This pain is love

This pain is love

This pain is ....."

It sets the scene for the closing section which finds the positive, the light at the end of the tunnel

"....what it is to lose you

But I’ll never waste, not a second of the love you gave

Just give me time I will find the strength

I will live the life we dreamt up together everyday"

The final chorus seems to see the weight lifted from Savannah and it is just that little bit more expressive.

There's is lot packed in to the three minutes, the uptempo bop on its own would make this a successful single if it was purely an instrumental - the lyrical content and overall performance take it a new stratospheric level. #TEAMw21 cannot think of a more fitting and perfect tribute.

Glimpses of what the accompanying video for the release might be like have been released by Savannah, showing her simply expressing herself through dance. Like the song itself, the beauty is in the simplicity. Madonna famously sang "only when I'm dancing can I feel this free" and as Savannah dances around barefoot against a minimal background, it somehow brings those words to life, in the most touching almost balletic way.

“This Pain is Love” is out on February 17th .