Things begin to turn around for the story of Boy Robot on “Delusional”, although with an album full of nonstop bangers, “Delusional” hasn’t aged quite as nicely as the other tracks. Curtis’ passion for pop music shines on “Diablo” as his pays homage with the lyric “Here’s the thing, yeah we started out friends, but this is not a Kelly Clarkson song, and not how it ends” and later to Britney Spears’ “If You Seek Amy”: “Oh baby, baby, does she take a piece of lime for the drink that I’ma buy her? Oh wait this song isn’t mine!” “Diablo” pulses and pounds, venting Curtis’ frustration with an ex on this piece of pure pop perfection. On the extremely clever and infectious “Diablo”, the lovable Boy Robot turns on his heels and is taking back his power, choosing to call it like he sees it and no longer tolerate being treated poorly. “If you don’t wanna be something substantial with me, then why do you give me more?” Curtis’ lyrics read as a bible to the forlorn hopeless romantics in a society of noncommittal, oversexed and under-loved youth. A dark beat conjures up Egyptian imagery as Curtis becomes mesmerized by a snake. “Fell in love with an Android baby, playing games with a toy that played me.” We’ve all been there Simon.įor the character of the Boy Robot, things only get worse on “Super Psycho Love”, but sonically, 8Bit Heart continues to reach new heights. “I just wanted to see if, my lust would be enough, to get me over…your complete lack of substance,” Curtis confesses on the track. Love is nowhere to be found for the Boy Robot on “Fell In Love w/an Android”, as Curtis continues his quest to not be alone, but ends up with a lover that is all style and no substance. “Don’t Wanna Be Alone” presents heartfelt lyrics about longing to find a love that is sincere in a world where people are constantly looking to hook up (but only if you’re within a five mile radius.) Through the pain, Curtis dances his cares away. It’s not just Simon’s infectious and perfectly crafted dance beats that appeal to the gay community they are the cherry on top of his relatable lyrics.Īs “Boy Robot” introduces listeners to Simon’s persona, “Don’t Wanna Be Alone” builds on the introduction and immediately throws you into Simon’s world, a utopia where love, dancing, and acceptance are never-ending. Taking from Nat King Cole’s “Nature Boy”, “Boy Robot” ponders humanity’s struggles: “For what could be more simple than to love and be loved in return?” Curtis would later come out openly as gay, and re-listening to 8Bit Heart (admittedly for probably the hundredth time), the lyrics take on a new meaning when you consider the inner dialogue Simon and countless other gay youth had in 2010, struggling not only to accept who they were but to have society accept them as well. The concept for 8Bit Heart sees Simon as the Boy Robot, and only through true love could the Boy Robot become real. That version is available on iTunes here. It should be noted that in January of 2016, Curtis re-released the album as Super 8-Bit Heart, featuring remastered and reworked edits of the songs. This is a review of the original album, 8Bit Heart, which you can still download, for free, here. 8Bit Heart is such an astonishingly polished and spectacular debut, that the fact it was released for free proves Simon’s true love is in his craft, rather than pleasing a record label or fitting a mainstream mold. The best part? You’d never know this album wasn’t produced in a multi-million dollar studio. It was recorded, mixed and mastered in a tiny basement in the hills of West Virginia. In 2010, Curtis released his debut, 8Bit Heart, for free. Simon Curtis is a shining example that when you study pop music and are an avid fan of it, the knowledge you learn of the inner workings of pop will work to your advantage in creating top tier music.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |