McLean – ‘My Name’
I don’t know how the people who made this record ever got through it. I mean I’ve some idea of how you record a song, and usually it requires several million listens to the same three minutes, adding bits, taking bits away, polishing, until it’s finally perfect. I only have to review the thing and by my tally I’ve clocked up over three hours on the one song so far (not all of it continuous).
And, to be honest, the strain is starting to show. The same four chords around and around, the different spiralling melodies, the chuntery synth…well all I can say is that some songs are built for repetition and some are not. One more play of this and I am going POSTAL.
(Here’s the video. Who goes bank robbing in a squeaky leather catsuit?)
Interesting how they really layer on that autotune at the crucial moment, the bit where he claims to want to give you, the most important person in his life and therefore his most precious love, his name. I wonder if that’s so the song can’t be considered to be legally binding, should McLean’s actual girlfriend sue him for non-delivery of ring and promise in the event of his becoming famous with a song in which he promises to marry her.
There would have to be a trial, and in it, McLean would take the unprecedented step of claiming NOT to be the voice on the song. He’d have to sing to the court, in front of a panel of esteemed musicologists (and, let’s face it, Simon Cowell), and of course his voice would be all raw and unvarnished. Nothing like the immaculate, plasticated voicebox which made the promise of marriage in the song. And therefore, they’d have to let him off.
If this is indeed the case, it’s not necessary. There may be an implied understanding that he means marriage in this song, but all he would need to do legally is hand over his staff badge from McDonalds – assuming he’s ever had a job there – and that’s the transaction completed. Hell, he can even go down on one knee and sing “I wanna give you my naaaaame” while he does it, if he wants.
Granted it’s a lot less romantic, but that’s the law for you.
Download: Out now
CD Released: March 8th
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(Fraser McAlpine)
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