From Australian artist Sahara Beck comes “Kryptonite,” a catchy dance track that draws inspiration from some of the greatest eras of feel-good pop music throughout history.
“Got no money but I’m spending it/I keep smoking but I gotta quit” – the singer tells us upfront that she’s “got no will power” for the things in life that she enjoys, even if they’re bad for her. Her real “Kryptonite,” of course, turns out to be a love interest that she knows is a dead end, but she just can’t help herself. Everyone knows that feeling and we all deal with it in our own ways; Beck’s solution is to “always be dancing ‘cause it hurts to feel.” Oof…that’s heavy. And it explains why we’re constantly being bashed over the head with great melodies for the entire song.
The verses sound like they were lifted right out of the early-2010s dance-pop scene, blending right in alongside Charli XCX and Cobra Starship. The chorus has the nostalgic simplicity that defined 80s pop – think Madonna, but with the empathetic hopelessness of The Cure. It’s difficult to recycle old sounds into a modern context without sounding tired or unoriginal, but this track is an example of how to do it right. Finally, a key change in the last chorus gives this song the climax it deserves, emitting an energy level so larger-than-life which seems to stop time itself. I dare you not to dance to it.
“Kryptonite” is a radio-ready single that could easily become your new Friday night anthem. In the increasingly overcrowded world of pop, Sahara Beck is vying for your attention and after this track, she deserves it.
Written by Tim Clark
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