Arlo Parks - Hurt

Eagle-eyed readers will have spotted that I have been tracking the YouTube views of the songs that I´ve covered in the blog. Watching out for those tell-tale upsurges, or plummets, or glides of varied shallowness. This might seem whimsical, delusional, or just idiotic, but I also got to do a spreadsheet, which sensible people know is a good excuse for nearly anything. I say nearly just in case Bundy or some other tedious terror was an early adopter of Excel.

Now lets assume that Charlotte Gunn, the current editor of the NME, has a similar spreadsheet, we´d all agree that hers was less delusional than mine, but exactly how much less? Pondering this question came about because Arlo Parks, the subject of this week´s blog, was NME cover star at the end of July. Despite that, the YouTube video for Hurt has pulled in a pretty low 19,000 views per week since it came out not long after the NME thing. Meanwhile, a YouTube channel called COLORS (´a stage for non-ordinary expression´) released a live vocal video of the track on Tuesday and it reached 110,00 views by Thursday lunchtime (less usefully they´ve clogged up Spotify with their COLORS video version even though it´s basically identical to the original. Cloggy COLORS mystery people).

So yes, I´ve just spent two paragraphs establishing that in 2020 YouTube channels are more influential than the NME. Maybe we should have started with a Fogey Alert, or an Obviousness Alert.

The good thing about the NME is that their interview with Arlo Parks goes into some depth – that it´s not her real name is a good place to start learning, and she´s only 19. We also find out that her music can be described as indie-leaning R´n´B, although I don´t hear it leaning very far on Hurt. For one thing, there are no guitars, it´s a simple, driving combo

of bass, drums and singing that sets up the track. Secondly, the chorus vocals have a definitely soulful sound, and almost hip hop percussive impact, propelling us away from a lovely dramatic chord change which is the bit that really grabbed me. I think we could get away with calling this funky. The NME piece (by Jenessa Williams) also devotes a welcome amount of space to Parks´ openness to discuss mental health issues, and efforts as an ambassador for CALM ( Campaign Against Living Miserably). We read that Parks´ lyrics

have previously dug into specific moments or struggles, which then proved cathartic for friends and listeners alike. Not surprisingly given the title, Hurt has a foot in that furrow but balanced by a livening eye on the humdrum and humourous, it opens...

Charlie drank it till his eyes hurt, and then forgot to eat his lunch.

-----which did it for me. Another fun fact is that most of Parks´songs are written in Air BnBs.

Diplomatic as ever, the NME got through their piece without giving out the following warning. Arlo Parks´ recent output includes a version of Creep, not the Lisa ´Lefteye´ Lopez one, the Thom Yorke one. The caution required with this equals that which you´d use if approaching a genuine tower of shite. If your Radiohead cover quota needs filling then go for the Lianne La Havas take on Weird Fishes, which is a hazard-free delight.

THIS WEEK

Arlo Parks – Hurt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qz4cAAwtv0

40,750 views since 19th August Weekly Average Views – 18,973

LAST WEEK

CHAI & Hinds – United Girls Rock´n´Roll Club

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV4_eG-L8Sw

Weekly Average Views – 193,409 Blog Week Views – 182,889

EXTRAS

Arlo Parks – Hurt (A COLORS SHOW)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frspQ0XRico

Lianne La Havas – Weird Fishes