Tuesday, April 10, 2018

“Lash Out” by Alice Merton – A Song Review

Reviewed by: Michelle Darrah

     Using the term "one hit wonder" to describe an artist is typically considered derogatory. In 2017, Alice Merton explosively hit the charts with her single “No Roots.” Most artists would love to have one hit with the traction and success of the song.  Since then, we’ve been anxiously awaiting Merton's next single with the high hopes that "No Roots" would not be her only hit. “Lash Out” is that single, and it delivers; proving she is not a one hit wonder.

     The phrase “nevertheless she persisted” became famous when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said of Elizabeth Warren, “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” Much like Warren, the lyrics of Merton’s song demonstrate the themes of strength and persistence. Merton sings, it's “hard to hold onto this fire inside me.” As a result, “I wanna let it out. I gotta lash out.”

     The song's lyrics echo the sentiments of independence and power that Merton describes through her explanation of the "Lash Out's" meaning;
  "Being an artist and a human in this world always means confronting people who make you feel like you have to act according to their rules. Like most people, I wanted and still want to live by my own rules. The idea, or, if you like, the need, to write and record 'Lash Out' was born of a feeling within me. "

     After a short instrumental intro, Merton’s powerful voice enters. The energy level of “Lash Out” remains high throughout. The song has a genuine edge to it, which allows you to share Merton's feelings of needing to just lash out. The single was written by Alice Merton with GRAMMY-nominated songwriter Dave Bassett (Vance Joy, Elle King). Production was done by "No Roots" producer Nico Rebscher, together with Dave Bassett. GRAMMY winner Serban Ghenea (Lorde, Bruno Mars, Pink) performed mixing. 

     Quoting the bio (from the kind people at Tell All Your Friends PR):
  Alice Merton was born in Frankfurt am Main in 1993 as the daughter of a British father and a German mother. Her father's job first took the family to Canada, then across the border to North America and finally back to Europe. Alice studied composition and songwriting at the Pop akademie in Mannheim. By chance she met her manager at a bus stop there, with whom she founded her own label Paper Plane Records International. Their debut single,"No Roots", has sold over 1 million and been streamed well over 130 million times. The song attained Platinum status in Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland. The single reached Gold status in Poland and Italy. Number 1 on the American Billboard Alternative charts also made Alice Merton's name across the Atlantic.

     “Lash Out” by Alice Merton 


Lyrics of “Lash Out” by Alice Merton
I can feel it on the back of my tongue
All of the words getting trapped in my lungs
Heavy like a stone, waiting for the river to run

I wanna lash out
I wanna let it out
'Cause I can feel it on the back of my tongue
On the back of my tongue

Oh, hard to hold this fire inside me
All I know, sometimes it's frightening
Hard to hold this fire inside me
Oh, oh oh, it's not really like me to lash out
I gotta let it out
I wanna lash out
I wanna lash out

I got something to say, might start a riot
Rip that tape from my mouth, I won't be quiet
'Cause everything is nothing
'Til you realize it's something you want

I wanna lash out
I wanna let it out
'Cause I can feel it on the back of my tongue
On the back of my tongue

Oh, hard to hold this fire inside me
All I know, sometimes it's frightening
Hard to hold this fire inside me
Oh, oh oh, it's not really like me to lash out
I gotta let it out
I wanna lash out
I gotta let it out

I can't be the cork, come out of the bottle
I can't be the cork, come out of the bottle
I can't be the cork, come out of the bottle
I can't be the cork, come out of the bottle

Lash out
I wanna let it out
'Cause I can feel it on the back of my tongue
On the back of my tongue

Oh, hard to hold this fire inside me
All I know, sometimes it's frightening
Hard to hold this fire inside me
Oh, oh oh, it's not really like me to lash out
I wanna let it out
I wanna lash out
I wanna let it out
I gotta lash out

Tour Dates:
5/6 Atlanta, GA Shaky Knees Fest
5/15 Charlottesville, VA Spring Pavilion*
5/16 Columbus, OH Express Live!*
5/18 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE*
5/19 Portsmouth, VA Portsmouth Pavilion*
5/20 Gulf Shores, AL Hangout Music Fest
5/22 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre*
5/24 Grand Rapids, MI 20 Monroe Live*
5/25 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre*
5/26 St. Louis, MO Fox Theatre*
5/27 Napa, CA BottleRock Napa Valley
5/30 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheater*
6/1 St. Paul, MN Myth Live*
6/2 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom*
6/3 - New York, NY - Governors Ball Music Festival
6/14 Brooklyn, NY Prospect Park*
6/15 Boston, MA Blue Hills Bank Pavilion*
6/16 Hunter, NY NY Mountain Jam
6/14-6/17 Dover, DE - Firefly Music Festival
8/4 Montreal, QC Osheaga Festival
8/7 Toronto, ON Echo Beach^
   * W/ Vance Joy
   ^ W/ Tash Sultana

No comments:

Post a Comment