Well, it seems like The Band Perry is already starting to catch on. The same week that the sibling trio's "Hip to My Heart" fell from the charts, followup "If I Die Young" debuted. A sudden chart entry ahead of the release date is certainly telling, especially for a new act. Clearly, there's a great deal of buzz already sounding "If I Die Young." But sometimes buzz translates into a truly deserving song, while other times it translates to an overrated, bland piece of crap.
The song starts out with a rather poetic line that cuts right to the chase: "Bury me in satin / Lay me down on a bed of roses / Sink me in the river at dawn / Send me away with the words of a love song." So many of the other lyrics are very well-developed with interesting little details, such as "the sharp knife of a short life." At times, it feels like it could easily over-romanticize the death of a young one. The siblings Perry are still fairly young adults, so they can still sell the lyrics. Kimberly, in particular, takes a far softer delivery than the eager, girlish twang of "Hip to My Heart," and her brothers offer a far more prominent harmony than on "Hip," making for an even more pleasant listening experience.
Does "If I Die Young" sugarcoat its topic a little? Yes. But under that thin layer of sweetness is a great deal of heart, and maybe even a dollop of the slight uncertainty that can come with a young adult's perspective. Being on the youngest end of adulthood myself, I have these adult-oriented feelings that I sometimes express in what may not be the most maturely-formed ways. An older perspective might not identify quite as well with "If I Die Young," but the younger listeners should easily find something identifiable in this song. I know I did.
You can support The Band Perry by purchasing this single at Amazon | iTunes.
0 Comments