Welcome to “Cut Through the Noise,” an Entertainment column from the St. Louis Park Echo covering new music releases. Every week, a different Echo staffer takes on the role as writer, reviewing recent single releases from a variety of artists.

 

“Ashes” by Celine Dion: ★★★★★ 

“Ashes” is another musical masterpiece courtesy of Celine Dion, off the “Deadpool 2” soundtrack. The ballad is extremely moving and inspiring – I even got a little teary eyed listening to it. Celine Dion’s vocals shine as she doesn’t hold back and delivers a performance worthy of her skill and experience. The song uses a simple backing track mostly comprised of a piano which allows Dion’s voice to take center stage (as it should). The melody is absolutely breathtaking – Dion hits all the right notes, and the production is perfect. The lyrics are beautifully written and evoke a powerfully optimistic feeling, asking if beauty can come out of ashes. The only real complaint I have for this song is that I wish it were longer.

 

“Bloom” by Troye Sivan: ★★★★☆

Troye Sivan’s new single “Bloom” hits the spot. The song starts out strong with Sivan’s vocals taking center stage, building to a catchy and enjoyable chorus. “Bloom” has a simple yet catchy beat underlying the majority of the song. Sivan’s relaxed vocals fit perfectly with the mellow vibe of the track. The lyrics are romantic and overflowing with garden-themed metaphors and innuendos. The harmonies over certain words and phrases add to the overall experience, giving the melodies greater depth. This Queer-love anthem is the perfect song for spring, growing on listeners even after starting out strong to begin with.

 

“Move to Miami” by Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull: ★☆☆☆☆

Both Enrique Iglesias’ and Pitbull’s first song of 2018, “Move to Miami,” seriously disappoints. The beat behind the track is unoriginal, and the melody is boring and unentertaining. The chorus is simply a monotonous repetition of the song’s title. Continuing the nonsensical trend of comparing women to cars, Iglesias and Pitbull add a few subpar similes to their bland and uninspired lyrics. Similar to many pop songs of recent years, the lyrics focus on material and superficial topics, refusing to delve any deeper than a half-baked bible reference. The production is okay, but way below what you would expect from producers whose previous works include songs by artists such as Lady Gaga and Destiny’s Child. The entire song is a waste of time and isn’t worth even one listen to confirm its terrible quality.