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 of writer, reviewing recent single releases from various artists.
‘What This Could Be’ — Joe Jonas ★★★★☆
In an era where genre-blending has become the norm, “What This Could Be” stands out for its perfect balance of pop and indie charm. Joe Jonas has long been recognized as just one of the three Jonas Brothers, but he is starting to make a successful solo career with his upbeat and high-energy songs. This song is about the emotional complexities of love and all the things a relationship brings. Something that I loved is the song’s irresistible chorus that pulls you in, and the emotional connection that makes you want to keep listening. This song is relatable for many teens out there who are scared of rejection but want that experience of love so badly. I can see myself in the future singing this in the car on full blast with my friends. A specific lyric that stood out to me was “Standing at the edge of something new, but I’m scared of falling through.” This line perfectly captures the sense of feeling torn between hope and hesitation. This song reminds me of Taylor Swift’s “You Are in Love,” specifically because they both have that daydream feeling to them and have that “early stages of love” appeal to them. I gave it four stars because I was so impressed with the vocal performance and perfect tempo of this song. However, it doesn’t have a groundbreaking edge to push it beyond a solid pop song, which is why it falls short of five stars.
‘Make Me Happy’ — Jason Derulo and Jawsh 685 ★★★☆☆
In “Make Me Happy,” Jason Derulo and Jawsh 685 reunite to deliver a feel-good, uplifting track that builds on the success of their 2020 smash hit , “Savage Love,” that I’m sure many heard on social media. The song’s infectious beat, provided by Jawsh 685, and Derulo’s smooth vocals blend great together, making it a very happy and fun song. It’s a great song to listen to in the morning to get you on a good note. The lyrics celebrate the joy of being with someone who brings happiness and positivity into one’s life, highlighting the power of kindness and love. While I liked some things about this song, I didn’t like the simple lyrics, and I feel like Derulo’s songs lack originality or depth. It gives a lot of the same vibe that “Savage Love” did, but to me, that’s not a very good trait since I didn’t enjoy that song either back in 2020. I’m giving it three stars mainly because I don’t think I’m going to give it any more listens in the future. It still is a great song, I would recommend it to anyone who likes those uplifting anthems, and it’s a perfect addition to any workout or party playlist.
‘how could u love somebody like me?’ — Arteams ★★☆☆☆
Artemas, a UK-based songwriter, released a new single, “how could you love somebody like me?” on Oct. 9. This track showcases his unique melodies and reinforces his status as a rising star. You might know his popular old singles such as “I Like the Way You Kiss Me” or “If You Think I’m Pretty,” which gained a lot of fame, especially on the app TikTok. The lively pace complements the theme and reminds me a lot of his other songs. Arteams attempts to blend catchy pop with deeper emotional melodies and it affects his music negatively in some ways. This song fell short in several areas. The song’s tempo and lively sound initially drew me in, but the lyrics came across as so simple and showed too much repetition. There was supposed to be a message to this song but it wasn’t communicated throughout it. His voice carries lots of strength but he doesn’t show his full ability in this song– something is missing. It’s just not my cup of tea, mostly because it’s a style I never listen to. If you liked any of his past songs or like some contemporary pop, I would recommend you give this song a listen.
