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 a variety of artists.
GloRilla — ‘Special’ ★★☆☆☆
You may know GloRilla from her 2022 song “Tomorrow,” which featured her cousin, Cardi B, or her song “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” also released in 2022. Since then, GloRilla has released more singles and her first and only album, “Glorious” in 2024. I did not fully know what to expect when I first listened to this song because, although I had heard of GloRilla, I had never intentionally listened to her music. This song was very fun with a quick beat, and I could see someone putting this on a pump-up playlist, listening to it before playing a sport. Although the song is catchy and can serve as a good song to play to energize yourself, it is very repetitive. The chorus, for example, simply says “Tell me I’m special” and then repeats the word ‘special’ 14 times. This makes the song a bit boring after you hear the first chorus, and also does not help with the song’s overall lack of build and lyrical complexity. Although I did not hate this song, I probably will not listen to it again.
Luke Combs — ‘Giving Her Away’ ★★★★☆
Luke Combs started releasing music in 2014 when he was only 24 years old. Since then, he has released five albums, starting with “This One’s For You” in 2017 and most recently, “Fathers & Sons” in 2024. “Giving Her Away” starts out with the classic but pretty melody fans have come to expect from Combs. This song is written from the perspective of a groom as he reflects on what the bride’s father must be feeling at their wedding. While this is an interesting concept, some of the lyrics come off as a bit odd, especially if you do not immediately pick up on this meaning. The country twang provides a sentimental feeling to this song and makes it easier to get stuck in your head, while Combs’s voice matches well with the music and lyrics. While I enjoyed this song overall, I felt there was an opportunity to build up in the music to make a more exciting middle and end as the lyrics became more emotional. The lack of a musical build undercut the emotional effect of the lyrics, but all in all, I could see myself listening to this song again if I were in the mood for country music.
Cher — ‘Christmas Is Here’ ★★★☆☆
Cher has been releasing solo music since 1965, her first being “All I Really Want To Do,” and she has not stopped releasing music since. “Christmas Is Here” is exactly what I have come to expect from Cher, thanks to her famous songs such as “Believe” and “Fernando,” released in 1998 and 2018, respectively. The song is delightfully synthy with a 1980s disco feel that makes you want to dance around. While this is not the best Christmas song I have heard, it certainly put me in the holiday spirit, and I am always a fan of a Christmas-themed love song. While the song is not her best lyrically speaking, it is still fun to listen to, and with how enjoyable the actual music is, the lyrics are less important. One criticism I have of the production is that the song is very heavy on the autotune, even for Cher.
