Welcome to New Perspective, a new monthly column by Roman Duda, where the former police officer-turned-writer reviews everything humanly possible in exchange for good recognition for his declining mental health. There’s no shortage of content out there right now, but which ones are worth caring about? Roman’s here to find out.
Over the past ten years, music by smaller artists has been circulating all around the internet, whether they be original songs or covers; you can always look forward to the most recent video popping up on someone’s page, showing off their vocal chops. But here lies the question: Are they good? Is there a future to this? And most of all, do we really care?
A perfect example of these three questions is content on Instagram. Gone are the days when long-form content under an hour was respectable, and here are the days when video essays take over commentary videos, and everything else seen as leisurely on YouTube goes on Instagram (or TikTok if you want to seem cool).
Today, I will be answering these questions through the musical talents of Flying Yogurt member, Harrison James. A man of talent, mystery, and a tendency to take honor a bit too far (with me especially).
From personal experience, someone known for being in a family band who also appreciates the Beatles would likely share my overall character. I was very sad to realize that he did not reciprocate that platonic feeling, but the respect that I still have for him remains (to an extent); thank God for empathy, for if it weren’t had, this would’ve been a very different article (that wouldn’t be released whatsoever). Let’s begin.
- ORIGINAL SONG – CAN’T GET ENOUGH
Originally a Flying Yogurt song, this is supposed to be a song about addiction. I would have properly assumed it’s from The Beatles if you had shown this to me, but it isn’t, and I’m fine with that. That being said, it’s not about anybody or anything; if it were, it would have been deleted soon after that nice era of his life had ended.
- ORIGINAL SONG – COAST OF MALIBU
Written shortly before he started dating his then-girlfriend, this was released around the same time he broke up with her, which is already something to talk about in itself. But, again, thank God for empathy. This feels like a song from 2010 written by a former emo-pop star trying to go country but ending up sounding like Kings of Leon instead. While I have no problem with it, I feel like I would rather stick to the Hole song (without the coast) instead, because at the rate my mental health is going, listening to Courtney Love (whose original last name is actually Harrison) sounds like the right thing to do at this point, and she’s a whole different left field herself.
- ORIGINAL SONG – DAISY
The most 90s-alt-rock song I’ve heard in my life. The funny thing about this song is that I actually like this. But then again, I like some songs from Falling in Reverse, so there’s that. Are we sure that this isn’t about an ex?
- COVER – ROCK’N ME BABY (STEVE MILLER BAND)
I really don’t mind Steve Miller as an artist, with or without his band; I just feel like the voice is a bit too much like the 2000s for me to indulge, but everyone has their own separate tastes, and in this case, so do I.
- COVER – I WILL (THE BEATLES)
The first cover of his that I’ve actually listened to, I have minimal words to say about this one; it was rather enjoyable. This time, it will slide.
Now, there is much more on his page I could talk about, but given my progress and hard work, it seems to me we’re done here. Throughout this project, I’ve learned that some are actually good, but the only one I genuinely cared about was “Daisy;” everything else just seemed like something to mention in passing. And I will not be the one to take that responsibility.
I also learned that things could go far if he decides to do that, but that’s his choice, and wherever he decides to go is his decision at that point. But then also, whether or not you care about it is your choice; if you do, great! If you don’t, I’m not really here to listen that much anyway.
-Roman Duda
