I love our local college radio station. Really. Sure, I’ve made fun of the occasional sleepy DJ, of course. And why must they always fall back on that one phrase? “Let’s get back into the music now with …” But if you truly want a break from mass-produced pop, there’s nothing better.
Last Wednesday, around 4:30pm or so, I’m driving home and listening to WRAS. This song comes on. How do I describe it? Okay, the intro has this Danny Elfman feel to it. Like a synthesized children’s choir. They’re singing something like “bop’-ba-da bop-ba’-da” and it is mostly a cappella. Just when I’m thinking that somebody is playing selections from the Edward Scissorhands soundtrack, this great beat comes in, turning the track on it’s head. This leads us to our singer. It sounds like Fiona Apple, but it can’t be her. I don’t think she has anything out right now and if she did, would it be on Album 88? The chorus has the line “I’m Sorry, So Sorry” and it follows the same cadence as the choir. Really good stuff for my drive home. What the heck is this?
Of course, as it always happens, the next track came on and then the next and by that time I was home. So I have no idea who that was. And it might even be a song that won’t last for more than a couple of listenings. But if you’ve heard it or you have any clues, let me know.
Update: This is Jem. The song is called “They.” You can hear a little piece of it here. Thankfully, it sounds just as cool on my second listen. (No, she does not associate with any Holograms.)
