Jerry's Pick: "Smiley"

 

Smiley-Between Friends

Okay, I’m not a reality show guy, so I did not catch Brandon and Savannah’s performance on “America's Got Talent” in 2013. But, I’ve been a fan of this brother-sister duo since I first heard their single “Suburban Wonderland” when they were known as The Heirs in 2017.

Although they may have changed their moniker to Between Friends the next year, the two brought along their alternative laptop-pop bop which is clearly evident in the tracks “affection” and “better friends.” Both are worth checking out.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when the siblings released the album I Love My Girl, She’s My Boy which spawned several songs of note… “Self Destruct,” “What’s Up” and “Redlight.” But the standout track is their enchanting, effervescent, decidedly flirtatious “Smiley” with lyrics which reflect both of their memories of that early-teen dating scene.

Brandon explains to Office Magazine’s managing editor Sahir Ahmed, “’Smiley’ is about new beginnings, something new.” Savannah added, “And you can tell by the sort of playfulness and the innocence of noticing little details about somebody. You’re there with these blossoming feelings, where you’re uncertain whether you’re in love with someone or if you just care about them.”

It's not just the song’s words, but more-so the way those lyrics are presented. Savannah delivers the frolicsome hook in the same bouncy cadence her insecure 13-year old self may have once teased her middle school crush.

“Do you like the way/I talk about you all day/Wanna hear you say/You talk about me all the time…”

Like a couple other selections found on this album, the pair have been experimenting in post-production. “Smiley” starts with the sounds of someone changing stations on a radio while it ends with an abrupt tempo shift as if someone suddenly hit one of the device’s pre-select buttons.

Sure, it’s light but cute and fun. And it offers listeners a brand new pick-up line...

“I really wanna tell you this/You’re like a song I can’t resist…”