Television Romance - Pale Waves


"Television Romance" is a single from Pale Waves upcoming, and not often mentioned, debut album, who's title has yet to be disclosed. By merely looking at the band you may be inclined to assume that they must be a mess and completely unsynchronized: Heather Baron-Gracie (rhythm guitar, vocals) has a very goth-like look, Ciara Doran (drums) looks like she's in the transition to a post-hardcore stage, and Hugo Silvani (lead guitar) and Charlie Wood (bass) look like two impressionable, conventional British lads. I don't mean to comment on their look in a superficial or chastising manner, because music is not contingent on the appearance of the artists, but I want to emphasize the disparity in the each of the member's looks to reiterate the commonly used idiom, you can't judge a book by its cover. Because these guys are prettaaay prettaaay pretty good. 

So what does this apparent mixed bag sound like? Considering it was produced by frontman Matty Healy and drummer George Daniel of The 1975, it definitely is reminiscent of The 1975's early work, but the synthesizers give me the CHVRCHES feel, like in their song "Gun." To put a label on Pale waves, I would say they're a synth-pop band, and that their music is damn catchy. Not just "Television Romance," but the two other released singles to come off their upcoming debut effort, "There's a Honey," and "New Year's Eve," definitely has a replay factor. 

However pop-y "Television Romance" may sound, the song is more than just a fun melody and superfluous lyrics. "Television Romance" is a song about a fictional or desired romance, that one may see on television, but as Heather Baron-Gracie puts it "oh, baby, won't you stop it/you and I haven't got it/Television Romance." It is about not wanting that someone who wants you, even though that someone is awed by everyone "everyone's getting so high/losing their minds/looking for you." It's a song of empowerment; being true to how you feel and what you desire is really what you desire, rather than conforming to the ideals of conventional societies view on who's to be loved. 

This is becoming a theme of some more alternative pop songs: joyful, catchy and synthesizing instrumentation masquerading a deeper or sometimes darker text within the lyrics. Another example off the top of my head is Paramore's "Hard Times."

I want to formally apologize for my week absence, I know all of you were freaking out without any new tracks to discover, and I apologize for that but I think Pale Waves and "Television Romance" adheres to your pleas. If you want to discover more from Pale Waves check out these here sites:



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