Friday's Child - Will Young

I never bought “From Now On” Will Young’s debut album. Why? Well, I’d read so many times, that, although, a very good album it just wasn’t the music that suited his voice. So, rather than buying that and not enjoying it, I decided I’d wait until his second album came out. So, after waiting over 16 months Friday’s Child – Will’s second album – was released and I knew that I wanted it, and ...
...I told my sister I’d love it, and mid-December seeing a square shaped plastic thing wrapped under the tree to me from my sister, I guessed that she’d followed my request!

So, come Christmas night I put on Will’s album, hearing it for the first time I must admit I didn’t love it at first. There were a few tracks that I immediately liked and fell in love with, but others, although I knew they were good didn’t ... more

I never bought “From Now On” Will Young’s debut album. Why? Well, I’d read so many times, that, although, a very good album it just wasn’t the music that suited his voice. So, rather than buying that and not enjoying it, I decided I’d wait until his second album came out. So, after waiting over 16 months Friday’s Child – Will’s second album – was released and I knew that I wanted it, and didn’t hesitate to get hold of it. Being near Christmas I told my sister I’d love it, and mid-December seeing a square shaped plastic thing wrapped under the tree to me from my sister, I guessed that she’d followed my request!

So, come Christmas night I put on Will’s album, hearing it for the first time I must admit I didn’t love it at first. There were a few tracks that I immediately liked and fell in love with, but others, although I knew they were good didn’t jump out at me as much, and it took time for me to begin to enjoy them. I’d say Friday’s Child is a mix of up-tempo songs and ballads. There’s a variety of getting-ready-to-get-out in-alone-with-a-bottle-of-wine music that is suitable for every occasion. I played the album after opening my presents in the afternoon [My family can’t be the only one’s to open their presents in the afternoon, surely?] and it went down well with Nan, (“Oh, he has a lovely voice, doesn’t he?”) My Aunty (“Such an original voice!”) and the entire lot saying he had something “distinctive” that made him so “different” to other singers. I think they’ve got it right, there. There’s something about Will that is so original and, as they said, different.

Friday’s Child is an album for everyone – as Christmas night proved – and is very Will Young. The talent we saw on Pop Idol is brought to the surface here, and we see just why Mr Young won Pop Idol 2002…

♠♠The Tracks ♠♠

The album starts with one of the up-tempo numbers – “Love The One You’re With”. Although up-tempo, to me it’s one of the best songs suiting Will’s voice. It has a sort of gospel-song feeling, with backing singers complimenting Will’s voice, and it’s one of the most different songs on the album. It was a sort of song that I didn’t expect Will to do, and was the one of the one’s I had to listen to more than once to enjoy. Like most of the songs on the album it has two main elements that gives you enjoyment – the words and the music. The second line Will says:

“Don’t be angry don’t be sad
Don’t sit crying over
Times you had
There’s a girl right next to you
And she’s just waiting for something
To do.”

It’s so apparent in this, and every other, song that Will’s writing talent is also very strong. The up-tempo beat takes the understanding and greatness of the words away somewhat, which is a shame. But if you listen to the wonderful words you’re love will totally grow for this one. A great start that totally makes you want to listen to more.

The second track “Your Game” has a very haunting beginning. Totally different with breaks in sound that adds to the catchiness of it. The chorus is certainly one of the best parts of the song that totally leaves you tapping your foot against the floor. The song doesn’t need a wonderful voice to have it sung well, but Will’s distinctiveness adds to the songs greatness. “Mmms” “Woooos” can sound totally fake and un-needed in a song (take note Mariah Carrey) but in this song it seems needed and sounds wonderful. I’d class it as a song to listen to in the car, because although it doesn’t have a fast tempo, it isn’t a ballad and is one to enjoy whilst busy rather than sitting alone.

The third track “Stronger” is the first slow-tempo song on the album, and Will adds his brilliant touch. The song words are remarkable and true:

“It only makes me stronger
When you say I can’t do it.
I’ll work that bit harder”

I think these early words in the chorus are ones that everyone will be able to relate to, and Will’s haunting touch really gives the song feeling and that personal touch that no one would be able to require. He really sings this song from the heart, and it’s obvious. This is one of the weepy songs that you could totally cry along to (Me? Cry? No! Well, maybe a little bit! One of the best tracks on the album to beat, its words and me will remain with you for the rest of the day.

The fourth track is Wills number 1 hit “Leave Right Now”. I rarely listen to this track as I know it, and although still wonderful, it doesn’t have the spark still lit in it, which the others do. When I did first hear the song way back in late October I must admit I fell I love with it immediately. I think, if I’d heard it first on the album it would’ve been the one I immediately fell in love with, and would’ve been the one I played over and over. It totally balances Will’s voice like no other song of his, and to me must be one of his best. A classic, in my eyes.

Track five was sung on the Pop Idol final, the other week, and it was the first one on the album that I fell in love with, and played over and over. I wouldn’t be surprised if “Love Is A Matter Of Distance” was a future release fro Mr Young, as it has all the ingredients for a brilliant single. It’s a ballad that’s memorable, and its words are absolutely wonderful:

“Love is a matter of growing
And knowing true feelings
Love is a matter of showing
That you are so far away.”

The metaphorical words are totally touching and to me is the icing on the cake. Seeing Will perform it on Pop Idol the other night, it was apparent he loved it and showed the emotion whilst singing. The track on the album is exactly the same – it’s obvious he has so much feeling whilst singing, and it’s never a bore; even after listening to it hundreds of times!

What’ve noticed on the album is that almost every song has a very long introduction. Track six “Dance The Night Away” has a 40 seconds introduction and gets you really gripped for the rest of the song. The tempo speeds up throughout the song, until it gets to the chorus where it totally goes up-tempo, and becomes very catchy. It’s a perfect song to listen to before going out, and although isn’t one of my favourites I still listen to it pretty often, especially if I’m getting ready to go out. You know the songs that get your head bobbing up and down? Well, this is one of them. This is one of the least emotional tunes on the album, but still manages to be a success in my eyes and is a good one.

The first time I heard track seven “Very Kind” I immediately fell in love with it. This is Will at his best – 10/10. It’s so obvious the 100% effort he’s put into it, the emotion, the feeling, and the complete love he must have for it. It’s one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard, and Will acquires different vocal sounds throughout the song. He sings it softly throughout, but I can’t help but notice that at the chorus he tends to whisper the words, wanting it to be more subtle and emotional.

“You got wings
But you can’t fly.”

Those words in the chorus have stuck with me the last week, and Will sings them with such feeling and emotion you completely fall in love with the song. Whilst other songs stick with you, this is with you not only because of the beat, but also because of the words and the total haunting feeling the song creates. The violins at the end are one of the best endings to a song ever! Fantastic.

Track eight – “Free” gets you going again, with a very different introduction and classy words! The constant drums in the beginning lets you know that the track is going to be one that will go up in it’s tempo, and be one to dance along with. Although it’s up-tempo, it’s still got great words:

“Cos time can’t change the way I feel
And you will find that I’m gonna be
More than you’ll ever let me be.”

This is the only song on the album, that I’ve noticed a hint of anger in Will’s voice. Although there are other up-tempo songs, they are song pretty softly, but with this Will acquires a new tone, that is different and pretty catchy. It’s not a perfect single release, but after a few hearings, you do begin to like it.

Track 9 “Going My Way” has no proper introduction, and Will goes in for the kill singing straight away. For me this one of the catchiest of songs in sing-along respect. Although I sing along with the other ones, I tend to sing along with, er, feeling in this song! Not having much of a voice it’s not the best of sounds, but it’s jolly fun to do! The words are, a bit, like a letter to someone, especially one of the parts in the chorus:

“Now it’s going my way
I look and everything’s ok
I’ve got nothing much to say except
The life that I now lead
It’s going my way, going my way.”

It’s one of it’s own really. There isn’t another song on the album like it. It’s pretty original and good stuff. I really like this one.

Track ten – “Out Of My Mind” is real fun to listen to! The beginning has drums, an organ a trumpet and many other instruments that just create that disco feeling. Although no song on Will’s resembles any era, this is one closest to any, that being the 70’s. It’s fun, enjoyable and one of the most dance-along-to tracks on the album. A few are up-tempo, but this one is the one you most have fun listening to. The beginning gets you utterly grabbed into the song, and prepares you for what’s in store and that’s enjoyment. This and track seven “Very Kind” are my favourite on the whole album. They’re catchy, and although both are completely different I like them for one reason – originality. Although this track resembles something of the 70’s it’s still very much it’s own song, and utter fun!

Track eleven, the final one, is where the album gets its name. “Friday’s Child” to me is the worst track on the whole album. It’s repetitive, and at 8 minutes long (Yes, 8 minutes!) it's a tad tedious. The endless flute playing in the background is annoying, and although I’m very much a jazz fan, this is less jazz and more wannabe jazz. It has mixtures of jazz/classical, and there’s simply not enough of Will to get it out of its hole. The last 4 and a half minutes don’t even have Will on it at all, just that bloody flute. “Friday’s Child” is great the first time to listen to, it’s interesting, different, and totally new, but after that first listen it becomes too boring to listen to again. The single version is much better and really enjoyable to listen to. Much better than the album version

♠ Best track(s) ♠:
Track seven – “Very Kind” and track ten “Out Of My Mind”

♠ Worst track ♠:
Track eleven “Friday’s Child” isn't really the worst, but it's not the greatest.

♠ How many good tracks out of 11?♠:
11. All tracks are wonderful and great to listen to. Sure "Fridays Child" is a bit repetitve but it's still a good, thought-provoking track.

♠♠ Conclusion ♠♠

I’m not usually a fan of albums, I tend to go for Greatest Hits and Soundtracks, because I’m not the sort of person who can love new music, but I make an exception with this one. New, original, and totally worthy of the number 1 slot it achieved in the charts. I think, even if it has been awful it would’ve got the number 1 slot, but isn’t it even better that it got the number 1 slot, and that it was good. This album is for everyone, and I’ve never meant that as much before. There’s something here for everyone. Wonderful!

© Matt Roberts 2003.

[Note: The title refers to Will's words he used when Simon Cowell commented he was "distinctly average".]

 

...less