Paolo Nutini - Candy (Single)
If you were anywhere near the UK in 2006-2007 you would have a soft spot for young Paolo Nutini. The freshly plucked 18 year old with a penchant for older women, young but pensive looks to make any girls warm in her lady parts, a broken heart, the grainy soulful voice of a seasoned chain smoker, and a poetic view on relationships. I swooned like all the others and desired desperately to be the girl he yearned for in all his crowd pleasing guitar ballads.
So with sentimental warmth, I am pleased to say, Candy is… Quite good.
It has, as expected, mass appeal. Chart savvy to be sure. But it seems a few years have brought about some delightful changes. Vocally, Nutini has matured, hard to imagine considering he already sounded like a middle aged crooner. He now seethes his words with the ache of a lovelorn soldier reminiscing about the great war. Also, it seems, he has gone all country on us, and delivers it with conviction. From the slow building slide guitar to the appropriate use of the word ‘darlin’.
This being the single I can only assume that it is within the top three songs from an up coming album, which does cause some concerns. If this is a stand out track it could possibly make for a lack lustre listen. Based on a very straight forward guitar/percussion/back-up vocals melody and an unnecessary build up crescendo following the obligatory bridge. But as a stand alone song it is very pleasant to the ears and that voice mixed with passionately nurturing lyrics will most surely melt hearts and thighs all over again.
Ah Paolo… Maybe one day.
