Track 7: Rachel Platten/âLone Rangerâ
âGreat pop music is wasted on childrenâ -Pop Justice
Pop music is weird.
In many ways it's a 'young man's game' that can be unkind to anyone trying to break into the charts past a certain age. Over the decades both audiences & the actual artists that produce pop have skewed to those in their teens to twenties. I think it's bullshit.
Songwriting, like other crafts, is something you get better as you get older, but at some point our culture deemed anyone over the age 30 unmarketable to 'the youth', so even though most pop music writers are well over 30... the actual face of pop is young. Â I loved the 80's, which was really last time age didn't matter in pop. Men & women in their 30's, 40's, & older not only sold lots of records, but even topped the charts. It was a great time for pop, IMO, especially middle-of-the-road 'tuneful pop' that both kids, teens, & parents could enjoy. The tide is shifting back that way some & Rachel Platten in the poster child for that movement.
'Wildfire' is a fantastic collection of pop music & at age 35, her success makes me about as giddy as anyone's in pop the last decade. She is just such a sincere artist & humble individual. Let me not be humble for her: She is amazing & her success is completely deserved.
Picking my best song from Wildfire was easy for me, though much like her 'overnight' success was to the industry, probably somewhat surprising. The song 'Lone Ranger' was one of my most played songs of the year. I'm both frustrated it wasn't a proper singer & elated that it's 'mine'. Had it been a single it would've probably been my favorite of the year.
The lyrics wouldn't have been out of place on Lissie's album (see last blog entry) which is probably why I've played 'Don't Give Up On Me' & 'Lone Ranger' back to back all year. They are sister songs in my sonic world.
There is a manic quality to song that somehow works. Rachel Platten wears her heart on her sleeve as a writer & doesn't get bogged down with too much artsy-fartsy stuff. That said, using the idea of the Long Ranger as a metaphor for a manic personality is deceptfuly clever. In 'Lone Ranger' she is so to the point, some of the lyrics are unsettling. While you think being the Lone Ranger sounds great in theory, some of scattershot details out some of the negatives aren't so glamorous.
Ultimately, Wildfire was in my top albums of the year and the 1-2-3 punch of 'Fight Song', 'Better Place' & 'Lone Ranger' are arguably the best trio of consecutive songs on a pop album in 2016. Since her music gets to the point, so will. Rachel Platten is a flat out force of nature, a gem & an inspiration. Much like the real Lone Ranger, sheâs also a symbol for something greater. Sheâs a symbol that thirty-somethings can still blaze the trail in an industry obsessed with youth.