Singles Roundup: Feb. 5

Singles Round Up – The Arts and Entertainment Department takes a look at some of the recently released singles from the past week.

“Turn the Lights Back On” - Billy Joel

After 17 years, the legendary American singer, songwriter and pianist, Billy Joel announced his first single since “Christmas in Fallujah” in 2007.

The song was released on Feb. 1 and was passionately performed live by Joel at the 2024 Grammys. He blew the audience away with his infamous talent and skills as the “Piano Man.”

The slow beat paired with the melancholy lyrics creates a story of a persistent reconciliation of love with an old partner. This feeling is reinforced by the catchy melody of the chorus allowing the audience to appreciate the emotional ballad.

The arrangement of his instrumental interludes and piano creates a nostalgic connection between his older music.

He dramatically concludes the outro with an off-beat version of the chorus leaving a lingering feeling of hopeful sadness.

The display of Joel’s ability to captivate his audience is still apparent even after decades of performing. - Sidona Walker

“Oh No :: He Said What?” - Nothing But Thieves

English rock band Nothing But Thieves dropped their intense new single “Oh No :: He Said What?” earlier this week, marking their first release of 2024.

The aggressive track is relentless, opening with the up-beat in-your-face instrumental and never straying. While the backbeat is consistently rock, the chorus has a switch toward a techno sound.

Nothing But Thieves is achieving an 80s pop music meets early 2010s club type music, whether they like it or not. The dramatics of the instrumental is only highlighted more by the excessive use of falsetto vocals throughout the song.

Coming in just under four minutes long, “Oh No :: He Said What?” is not a particularly long song, but its repetition on all fronts make it almost unbearable. By the halfway point it’s hard to tell if the song is on a constant loop or not because there are so little differences between the verses.

“Oh No :: He Said What?” is not the worst song to be released this week, but it allowed itself to lose momentum with the overwhelming instrumental and never got it back. -Megan Kelby

“Bandit” - Don Toliver

Don Toliver is an American rapper known for his 2020 single "After Party,” which went viral on TikTok.

“Bandit” is his first new single since releasing “Love Sick,” his third studio album, in early 2023. Toliver is back one year later with his signature sound and an extraordinarily catchy beat.

The beat is actually a looped guitar sample from Tame Impala’s “One More Hour” over a heavy trap drum beat, explaining why it’s so catchy.

This is definitely a song headphones are needed for, as the bass is really what makes it.

The post-chorus, where Toliver goes into a lower range, adds dynamic to the track. His middle and upper range are also highlighted throughout the song, showcasing his versatility as a vocalist.

However, Toliver uses a lot of autotune, which may be a part of his sound, but it takes away from his vocal skills and the song overall. - Rachel Fisher

Sidona Walker is a third-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, email smw6792@psu.edu.

Megan Kelby is a fourth-year majoring in journalism. To contact her, email mkk5701@psu.edu.

Rachel Fisher is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email rlf5481@psu.edu.