Birdy - Keeping Your Head Up (Single Review)

Jasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer Van Den Bogaerde or 'Birdy' is people often refer to her as, has released a new single on the 1st of January 2016 called 'Keeping Your Head Up'. Birdy is an indie folk solo artist from Hampshire, England and she is commonly renowned for her cover of Bon Ivers song 'Skinny Love' which when released in 2011, her cover sold 259,000 copies in the UK alone - consequently becoming the third biggest selling rock single of 2011. At only 19, Birdy has already been performing for 8 years and with that she has been rewarded with great amounts of success as she released her first debut album at only 15 years of age and it became a global phenomenon.

A sturdy rhythm on the piano is constantly repeated in a fast pace in order to introduce the track and it continued to accompany the vocals until the first verse finished, and then the rhythm changed. The powerful opening line catches your attention immediately.

"Times that I've seen you lose your way, you're not in control and you won't be told."

Obviously the person she has written about has anger problems which could stem from mental health issues which relates to the title of the song 'Keeping Your Head Up' as she just wants them to calm down and keep their dignity and not let whatever demons they are battling - beat them. The chorus and second verse also backs up my theory as the chorus says;

"Hold tight, you're slowly coming back to life. I'll be keeping your head up, I'll be keeping your head up darling."

Then the second verse states;

"Everyone keeps a darker place to lose control, you're not alone."

These lines support my theory of what the song is about as they are leaving the old person they used to be behind, along with the mental illness that they may have and are 'coming back to life'. Then the second verse is saying how everybody has a darker side to them, and has times where they lose control and therefore they comfort them by sayimg 'you're not alone'. I also noticed how when the track progresses a deep beat is added to make the song sound more pop than indie folk and I don't like it because I think that Birdy has got a good niche and she doesn't need to be competing with global superstars in the house and pop genre. She is quite an introverted character as it is, and her voice is to gentle and precious to be ruined by heavy auto tune and a bouncing beat covering her beautiful and distinctive voice.

In conclusion, I expected more from Birdy as I am a big fan of her previous work. There's a lot of thought gone into the lyrics, however for a bit of a remix you'd expect it to be catchy... But it isn't... This song is average and I hope that this isn't going to be the most renowned track off her new album when she releases it. I am rather disappointed in all honesty, but the track does have a good meaning to it which is presented clearly throughout - I just wish that she would just simply stick to her beautiful echoey voice and the piano - that is the way that I prefer her.

7/10