Ok, we all know some bands that have moments of sheer genius. But those moments are never completely completed. Well, this is likely the first one-hit-wonder that I’m going to post. Heh, that instantly brings to mind “That’s it Guy Patterson, the Wonders, but instead of a W you can spell it with an O-N-E like the Beatles”, ;You’re talking gibberish.” C’mon, you don’t know where that comes from?!? Pah-leeze. If you haven’t seen ‘That Thing You Do’, then get thyself to the rental store and rent the DVD today! Find out who the Oneders (Oh-ned-ers) are. You’ll be glad you did. Anyway, it’s highly possible you’ve heard this song before. Why, it’s been a mild hit in several parts of the Globe. It was also in one of my favorite movies – Love Actually. Damn straight, I am man enough to admit that’s a damn good flick.
Anyway, there’s a scene where Colin, God of Sex who is on the wrong continent, is about to have a major five-some with four hotties. Well actually it starts with 3 hotties and the 4th one walks through a shot as this song is playing. The 4th in question is Shannon Elizabeth. Another one of those where are they now types. Hmmm… I’m wondering if maybe I should reserve Fridays as the “Where are they now?” slot. Sorta like Sunday’s Child. Something to think about anyway. But I won’t make it official yet.
Where was I? Oh yeah, moments of brilliance. This song is probably the strongest song on the album Camino Palmero. The rest of the album has fleeting moments of greatness that never quite make it all the way through the song. I really like the intro drum groove to We’re Forgiven, but then when the singer kicks in, blah. Stigmatized also starts with a great acoustic guitar part in alternate tuning – again once the song hits the chorus its fails to maintain to me. So to get back to this song, Wherever You Will Go. I’m not sure what it is about this song, but it at least holds my attention all the way through. It might be the close connection to that Scott Stapp Syndrome, which as much as I didn’t like it, I’ll still listen. Nah, that’s not it. Usually I dislike bands with singers that resemble anything like Stapp (I won’t apologize to Creed fans – it’s fine that you love them).
I guess this is probably more the fact that I relate it to the movie. Thus because the movie was so amazing, everything associated with it just gets put into the ‘great’ category. It’s a typical power-ballad. Nice mellow start, fleshing into a big chorus, full of lush strings and the big bridge followed by the breakdown and building back up. So formula, but it so works.
Maybe you hate this type of formula. Too Bad, come back tomorrow, see if I do something different. Or better yet, rip me a new one in the comments. If you loved it, you should tell me to tell me that too – then go buy the song.
(** Disclaimer: if the label RCA finds me and decides that they dislike this song being on a blog I will remove the song faster than a one-hit-wonder comes and goes, then wonders why they didn’t have career longevity. As always the post will remain. **)