One of the things that I hate but love about music is that I’m generally not in control of what I like and dislike. Sure, I can objectively review a song. Similarly, there are times where I unashamedly despise certain classes of music. Music as a business— as regular readers will know — is a pet subject of derision. But sometimes I can’t play this game with my head. Sometimes I can’t judge music.

One such occasion slapped me round the face a few weeks ago, when I first heard this song. Let me tell you straight. It’s gorgeous. It’s also a start to a commercial singing career – maybe a one album pony. It presses all the right buttons. My head would despise it. But the rest of me cannot. Someone so young singing about a two-timing boyfriend.

So why do I like it? Well, quite frankly I almost don’t know. We have a typical pop R’n’B 21st century backing track, although the beats themselves are a little more interesting than one might expect. A voice that’s innocent and knowing, lazily delivered. A perfect kiss-off. But the thing that grabs me is the acoustic guitar motif that accompanies the track. This is the thing that does it for me. A simple riff that supports the song, but works wonderfully. I plan to write an entry sometime about the intimacy of an acoustic guitar – a sort of gentle synesthesia, which is unmatched by any other instrument. This track is the first lesson.