FAWM: "Never too Smart (to be an idiot)"

Never too Smart (to be an idiot)

Liner Notes

Sorry to keep on leading with self-criticism but this one is just a bit too twee isn't it? Quite like the second verse lyrics and the Casio bassline though. Probably needs some harmonies, maybe some Omnichord but... I'm tired. Might come back to it.

#indiepop #casiocore #lofi

Lyrics

it’s been a few years
but it’s back, that strange sensation
unable to sleep because I’ve had a conversation
that I need to replay
for the sixtieth time
reviewing every godforsaken line

I will revise what went wrong
but you still got version one

you’re never too old to feel shiny and new
and you’re always allowed to feel lost and confused
so don’t be too stubborn to follow your heart
because you’re never too smart
to be an idiot

called into the office
and asked why my work is suffering
but it’s not my fault - my brain won’t stop buffering
I’m a hopeless progress bar rotating in space
I devoted too much bandwidth to your face

flip the switch, reset
wake in a cold sweat

Comments

@thelowestbitter 1d

Sickeningly twee, just how I like it. Shades of Ace Bushy Striptease on this. This is so warm and fuzzy, instrumentation is lovely, love that clicky-clack beat, and that squelchy synth brass. Really enjoyed this!

@thedutchwidows 1d

How much twee is too much twee, and won't twee tolerance vary according to person or mood? One person's too twee is another's just the right amount of twee. This doesn't feel overly twee to me. Probably about the right amount of twee. I love the retro keyboard feel to things - that bass part is great. The words are great - well observed and succinct. The second verse is indeed excellent, but the first is no slouch - sets up the premise beautifully. Harmonies? They could overwhelm what is quite a nice, simple presentation, with lots of space for your vocal to breathe, but it's your song, so if you want to, do. Do you like the Omnichord? Never used one, but I'm hopefully about to borrow one, and I'm looking to having a play and then inevitably trying to find one on eBay..!

@loveonamixtape 1d

I think this is fun, not at all too twee! Lovely arrangement and meandering but hummable melody, and because the cleverness is just too clever to be too twee. I know you feel like you've been struggling with lyrics lately, but these are great and, in particular "I’m a hopeless progress bar rotating in space/I devoted too much bandwidth to your face" is truly top tier!

@freshspotlessyouth 1d

There's no such thing as too twee in my book. At any rate, the twee is tempered by delicious melancholy here. I love a good sad-sack song, and this is one. The vocal is especially warm and compelling on this one, and the melody delightfully melodic. Reviewing every godforsaken line--ouch! I definitely know what you're talking about

@owl 2d

Not too twee at all, but admittedly I have a high tolerance!
The textures in this are stellar, I love the drum machine and mellow detuned synth sounds. The lyrics are very sweet and the “hopeless progress bar”/“bandwidth” couplet was my favorite, such a great turn of phrase.

@jimdgreen 3d

twee? but twee-core is never a bad place to be, I dream of being able to produce something half as twee.

really loved this. more please.

@adforperu 4d

I do love the way you weave your way around that progression. Big fan of the lyric here, especially the "called into the office" verse, really evocative. How many tracks have you got on this one? Feels like there's a lot of elements but they all sit so perfectly together to give such a dreamy backing. It also feels truly lo-fi and not forced, which I have trouble with managing!

@frenchcricket 4d

Emma recognised this as you within two bars of it starting. So maybe you just have a sound. I think perhaps the 1001ing has expanded your tastes slightly. Same here. Anyway, nothing wrong with ploughing a familiar trough, especially at this part of FAWM. And you do this so well. I love that pause before the ‘to be an idiot’, and ‘I’m a hopeless progress bar in space’ - wonderful. I really like the way it ends too with the Casio.

@ayeahmur 4d

100% agree that the lyrics to verse 2 are awesome. "I devoted too much bandwidth to your face" is SUCH a great line, it sums up what came before it perfectly. And the rest of the lyrics are pretty good too.
Too twee? I don't think so. It feels heartfelt to me.

@michellelyons 4d

I get where you're coming from with the "twee" self-accusation, but I think this all works! The wobbly lo-fi-ness also helps with adding some texture.

I also like the bit at the end of the first chorus with the held chord followed by the bopping drum machine, and especially the re-working of the same bit on the second go-around. It vaguely reminded me of the famous part from the Beatles' version of Twist And Shout.

The title of the song also applies to an awful lot of different things, and not just heart-broken people trying to get through their day... it could do with being yelled at the usual types on the telly, the radio, newspapers, podcasts, the internet in general, in a very different context!

@deena 4d

This is charming!!! So funny and sweet!

@afterschoolclub 4d

Nah, this isn't too twee at all. Particularly keen on the progression here (love that change on 'one' & 'sweat'). The instrumentation is quirky and massively appealing too. I know I always highlight the lyrics but what do you want, they're always good! Really relatable as well.

@communitykickabout 4d

You build up to the title line in the chorus is effortlessly, it's very pleasing, and you are right to be happy with the bass! I think the progression in general is great, really interesting.

@theodamus 4d

Ahhh yes I know it well - I found a page in my notebook from the first few days of fawm where I had written “I was a @&(*€#%+ idiot before idiots were cool” and I have no memory of writing it. Perhaps because you did instead!

It feels very goths era mountain goats to me, love the Casio, and “I’m a hopeless progress bar rotating in space” is an absolute killer line. Love it!