Music Review: The Wanted "Glad You Came"

The Wanted

Glad You Came

Album: Battleground

Year: 2011

               Max George zeros in on a pretty girl while at the bar in the pushy “Glad You Came.”

             A passive synth opens the single, setting a shy tone.   The chorus starts the single, with George on vocals. It’s11 p.m.and he is hanging out with his friends. While chatting with them, he scans the room looking to see who is there tonight. On the dance floor, he spots a brunette in a black striped maxi dress. He recognizes her right away. Like him, she’s a regular at the bar but they never talked. He figures he has his chance now. She doesn’t appear to be with anybody. His night is already better with her there. (“The sun goes down/The stars come out/And all that counts/Is here and now/My universe will never be the same/I'm glad you came.”)

           The roused  synths perk up, full of confidence.

          Nathan Sykes has the first verse. He’s entranced by her although he’s seen her often. He watches return back to her table. She wipes the sweat away on her forehead with a napkin, laughing at a joke her friend. He didn’t ever notice how graceful she was. She would make a great girlfriend for him. He wants to talk with her in private. (“You cast a spell on me, spell on me/You hit me like the sky fell on me, fell on me/And I decided you look well on me, well on me/So let's go somewhere no one else can see, you and me.”)

        Tom Parker has the pre-chorus. First, he heads to the bar and buys a drink. Then, he pushes through a group of people to get her table. There, he gets in between her and friend and presents her with a drink. She takes it and thanks him. He asks her if she would like to talk. She mentions she would but not for long. It’s her friend birthday tonight. He responds ok and asks if he could join her instead. (“ Turn the lights out now/
Now I'll take you by the hand/Hand you another drink/Drink it if you can/Can you spend a little time/Time is slipping away/Away from us so stay/Stay with me I can make/Make you glad you came.”)

      The synths perk up yet again.

      They all the sing chorus this time with an extra “I’m glad you came.”

      Siva Kaneswaran repeats the first verse.

       Sykes repeats the pre-chorus.

        They all sing the chorus again, with “I’m glad you came” said three extra times.

        The second chorus (with the extra “I’m glad you came”) is sung again to end the single.
 

         The Wanted’s anxious, expectant vocals come on strong, confusing friendliness with interest. She won’t be left alone until he (George, in this case) gets what he wants.

             While repetition in dance music is expected, it shouldn’t be noticeable. After the first minute or so, the entire song is heard. Without any beat break or lyrical change, there isn’t any reason to keep on listening.

       The pesty “Glad You Came” can’t take a hint.