Music Review: Naughty Boy & Sam Smith "La La La"

Naughty Boy & Sam Smith

La La La

Album: Hotel Cabana

Year: 2013

         Sam Smith prefers denial over reality in the pessimistic  “La La La.”

       A downcast piano opens the single, setting a grim tone.   It leads to the childlike’s “la” which is  part of the chorus.(“La la, la la la la la na na na na na/La la na na, la la la la la na na na na na/La la, la la la la la na na na na na/La la na na, la la la la la na na na na na.”)

       Seated across from him, a woman tells her friend that she always makes sure her car doors are locked if sees a black person walk near her. She explains it could be a group of them and they could carjack her. He shifts in his seat, trying to talk above the conversation. He wants to get out of there and leave. While he knows it’s a racist point of view, it rattles him that other people believe it and let it form their ideology. (“Hush, don't speak/When you spit your venom, keep it shut I hate it/When you hiss and preach/About your new messiah cause your theories catch fire.”)

          In the pre-chorus, his friend tells him those are ignorant people and the world has changed since then. Other people know that it’s wrong and it’s a lot more obvious today. However, he’s heard it countless times and he can’t tolerate it anymore. (“I can't find your silver lining/I don't mean to judge/But when you read your speech, it's tiring/Enough is enough.”)

       In the chorus, he refuses to listen, tuning everyone out. (“I'm covering my ears like a kid/When your words mean nothing, I go la la la/I'm turning up the volume when you speak/Cause if my heart can't stop it, I find a way to block it/I go/La la, la la la/La la, la la la/I find a way to block it/I go/La la, la la la/La la, la la la.”)

         He gives his girlfriend a kiss. Eventually, they will break up one day. However, he’d rather pretend that she loves him. They will have a huge fight and he will ignore her. The thought of it alone upsets him. (“If our love is running out of time/I won't count the hours, rather be a coward/When our words collide/I'm gonna drown you out before I lose my mind.”)

          His friend tells him that at least he would find out that she wasn’t the right person for him. It would give him the freedom to find someone else. He shakes his head and walks away. (“I can't find your silver lining/I don't mean to judge/But when you read your speech, it's tiring/Enough is enough.”)

           The chorus is sung twice to end the single.

       Smith’s disquieting vocals believe the world is a scary place. He can’t bear to be in it and wants to hide somewhere safe. All his fears can come true at any moment. Nothing could ever convince him the world will improve.

      Naughty Boy’s compelling arrangement is moody and ominous, as though something horrible is going to happen at any time. EDM usually gets philosophical (or acts like it is), but he is able to make his point effectively with the child’s “la la la’s.”  Usually, children in music are there to manipulate and strangle the heartstrings.  However, here the child seems to be Smith’s mindset.

       The defeatist “La La La” isn’t afraid to delve deeper and gut the emotions.