Music Review: Kiesza "Hideaway"

Kiesza

Hideaway

Album: Hideaway

Year: 2014

           Kiesza’s relationship with her boyfriend keeps her together in the trendy “Hideaway.”

            Minimal synths open the single, preparing for the peak hour.  In the parking lot, she sees her boyfriend waiting for her.  All the stress leaves her body as she walks to the car. She wants to do a little dance or jump or down. A wide smile crosses her face once she enters the car and asks him how the drive was. She tells him about a report that she had to finish and then redo. He is incredibly patient. If it weren’t for him, she would’ve told told off her boss and been fired. (“Taking me higher than I've ever been before/I'm holding it back, just want to shout out, give me more/You're just a hideaway/You're just a feeling/You let my heart escape/Beyond the meaning/Not even I can't find a way to stop the storm/Oh baby, it's out of my control/It's going home/But you're just a chance I take/To keep on dreaming/You're just another day/That keeps me breathing.”)

            The rubbery synths are stamped on the beat, setting a familiar tone, as though I should be waiting for the newest episode of Party of Five to come on and hoping that Bailey better be treating Sarah right this week. But then he will apologize with those cute dimples in his cheeks and I will love him again. Bailey? Bailey, what? Huh? Bailey, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? DON’T KISS HER! YOU LOVE SARAH! I HATE YOU SHOW!!!! Same time, next week?

             Oops. I have completely returned my 90s, overly invested shipper version of me. Lots of fun for me, not so much for the song.

           In the chorus, she likes the challenges each new brings. She’s glad to have him there to help her through it. (“Baby, I love the way that there's nothing sure/Baby, don't stop me/Hideaway with me some more/Hideaway with me some more.”)

               Even after several years together, she still gets butterflies. She has become a stronger person because of him. She has confidence in herself now. (“You send me the shiver and the spine that might overflow/You're bringing me closer to the edge/I'm letting go/You're just a hideaway/You're just a feeling/You let my heart escape/Beyond the meaning/Putting my head into the clouds/I'm floating home/When you can be going I can't find a way to stop/You're just a chance I take/To keep on dreaming/You're just another day that keeps me breathing.”)

              The chorus is sung again.

            Other than a minor lyric change, the first verse doubles as the bridge. (“Bringing me higher up than I've ever been before…you're a day that keeps me dreaming.”)

        The chorus is sung again to end the single.

         Kiesza’s fervent vocals bring plenty of power, making the DJ’s commissioned for the remixes lives much easier. She’s got athletic vocal chords that can work out all day long without breaking a sweat.

        The precise  “Hideaway” flashes back to mid-1990s dance but does nothing to improve on it.