I tell you I, I'd feel a whole lot better if you took some time to shed a tear

Nineteen year old Chilean-born Norwegian singer Alejandro Fuentes first became famous when he took third in the second season of Norwegian Idol. He went on to release his debut album afterwards, but the sales of that album would be far eclipsed by the next record he was involved in, the live recording of the tour he went on with Kurt Nilsen, Askil Holm, and Espen Lind. 2007 has brought around his second solo album; he's currently on the second single from it which, in a good sign for him, is performing better than the first--it's currently sitting atop the Norwegian singles chart for its fourth straight week. With good reason, too--it's a great song.

Hell If I--a commenter last year described Alejandro's debut album as him basically just trying to make a David Gray album and, though my knowledge of David Gray is extremely limited and this is now Alejandro's second album, I think you still definitely get a similar vibe. I've heard disappointing things about his second album as a whole and so not picked it up yet, but with this song, Alejandro has definitely got it completely right--that chorus has got a heck of an earworm embedded in it, as does the whole song, to be honest. "Hell If I" manages to simultaneously sound smooth and sort of organic, a little rich. And really, if you bother to pay attention to the lyrics (and usually I don't--as long as they work in sound, that's usually what matters to me, not meaning), it's actually got some interesting sentiment behind it that's played out really well. The first verse opens with "I thought we had something special," which becomes "I thought we had something precious/even if I messed up;" then the bridge, that finds Alejandro admitting " I know I've lost my right to judge things you do" as well as " I must confess it hurts a little more then it should," before we move into that secretly catchy chorus, where he proclaims " Hell if I'm gonna cry because you found someone new" before admitting that he'd feel a lot better if his ex was more upset about the breakup, adding that " Maybe you didn't have to look so pleased/so good, so satisfied." I don't know, something about the whole "I know it's my fault this is over, but I can't get how happy you are with someone else out of my head--couldn't you act a little more upset about this?" idea gets to me. I mean, obviously the character he's singing from the perspective of isn't justified in what he wants at all, but since when has something not being the "right" thing to feel ever stopped people from feeling it? I think that's why I like the lyrics (when I'm actually listening to them)--there's a kind of universal sentiment behind them--and, when coated in this melody, which isn't in-your-face at all (if this was, say, an aggressive pop-rock song full of snarling guitars, I'd probably be a lot more upset about what he was singing), they're just so melancholy in a catchy appealing way that I can't resist--Alejandro may be able to muster up the macho "hell if I'm going to care that you're gone" posturing for a few seconds at the beginning of each chorus, but he can't manage the facade for long before he lets hints of how bothered he truly is slip in, with the music changing to match the change in lyrics, the energy and the strength backing off just as he does. Of course, all that said, the song still manages to end up feeling like it could be a great defiant sing along type of affair, so maybe the proper interpretation is a completely different one (or maybe it's just a case of bitter versus secretly sad). I'd still say the real reason I love this song is how catchy it is, but when I'm in the mood for depth (even if it's only mid-level depth that to be honest is still beyond me), it's there.

To buy Alejandro Fuentes's second album, Tomorrow Only Knows, go here (physical). The title song from the album was the lead single and is worth a listen if you like this song--it's happier.

Next up: something much more upbeat and poppier, though maybe not very appropriate for the beginning of the week.

I know I've lost my right to judge the things you do

In other Norwegian news that I should have mentioned in the post below this, I'm very taken with Alejandro Fuentes's "Hell If I" at the moment. Yes, I realize it's been out for something like a month now so I really should have realized how much I like it earlier, but...better late than never? It's...hmm...I'm not sure how to describe it. It's that "organic" sort of pop that I tend to describe as "singer-songwriter-sounding" even if it's not actually written by the singer (though here Alejandro did co-write it). I'll try to work on a better description for when I inevitably end up posting it (though it'll probably end up being not much more that what I've just written). Until then, you can listen to it on his MySpace.

Babe I'm gonna get you back, gonna show you what I'm made of

Though it's been officially fall for a few days now, today was the first day that it really felt like it--the unseasonable 90-plus degree heat of the past few days was replaced with rain, falling leaves, and a grayness that seemed to seep into everywhere and erase all vestiges of the sun. With the weather like that, my plan to post this song was truly set; it's very much an end of summer song.

Yes, you thought we'd be taking a break from songs involving Espen Lind for a while, didn't you? Well, not quite yet, though today it's not just about him--it's also about Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes, and Askil Holm. All four are Norwegian and are signed to the same record label, I think, which led to them going on tour together in 2006, singing a mix of classics and their own hits, but all together. They do make sort of an odd-looking group, but who cares when they sound as good together as they do? The tour and album (a recording of it) found incredible popularity, as did the lead single from it, their version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." The song I'm posting, though, isn't that one; instead, it's a song that I love hearing just about any version of, so long as it stays "pretty." Actually, I take that back--browsing through iTunes, there's an awful lot of bad covers of it. Why so many trance and punk covers? Maybe this is a better way to put it: if someone sang it on Idol and did at least a passable job, I'd love it; in my eyes, the song is just that strong.

Boys of Summer--the Don Henley song loses about a minute or so in this cover, which is fine with me. The four guys' voices really do sound fantastic together, and this song suits them perfectly they can do wistfulness well. Why someone so paranoid about birthdays should love listening to a song emphasizing getting older, I have no idea (the Don Henley video does my head in--the bit with the guy looking miserable in the office?). I know this isn't the sort of song you'd call "poptastic" by any stretch and I imagine if there was any sort of ideological basis to my love for pop beyond "I enjoy it," this is the sort of song I should hate, but I love it. It's just such a hypnotic and well-written song.

To buy the album Hallelujah Live, go here (physical).

Edit: I forgot to mention that Jonathan Fagerlund's next single will be the excellent "Playing Me," which I'm really excited about--I hope it does well. And I hope it's available for purchase on iTunes worldwide and from Klicktrade regardless of region again.

Next up: maybe an American singer.