43. Single Preview of Something Happened by Ime Sasu
Originally published September 18, 2024
About the Artist
As a musician, I’ve been widely known as a alt rock, indie rock, and Americana/folk player. Of course I love all kinds of music, but those are the genres I tend to stick around. It’s been that way for a long time, too.
But it wasn’t always that way.
In the 20th century, MTV was known for something completely unfamiliar to the network these days: music. Yes, Music Television used to actually play music. More specifically, they would play music videos. It was there that I heard Jon Secada and his sensational hit, If You Go, for the first time. I liked other types of R&B as well. I definitely got into the Motown revival with acts like Boys 2 Men and All 4 One, but I preferred the soulful style that seemed to physically force emotion straight from their heart to their vocal chords.
Honestly, I haven’t revisited my love for Soul R&B in quite some time. That is, until I heard Ime Sasu and his upcoming single, Something Happened.
Ime Sasu is the epitome of soul R&B. Like Secada, and at times also hinting at the powerful delivery Sir Elton John can bring (though less rock and roll than the pop legend) Sasu is tapped into his emotions and there appears to be a direct link from his heart to his vocal chords.
Coming from Derby, Sasu currently resides in Milton Keyes, England. He has been passionate about music most of his life. However, it wasn’t until May of this year, that he became a published recording artist with the release of his debut single, Dreams. Ime “crafts songs that speak to the universal experiences of love, hope, and dreams.” That’s right. In a world that tells us we have to be sad and depressed to sell a record, he chooses to illuminate that negativity with the powerful message of hope.
About the Song
Something Happened is a Soul/R&B song that is scheduled to release on September 20th, 2024. It has a runtime of just under 4 minutes. It a very positive sounding ballad featuring a layered vocal performance by Sasu, piano, guitar, synths, and a very simple programmed percussion part.
About the Music
Instrumentally, the accompaniment is just that. It is there to support the vocal performance. Every instrumental performance is strictly in pocket. There are no instrumental solo parts that are meant to stand out, and everything is performed with discipline technique.
Vocally, Sasu’s performance is intended to be the melodic highlight and it is. His vocal performance resides in a mid-range, from a higher baritone to a second tenor. He doesn’t incorporate much in the ways of vibrato or runs. Instead, he relies on the pure power of his performance. He has a nice tone, though in some instances it comes out a little forced. This is in no way a distraction. It is a welcome and typical compromise when hearing a voice delivered with as much power.
One thing I really enjoyed is he hears a different path to the melody than what is typical. Particularly in the bridge, he is not afraid to attack the chord progression from a unique angle, offering a melody that is less common to the ear.
Additionally, the layered parts provide a very lovely element. They don’t do much in the way of harmonization. Instead, more interestingly, they seem to bring a secondary melody that performs in support of the primary melodic performance.
Sasu’s vocal performance is strong and represents the genre of Soul/R&B very well. It is driven by emotion and doesn’t concern itself with ornamentations around the message.
About the Lyrics
Lyrically, Something Happened is a love song. What is unclear is if it is about a relationship that continues to exist or if it has ended. It sounds as though it is a relationship that has ended.
“There’s something happened to me, all is a blur to me. I am in a shallow sea, sort of an anime. And my life’s chameleon, taking to reality. Bungee jumping as I will, despite my high anxiety.” The author is telling the listener that he has been shaken by something unexpected and that it has left him in an unrecognizable situation where he is out of his comfort zone. It feels negative, but could honestly go either way.
In the first chorus, the author says, “Illusions rage in my head. Blissful waves awaken me. I experience chills. I am on edge and calm.” To me, this still feels ambiguous, like it could be a joyous feeling or not so much. There are polarizing indicators. Using words like “rage” in one sentence, then “blissful,” in the next.
In the second verse, the narrative seems to steer more towards the positive with lines like “And I feel you dancing, like a palm in the wind.” However, once again, the vibe tends to get a little cloudy in the latter part of the song where the narrator states they are hanging on a fantasy and wishful thinking, then referencing feeling split apart.
I am going to say this is referencing the aftermath of a break up or it is referencing a desire to be with somebody who is not open to or unaware of that. Like a crush or a person who rejected an advance.
Final Thoughts
Listening to Something Happened has been a very nostalgic experience for me. I haven’t revisited my old love for Soul/R&B in quite a while. In reviewing this record, I got to blissfully do so. It is important to remember even sad songs can feel positive when listening to this style of music. If You Go, by Jon Secada, is essentially a tale of a subject singing to their object of affection because they have chosen a different lover, leaving the subject distraught. But the musicality is so uplifting, it is almost hard to remember the heartbreak.
Soul/R&B is about captivating the audience with powerful melody. Ime Sasu has done that here, as well as with his older record, Dreams. People have seemingly started to hone in on this fact, too, as his debut single has already garnered thousands of streams on Spotify. I have no doubt that Something Happened will be met with equal success as Sasu builds to the future.
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