Our collective culture and history is flooded with lesson learnt and the sayings that have generated from them. Some of these parables fall out of use over time, while a few endure and find their way into our everyday lexicon. One such memento that you’ve probably heard before is “turn the other cheek,” meaning that the best way to deal with an assailant is to remain calm and passive. However, just because it’s a cliché, it doesn’t mean that it’s true. A modern day wordsmith who challenges this concept is Detroit singer and songwriter Melanie Pierce in her vivaciously moody single ‘fool’.
This track opens placidly with minimalist guitar notes, shuffling percussion and a slunking bassline over which Pierce commandingly questions, “I want you right here, isn’t that selfish?” This quiet introduction seeped into an all-consuming passion soon breaks away into an americana-tinged, indie-rock chorus in which the songwriter throws caution to the wind to admit her true feelings. The other aspect to this song is that an extraordinary and lustful love like this must also be handled with care, as indicated by the themes of selfishness and foolishness. Considering this we return to our first point as the artist flips that well-known saying on its head to warn her paramour, “don’t turn that other cheek.” Evidently she wants to face all moments, whether blissful or conflicting, head on with her partner.
‘fool’ is a powerful single that has the listener reflecting on their own relationships and eagerly anticipating more new music from Melanie Pierce. That’s just as well as her debut EP, Stir Crazy, is due to arrive October this year.
You can also find ‘fool’ in our Folk This Way and Shades of Pop playlists.
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