Here we go, the first Will Butler’s song inspired by a Guardian story. A nice little stamping-bouncy keyboard rhythm runs all along the song, and honestly, Butler’s vocals reminds me something of the Talking Heads, or early Arcade Fire, but there’s nothing new there.
The song was inspired by a story coming from Greece, ‘Greek bailout: Athens reform plan delayed until Tuesday – as it happened’ says the headline of an article about the Greek economic reform currently causing tensions in Athens.
Will explains in the Guardian: ‘I’m rooting for Greece. I mean, broadly, who the hell isn’t rooting for Greece? Even if you’re super right wing, or super German, or super capitalist you probably don’t want Greece tumbling out of the Euro and defaulting on its debts.
But beyond that, I like that they’re a young government. I like Yanis Varoufakis, the new finance minister. To a certain extent, I’ve bought into the media portrayal of him (from the Guardian and NPR and all over) as a straight shooting rapscallion who might – just might – be crazy enough to, um, responsibly manage the Greek financial situation?’
I am so impressed by Butler’s strong interest into economics and political stuff, I can’t say I am closely following the Greek situation, although I have seen some reportage about it and their extreme right party scared me. Thus, bravo to Will for being so informed, for knowing the name of Greece’s new Finance Minister, and following the Guardian’s coverage…But what can I say? it is a weird subject for a song.
The song is entitled ‘Clean Monday’ because Greek markets were closed on Monday, as it’s the Greek Orthodox equivalent of Ash Wednesday… ‘It was an amazing/hilarious (well, maybe mildly amusing) coincidence to me that the Greek ministers were scrambling and figuring out how to avoid strict austerity on the day that Lent starts,’ adds Butler in the Guardian.
The song translates a clear nervousness and anxiousness about the moment, about the future, especially in the beginning, which builds some suspense and a possible chase in the dark,… I don’t know this is what I see when I hear Butler sings, he sounds almost oppressed and running away from something.
However, the song doesn’t reveal much of its subject, with lyrics as vague as these ones: ‘You know it’s 9AM/And I, and I’ve been waiting for you wondering where you might sit/I got the guards out just in case it’s true/But you know I know you wouldn’t do it/Why don’t you sit down and take, and take a breath’… So in this sense, I can’t decide whether the song is a success or a failure: it is a success because nobody wants to hear a song about economics, but also a failure (considering his original project) because this song could be almost about anything.