On March 1st, Isaac Dunbar released his new song, ‘Backseat Girl’. With Dunbar himself calling this release ‘the best song I’ve ever written’, the first play is filled with great anticipation.
‘Backseat Girl’ talks about being anything but someone’s first choice and wondering if things could be different (‘I’m just your backseat girl, If only l could rule your world’). However, the song is anything but sad-sounding. If anything, it’s more about desperation (The bridge repeating ‘Bang bang the door down man! Let me in!’) and anger. Even with these emotions, the song is very upbeat.
Compared to Dunbar’s last few releases, this song has a less characteristic theatrical production. But because of this, there is more emphasis on his vocals, which truly sound fantastic in this song. Dunbar’s tone of voice shifts slightly throughout the different lines, emphasising the meaning of the lyrics. The higher-pitched background vocals in the bridge add to the feeling of his pleas of desperation, begging for understanding.
The more stripped-down approach can remind long-time listeners of his earlier work, which is a cool comparison to see both consistency and immense artistic growth. There is still plenty going on in the song though, a continuous beat, electrical guitars, and synths give it an infectious rhythm.
With the verses being short, the choruses repeat quickly. At first listen, this can make the song seem a tad bit repetitive, but on the bright side, this repetition also makes it incredibly catchy. After a few listens, you will be able to sing along, and just a handful of listens further, you barely have a choice but to dance along to it.
The song’s release is accompanied by a music video, resembling video clips from the ‘80s with distorted colours, hazy lights, double exposure, and theatrical lip-syncing. This feels fitting for Dunbar’s sound, which takes inspiration from countless genres and eras, and the video really adds to the atmosphere of the song. Overall, Dunbar has done again what he does best: making unique songs that you just have to repeat.
Written by: Marieke Weeda
Edited by: Vanessa Svejkovsky
