The Bottom Line
fun. have followed their massive #1 hit single "We Are Young" with another musically accessible slice of alternative pop. Once again the lyrics delve into the emotions of life in ways that slowly reveal different levels of meaning. The Jeff Bhasker production is spare and effective creating a huge sound from relatively few discreet musical elements. "Some Nights" is not the instant classic "We Are Young" became, but it is one of the stronger pop singles of the year.
Pros
- Thoughtful lyrics meditating on fame and life
- Rousing martial drums
- Energy and enthusiasm in the production
Cons
- No significant negatives
Description
- Written by Jeff Bhasker, Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost, and Jack Antonoff
- Produced by Jeff Bhasker
- Released June 2012 by Fueled By Ramen
Guide Review - fun. - "Some Nights"
"Some Nights" kicks off with an a capella chorus that leaves no doubt this is the same band that gave us "We Are Young." Both the sound led by the voice of Nate Ruess and the lyrical meditation on personal angst are unmistakably fun. It is easy to get completely swept away by the power pop melody. However, it won't be long before you start considering what is behind the words.
The martial beat of the drums and line, "This is it, boys, this is war," have led some to believe the song refers specifically to war. However, it is most likely that is used as a metaphor to describe the energy and enthusiasm to be mustered in order to succeed with life goals. Just as in "We Are Young," fun. are able to make the most sobering life questions sound like a glorious challenge. Has the question, "What do I stand for?" ever sounded more rousing? Both Nate Ruess' clarion singing voice and the spare but expansive production from Jeff Bhasker create the uplifting feeling.
fun. have presented a cohesive sound between these two singles and are one of the most exciting acts to make a mainstream pop breakthrough this year. There is a serious side to the lyrics as well as clever and humorous elements in the music. When Nate Ruess sings, "The most amazing things, they can come from some terrible lies," the music fades into the auto-tune technology that is frequently used to cover what would otherwise be mistakes in singing. fun.'s music is both intelligent and, well, fun. We can ask for little more from mainstream pop music.
