The Bottom Line
Maroon 5's trademark soulful pop-rock crunch makes most of their songs sound instantly familiar. "Wake Up Call" is no different. Before you know it, with the simple hook, you are likely to be singing along. However, when you dig a bit further into the violent lyrics, you may have second thoughts about the singalong.
Watch "Wake Up Call" Video
Pros
- Aggressively soulful rock
Cons
- Vocals lack passion
- Violent lyrics
Description
- Synth line gives way to gunshot from drums
- Lyrics detail lack of remorse at revenge killing
- Repetitive vocals
Guide Review - Maroon 5
With "Wake Up Call," Maroon 5 takes steps toward bringing Quentin Tarantino-styled film violence to the world of pop music. The song details the response to catching one's lover in bed with another and the accompanying lack of remorse for actions taken. In the song's video, designed as a film trailer, Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine pays for his murderous response.
The insistent, pounding, keyboard-centered soul-rock approach of the music fits the lyrical intensity of the song well. Drumbeats ring out effectively like gunshots. The question left for listeners and fans is whether "Wake Up Call" unnecessarily glorifies the violent content of both song and video.
Maroon 5 remains a band with tremendous potential that returns time and time again to sex-drenched psychodramas leaving a one-note sound to most of their material. With the videos released to accompany songs from their first album, Maroon 5 drew controversy for possibly misogynistic sexual content. Now, it seems that boredom will soon become the appropriate response as sex and violence continue to take the place of originality in the music of Maroon 5.
