High - The Cure
Song of the Day #16
Apple Music link: https://music.apple.com/us/album/high/301011929?i=301011931
The same silky intro, spacious sound, and placement on Wish give the impression that "High" will be a rewrite of "Pictures of You," and while it doesn't reach the magnificent heights of that masterpiece (what can?), it is still a great song in its own right. I don't buy any of the accusations of Robert selling out in 1992: Wish was an attempt at exploring more dimensions of the sound he created on Disintegration, and why not explore some of the lighter, more cheery sides of life? Anyways, despite the reputation Disintegration has, it had many moments of life-affirming beauty to contrast Robert's typical gloominess, and on Wish, he tries much more often to focus on the former.
There are so many things to love about this song. Its lovely melody flows with seamless perfection, especially when boasting such intricate and beautiful arrangments and production. Though unlike past Cure classics, its grand sound feels surprisingly warm and friendly, the main riff communicating tender affection rather than romantic sadness. My favorite part is all of those delicious rhyming verses: who can resist lines as cute as "when I see you sticky as lips / as licky as trips" or "when I see you kitten as a cat / as smitten as that?" Yet, this song is very clearly not a fluffy throwaway. The best part about classic Cure is that Robert works hard to find the perfect sonic angle for each song, so even if Robert won't blow your mind compositionally, he will always touch you with the gorgeousness of the sound he makes. So let yourself go and enjoy perfect pop songs like "Friday I'm In Love," "A Letter To Elise," and this one: they really deserve all the love they get.
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