From devilish femme fatal seduction to… a slightly more joyous and… innocent… seduction.
This song just baffles you with its jangly joy and hysteric euphoria, while the melody still injects a little drama. ”Nineteen! You’re only nineteen for God’s sake! Oh, you don’t need a boyfriend!” exclaims The Long Blondes’ lead singer Kate Jackson in a frantic tone as the opening lines. I’m nineteen, single, still living at home, and as such, constantly seeking the affection of others, instant gratification from the people I meet, a confirmation and proof of my value on the meat market. Music’s healed a lot of teenage pain and dissolved confusion before, but to get this obsessive need; that I’m sure I’m not alone of, merely alone to admit and openly talk about, smashed in a matter of seconds during the opening lines of an indie pop song, is quite remarkable.
As one of these disillusioned teenagers you dance along to this rough pop gem and you appreciate Kate Jackson more and more as the song moves along: singing about dramas by the kitchen sink, that she knows how it feels to be our age and feel the world is caving in.
But indie pop anthem for teen angst this AIN’T. Turns out the old hag (Kate Jackson is 31 bloody years old, eeewww) has a hidden agenda behind this very likeable and pretty charade. Turns out the encouraging words are directed at a teenage girl specifically. Turns out Katy Jackson wants to go to bed with this young, innocent creature. Turns out this is where the title comes from: she says she’ll only have to do it once and never again. Well, that took my mind off my own ”problems” for a while. At least I don’t have a sturdy man who’d classify as ”bear” on any given gay porn site trying to seduce me.
Turns out this song works on two levels. Teen angst anthem, yeah! Smart, clever, sexy, catchy and FUN pop song, yeah! Lovely.
