Okay, so I called it. If any of you read my last song review, you probably remember that at the end of it, I made the world (or at least the Fordham community) a promise. I promised that, starting with his release of “Love Somebody,” Morgan Wallen was marking a fundamental shift in his musical journey, not only by straying away from the security of a specific genre but by expanding his repertoire and emotionality. I believed that the song represented not just a fleeting experiment but a new direction in Wallen’s career where emotional depth and soul-crushing vocals were on the horizon… And, boy, was I right.
Just about a month ago, Wallen released his new single, “Smile,” accompanied by a music video (in which he sports a newly acquired buzz cut) directed by Justin Clough, who has directed almost all of Wallen’s videos in the past, including short films for “7 Summers,” “More Than My Hometown” and “Cover Me Up.” After teasing snippets of the song on social media, it was finally time to give it a proper listen. Considering the claim I had made, I was excited to see what he had decided to do with this new release and a bit anxious to see if my prediction had been right. But, sure enough, as soon as I hit play, he got me again.
After a few seconds of silence, the song’s soft acoustic guitar accompaniment and hauntingly hypnotic backing vocals kick in. Although this may be one of the most sparsely arranged of Wallen’s songs, there is something artful about it. Its simplicity is its whole premise, and once you get to the chorus, you understand why.
Wallen croons, sporadically adding in vocal techniques, which he formally debuted in his release of “Love Somebody.” With crisp vocal runs and smooth transitions into falsetto, he traverses the song’s emotionality with expert skill, creating an intensity that sends chills down your spine. And all the while, the unceasingly insistent backing track lends to its beautiful, yet somber construction.
The lyrics, although simpler than anything we are used to from Wallen thus far, offer up an intricately personal storyline: recounting a love that has not yet ended but must due to its inevitable destructive trajectory. Morgan’s delivery is thus representative of the pain that comes with mature reflection on a complicated situation. This is done skillfully, especially in the final chorus, where Wallen’s contemplation manifests in a back-phrased section that seeks to cue the ending of not only the song but the tumultuous relationship as well.
Although I may not be able to personally connect with the meaning of the song in the same way I did with “Love Somebody,” it still manages to break my heart every time I listen. Although it is known that “when you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you,” Morgan does not seem to be familiar with that sentiment. As I listen, I am not smiling or doing something remotely similar to it. I am crying… sobbing, actually.
