The Midnight Romance has been an under-the-radar group this year, but they’ve been releasing new music at a shockingly steady rate. Just over two weeks since their brilliant Nightmare, the guys are back with emotional piano ballad I Don’t Want To Live Without You. It’s a far cry from their usual synth-powered sound, but stands as a great example of what a well-arranged ballad can be.
Frontman Minue is an old pro, and knows how to squeeze every last drop from a simple song like this. I Don’t Want To Live Without You is all about its build, and the anticipation created before that cathartic moment. We all know it’s coming, as the instrumental slowly signals a gain in momentum. What begins as a simple piano-led track is gradually joined by more band elements, including footfalls of percussion and strings. It’s a slow-burn song, but Minue’s clear vocal captivates even in its more prolonged moments.
I Don’t Want To Live Without You’s chorus is especially successful. Like the rest of the track, it’s not overly complex. But, its melody builds to an immensely satisfying crest, made even better by the impassioned vocal. Then, the song explodes in its final minute. Minue’s voice becomes an anguished howl as electric guitar joins the fray. This is the closest that I Don’t Want To Live Without You gets to the group’s usual 80’s sound, only this time it’s hair metal balladry rather than icy synthpop. I wish this climax came a bit earlier and lasted longer, but the payoff is still worth the wait. We’re now four singles into The Midnight Romance’s discography, and the band just seems to be bouncing from strength to strength.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
That piano chord progression that starts the song off sounds thiscloseto Journey’s “Faithfully”.
Yep, this echoes the sound of a classic Big Hair metal band Power Ballad from the 80’s complete with guitar mini solo and clear vocal production. If I had to nitpick, the vocal itself isn’t as booming and crystal clear as an 80’s rock band lead singer, it resembles more the indie import scene imperfectly unique vocal like The Cure, but that’s me lost in time. The song is alright, really. As an example, lets listen to, oh, say, Journey “Faithfully”.
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Wow, I can’t believe I didn’t immediately hear Faithfully, especially since it’s one of my favorite Journey songs. Very similar, indeed!
No, my mind went straight to a much more obscure track from a Swedish band I was obsessed with in the mid-00s:
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I don’t know this band or song. The male singer does a really good classic Bowie vocal.
The classical inspired piano a la Bach Prelude in C here sounds like what would happen if Bowie had written Styx “Come Sail Away”. Maybe I am just imagining things.
Styx ‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5MAg_yWsq8
Back Prelude in C major ‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVah1cr3pU0
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You can credit their song The Right World for first pushing me into music blogging all the way back in 2006 😉
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This sounds like something my husband would like. He was on a Blur and Paul Weller kick this past weekend. How much Paul Weller / The Jam / Style Council could one play? Apparently, the answer is “a lot”.
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I immediately thought of Journey’s “Faithfully” too. It’s kind of like how “Midnight Romance” is very similar to The Midnight’s “Sunset,” and “Nightmare” is a bit like A-ha’s “Take On Me.” “IMYT” sounds like The 1975’s “Somebody Else” and “The Stars in Your Heart” like a cross between Keane and Coldplay. I think this is why I like this band—-they remind me of so many bands I used to like in the past.
To explain their productivity, I think Minue is recycling some of his solo songs.
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