Good Will Remedy ~ Sunshine State: A Music Review

Danny’s got a song

That he he brings along

Always the same one,

But that’s Danny’s song.

Will Lebihan, Danny’s Song

My favourite alt country rockers have dropped their sixth album in as many years of the bands existence. We’ve previously reviewed three of the single releases off this superb album entitled Sunshine State (Jay, May Day and A Flower And A Note) and the rest of the album lives up to all expectations. They’ve never recorded a tune I haven’t liked.

I do want to highlight what I reckon could have easily been their lead single, Danny’s Got A Song – it hit me right between the lug holes! Love the melody and arrangement, and even the dead air – a truncated two minute silence for the man that no one knows where he came from or who his mate is. I contacted Will on the story behind the tune.

“Hi Shep. My parents are English – and when I was younger, I was dragged along to (what felt like) loads of parties, towards the end of the night there was always a sing song – everyone had their song – and they would sing it loud and proud as everyone listened in silence – and heaven forbid if anyone sang your song!

What I reflect on now is the surprise of how good (and passionate) the singers were – by day they had day jobs, bricklayers, construction – hard labour – yet when they opened their mouths to sing it was amazing and still to this day gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.

I was listening to a songwriter’s podcast and Kevin Bennett (and the Flood) was talking about these types of singing events/parties and how it was part of a cultural history – and it triggered those memories for me and Danny’s song was born – and was derived out of these experiences and my memories of these sing songs – whether at a party or a pub – those that attended would always be encouraged to “give us a song…..” and it was always their song that they sang. You would hear the originals on the radio and say instantly – “this is Danny’s song! – not as good as Danny’s is it….”

And it actually felt like people lived their whole week for that one chance to sing their song……make an effort, dress up a little more cause it’s a Saturday Night and wait for your chance to shine! Cheers Will.”

Ol Shep

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