Music Review // Dear Rouge "Black To Gold (Stripped)"

 

As "Black To Gold" begins, you'll hear these keys which might make you think of Coldplay.  As the song goes on, it can take on an electronic sound as well which remins me of Flora Cash.  But this song isn't as much about what it sounds like in relation to other artists and genres, but rather how it makes you feel.   As the lyrics say "Vision changed from black to gold" and this just makes me think about how we can go from night time to day.  Though there is also the line "Clouds above us clearing", which makes me feel more like this is about those clouds going away and the sun coming out.

This song can build in a way which makes it feel like we're watching a movie filled with those grey skies and darkness, only for it to ultimately shift into bright, sunny skies.   Lyrics come out with "With every second shadows lift / Every moment closer still / Can you feel it?" and it just seems like it wants that sunshine, that positivity, to wash over you.  There are definitely times in life when you can feel like the grey skies are above, as if that rain cloud is following you around.  But you won't feel that way forever- like the weather, everything changes.

Dear Rouge say "We won't back down" as a mantra in this song and it feels important to note.  There might be times in your life when you feel like things aren't going your way and that's normal- life is just like that sometimes.  But once those bad times start to fade, the good times will come out.  If you're still feeling badly about things though, you might want to just hide in bed all day.  Not backing down is about that idea of getting out there when the opportunity presents itself and experiencing those good times.

On some level, I feel like you could really listen to this song not only every day but as a way to start your day.  As the darkness fades and your day begins with the sunrise, you can hear these words inspire you to get your day going on the right track.  These positive affirmations are something I think we could all use more of in our lives and the electronic music carrying that steady beat to go along with them can drive that charge.