New Music: Cody Simpson - "Flower" [Full Audio / Review]
For an Australian boy who loves to surf and play the guitar, it’s just natural that he eventually chooses “breezy, Jack Johnson-esque acoustic beach pop” as his genre of choice for a music career, huh?
Cody Simpson premiered online today (Feb. 4) – and will release on iTunes at midnight – a brand new single called “Flower” (although apparently he hates the “single” label for songs now as his new aim is for fans to enjoy the “experience of listening to a full piece of music from start to finish” for the pleasure of it and not just expect “the hit tracks”) from his forthcoming third studio album “Free” which will be arriving in stores this summer. “Free” will be the first album of blond singer-songwriter Cody without the support of Atlantic Records – they split last year – as he is an independent artist now (and loving it).
“It's the first time I've had the creative freedom to do what I want," Cody says.
“Flower” song review
I completely disliked both of Cody’s first two albums; I mean, I just can’t even name a single song from any of them right now. Those synth and bass-heavy dance pop songs Atlantic Records forced him to record were just a forgettable mess. On the contrary, this acoustic thing feels more real, it fits Cody’s vocals, it lets him show his guitar skills, and overall, as I said in the first paragraph it’s what an Australian singer who loves to surf and the play the guitar is ought to genetically do and do very well. Agreeing to do that generic pop mess for Atlantic wasn’t all bad for Cody, though, as that allowed him to travel to the US and make connections, and now he’s using those – his manager is Scooter Braun and he's friends with Justin Bieber – in his favor, and releasing the music he likes – without the control of a major label – and he’s still living in America.
Anyhow, “Flower” is, yes, amazing. Completely adore the guitar production, and the concept of the love song is just perfect for February 14th aka. Valentine’s Day. “She loves me, she loves me not / Love me one more time / I'll pick you a flower if you like”, sings Cody in his new “single”. In love you have to be very persistent!
By the way, the “Flower” cover (see below) is the creation of Miley Cyrus who used her iPhone to take a pic of an on-the-verge of dying flower from her house.