We Dance Here

Song: "Manhattan"
Artist: Kings of Leon
Album: Only By the Night
From: Tennessee, USA
Year: 2008

I have been lucky enough to see this band live, most recently at the All Points West music festival, in Jersey City, NJ. At the time Only By the Night wasn't released, but the band jammed "Sex on Fire". Twas sexy. A family of good genes, King of Leon has come a long way. After fighting for the right to party in the US (what I'm referring to is their fan base), they have finally succeeded, and in a loud way. Their recent recording has gotten a lot of national and international attention. Strained and drunk as Followill might sound through you're bass speakers, he sounds like he's striving for his best. If I pulled my vocal chords like he does I would be hoarse the next day.

I think the best part of "Manhattan" is the bass line. It leads and follows and side winds, and I can't help but listen more to the bassist, Jared, than any of the other instruments. OK so we have a beat. Now, we'll take that beat and think of Manhattan...it fosh works. Manhattan is the beat of the nation, the leader everyone follows. Not everyone aims for or to be in Manhattan, but one cannot ignore it's urban beauty. The streets are full of life and races, they remind me of the last piece of the global puzzle. New York City is a melting pot; you'll probably learn more here in one day than you will in a month someplace else in the continental US. This album is said to follow under the influence of greats like Radiohead and My Morning Jacket...ah ha! No wonder.

Listen:
"I say who are you
No matter who you are
So you dance all night
And you dance all day"

Manhattan is the place to dance. Dance down the street, in the subway, in the office, in the shops, in the club, in the apartments. The sky is the limit. Literally, it really is. The buildings here reach clouds we only see from Airplanes. I recently read an article in Spin, and Caleb said something to the affect that he wasn't going to let his voice fuck up this album. We'll I'll just say, Caleb, you sound fucking phenomenal. On the track, Caleb moans, "I'm on a hunt to kill". Is he hunting in the big city, like a bear in it's natural habitat? Teeth bared and gleaming he's taking everyone down with him, including other musicians on the charts. "It's gonna keep on keep on keep on/ and then forever run". So I take this literally in my analysis, and because I love New York (hate the shirts proclaiming the latter). The city will keep on keep on keep on, and no terrorist or state or politician will stop us. Bright lights are made for dancing, go groove.

Oh and can I just add, Manhattan is like the dance capital of the nation. Go dancers! We'll hip and hop and roll and throb and we'll love it because Manhattan loves us.


Above is the view of the skyline from my side, and I see this when I see I hear this song. It was my mac background for years, and I would just gaze into the screen when homesick. Almost as if if I stared long enough I could apparate onto Mulberry Street and grab a cup at Balducci's.