Maltese (but Swedish Idol winner) Kevin Borg's second single--and his first post-winner's single release--...and heaven help me, but I think I like it. It really is the least edgy song you'll probably hear this year and its perfect Melodifestival length of 3 minutes on the dot couldn't be more deceptive--well, scratch that, put this in Swedish and maybe it would fit into the contest. Pretty well, actually. I don't want it there, though: so much of what makes the song great is the production dressing it up, and that would largely be lost in a live context.
The important thing is that somehow, everything--the jumping strings, the tinkling bells, the cheesy lyrics, the occasional flirtation with guitar epic production before returning to young male teen pop-meets-MOR glossy production, the melody that sometimes like it's just one big build-up to something that never comes--works for me. That aforementioned "we don't need no Hollywood" line isn't even that hooky, and yet I've had it replaying in my head since first hearing it. The song doesn't mark Kevin as any sort of exciting force in the world of pop, but it's just so darn...pretty.
I've got no idea who the writer or producer of "Street Lights" is, but I do know Kevin has worked with Peter Sjöstrom, who apparently did Måns Zelmerlöw's "Paradise" and Celine Dion's "Shadow Of Love."
To buy Kevin Borg's single "Street Lights," go here (physical) or here (digital; link should work shortly).
