You’ve got to love a love-related song on Valentine’s Day Eve (patent pending). Calvin Harris delivers today, with Kehlani and Lil Yachty providing vocal accompaniment.
It comes from Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1 and not only did this soundtrack a very long, very hot drive for me from Miami to Key West in the summer of 2017 after it was released, as a radio geek it is satisfying that global superstar Calvin Harris has referenced the underdog audio format that is .wav. It’s the little things really. The album is funky and takes you to west coast American sunsets on the beach, with this song, in particular, capturing a crashing R n B beat and amazing, reflective vocals from Kehlani.
The various pace changes make this an irresistible song to binge-listen. On an album with features which include Frank Ocean, Future, Pharrell, Khalid, Travis Scott, and Katy Perry, this song shines. Lil Yachty’s verse, to be honest, I think diminishes the overall experience. Calvin’s production is obviously incredible, as would be expected from the Forbes-listed highest paid DJ in the world. Kehlani is an incredible vocalist with an ever-growing audience and respect for her craft, yet I don’t think the addition of LilYachty adds to the song experience. On a song with so many stand out tracks and features, it feels like his inclusion is more of a tick of a box than a genuine artistic decision.
Faking It seems like a diversion from Harris’ usual, fool-proof hit-making system and experiment with a less layered, more stripped back approach to music. It is a great track and is a stellar example of utilisng R n B vocals on a dance track to create a more nuanced record that sits perfectly on an LP. Give the whole album a listen as it shows a different side to Calvin Harris. It is nowhere near 18 Months, but it comes close.
Spotify Playlist Link: https://spoti.fi/2CKuVex
A Song A Day 