I had no idea that the front man of Good Charlotte (Joel Madden, age 28) once dated Hilary Duff (age 19) until Cynthia casually told me over … I forgot. Anyway, it was not my intend to buy Good Charlotte’s new album – love their last one though. Cynthia wanted it because of a few catchy songs. I concur. There are a few great songs in the album though I must say, the rest are average.
What intrigued me the most is that after listening to Hilary Duff’s new album (see previous blog) and now Good Charlotte’s one, I must say that their love history has added much texture to the songs. Check this out.
Hilary Duff’s first single “Play With Fire”: (not sure if she is referring to one of her ex, Aaron Carter and the “he” towards the end is Good Charlotte’s front man … I suspect that this song was written before the break-up as she mentioned in her DVD that this song is from her previous era)
And now I hear you saying that you still adore me. But if you think I’d ever get with you again then you can just love me, love me feed the flame. If you want me back again, burn into the sky higher and higher. Baby, can you play with fire?
Ooh, by the way, by the way I’ve found someone who gives me space, keeps me safe, makes me sane. Found someone to take your place. Now I’m safe in his arms. And I decided only he can play with fire.
And in Good Charlotte’s “Victims of Love”:
In the beginning, I tried to warn you. You play with fire, it’s gonna burn you. And here we are now, same situation. You never listen, I never listen.
Everybody’s hurt somebody before. Everybody’s been hurt by somebody before. You can change but you’ll always come back for more. It’s a game and we are all just victims of love.
Here are the opening songs for both artists, the “room” is mentioned in both counts. Good Charlotte’s “Misery”:
Take a look around don’t you see it? See that you are the only real face in the room. No one here has a clue what you’re feeling. Don’t feel bad keep your sadness alive.
And Hilary Duff’s “Stranger”:
Did I ever do anything that was this cruel to you? Did I ever make you wonder who was standing in the room? You made yourself look perfect in every way. So when this goes down, I’m the one that will be blamed. Your plan is working so you can just walk away. Baby your secret’s safe.
Time to move on for the both of them? Good Charlette’s “Dance Floor Anthem”:
We break up it’s something that we do now. Everyone has got to do it sometime. It’s okay. Let it go. Get out there and find someone.
And Hilary Duff’s “Happy”:
I’m happy and I can thank myself. If it were up to you I’d be in my bed crying. But I’m happy and I know that makes you sad. After all the things you put me through. I’m finally getting over you.
Back to the review, there are a number of songs that sound distinctly different from their usual style and they actually work for me. Like their hit single “Keep Your Hands Off My Girl” (see below), you wouldn’t imagine that it is from them. And the beginning of “Victims of Love”? Reminded me of ta-Tu (in a good kind of sense). I personally don’t necessarily enjoy the vocal of Good Charlotte. With that said, there are some great catchy tones in this new album of theirs.