Singles Round Up: Nov. 18
The Arts and Entertainment Department takes a look at some of the recently released singles from the past week.
“Stop This Feeling” - Jordin Sparks
The last few years, Jordin Sparks has been putting forth effort trying to reintroduce herself to the public eye. The star was popular in the early 2000’s but has been regaining popularity in the last few years due to singles she released in 2020, competing in “The Masked Singer” in 2021, and currently competing on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Her newest single “Stop This Feeling” is an upbeat song featuring fun beats and catchy lyrics. The song is giving a similar vibe to Lizzo and Meghan Trainor’s most recent albums.
This song is very fast and upbeat compared to some of Sparks' more popular singles from the past. The song is heavy with her vocals which are prominent throughout the whole song. Sparks even finds time to fit in vocal runs at the end of the chorus.
It would not be surprising if this song blew up on TikTok. - Savannah Swartz
“Trouble With This Bed” - Beach Weather
Self-identified alternative/pop rock band Beach Weather, who caught traction for their 2016 EP “Chit Chat,” dropped their second single of the year, “Trouble With This Bed,” coming off of a five year hiatus.
The track opens with a refreshing indie beat with light vocalizations, but that quickly goes downhill with the introduction of the vocals and drums.
Lyrically the song focuses on a post-breakup reflection with lines like “the trouble with this bed is I’m the only one in it,” which is a dull cliché on its own, but is brought down even more by the monotone vocals.
Though a mediocre song as a whole, the most disappointing element of this single is the wasted potential of the airy intro and bass beat. While there was a possibility of redemption in the final verse, the track was completely overshadowed by the pseudo-boyband sound Beach Weather chose to emulate.
The release of two singles this late in the year points to a potential album in 2023 for Beach Weather, which, hopefully, will be nothing like “Trouble With This Bed.” - Megan Kelby
“Not Alone” - Joe Jonas, Khalid
Unfortunately for Jonas Brothers fans, Joe released a single before any news of Jo Bros 6 has been released. And the single is… not extremely impressive.
“Not Alone” was written by Jonas, Khalid, HARV and Ryan Tedder, and will be featured in the new action film “Devotion.” Starring Glen Powell, Jonathan Majors, and Jonas himself, “Devotion” centers around the “most celebrated” U.S Navy wingmen in the Korean War.
The song has a slightly mellow opening, with a simple piano accompaniment for Jonas’s lyrics “Another step on your own / Another mile that you’ve flown.”
Those words were clearly written with the fighter pilot perspective in mind, which is good because the song fits the film it was written for, but it also doesn’t feel like something that should be listened to outside the theater.
The chorus of “Not Alone” simply states: “You are not alone / I’ll watch over you / Won’t let you go, you gotta know.”
This part especially sounds like it will play as the credits roll on the big screen and the audience slowly filters out of the movie theater.
The listener can’t help but compare “Not Alone” to Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand,” which played at the end of “Top Gun: Maverick,” another film centering around Navy pilots that became the fifth highest-grossing domestic film of all time.
“Hold My Hand” was much more musically impressive both with the lyrics and powerful beat that matched the emotional ending of the film.
“Not Alone” will likely be overlooked because of its basic structure, and how “Devotion” itself is following in the immense success of “Top Gun: Maverick.” - Kaitlyn Murphy
Savannah Swartz is a second-year majoring in communications. To contact her, email sms9072@psu.edu
Megan Kelby is a third-year majoring in journalism. To contact her, email mkk5701@psu.edu.
Kaitlyn Murphy is a first-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email kvm6255@psu.edu.
About the Contributors
Megan Kelby
Fourth-Year / Journalism
Megan Kelby is a fourth-year from Newark, Delaware majoring in journalism and minoring in English and history at Penn State. She is a member of the arts & entertainment department for CommRadio. To contact her, email her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Savannah Swartz
Second-year / Advertising and Public Relations
Savannah Swartz is a second-year communications major, focusing on advertising and public relations. She is a member of the arts department.
Kaitlyn Murphy
Freshman /
Kaitlyn Murphy is a first-year student at Penn State majoring in digital and print journalism. She is a member of the Arts and Entertainment Department of CommRadio and is passionate about reviewing films, television shows, and music. Follow her on twitter at @kaitlynmurph and email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with any inquiries.
