Conchita Wurst releases ‘Up For Air‘ audio and it’s still a power ballad…but with an electronic beat
Conchita Wurst released the audio for two new tracks from her debut album Conchita on May 1st. ‘Somebody To Love‘ (which I already talked about here) and ‘Up For Air’. And all I can say is, if these two are representative of the album as a whole, it’s likely to be one of my favorite albums of the year.
‘Up For Air‘ is one of the uptempo songs on the album and, although I’m a huge power ballad fan, so rarely go for electronic uptempo songs, I like this one. A lot. Because it’s basically another Cochita power ballad…..with an electronic beat.
The opening repeating keyboards grabbed me from the second I heard them, the drum beat is hypnotic, I love the echoing backing vocals (again), and Conchita’s voice is spectacular — rich and warm at the beginning, climbing to massive power vocals in the chorus.
And, of course, that one huge high note towards the end. Something that’s now appearing in every new song, and rapidly becoming her signature. As for her range? Incredible.
After all, who else do you know who can reach those low notes and then explode into a screamingly perfect high note seconds later?
And the lyrics, they suit her.
Show me your scars
I’ll show you mine
My heart’s a mess
That you unwind
So let’s dive in
I don’t need air
Yes I can breathe
Just ‘cos you’re there
Because, no matter how hard she’s always trying to prove she’s strong, impervious and nobody can hurt her, that incredible vulnerability she exudes all the time says otherwise. (“Show me your scars, I’ll show you mine”).
And that’s the enigma that is Conchita Wurst. She’s a person who is as strong as steel, and yet can be hurt so easily. And she’s someone who is massively independent in thought and manner, and yet always needs to be surrounded by people who love her.
Because that love raises her up and gives her the courage to be and do everything she wants to. (“So let’s dive in, I don’t need air, Yes I can breathe, Just ‘cos you’re there).
And that’s what ‘Up For Air‘ is all about. It’s a song about someone who has been devastated by hurt and pain in the past, but who has found someone she thinks may be able to get her beyond all that.
Yet, the hope she feels is still tinged with sadness and uncertainty, because as fast as she’s proclaiming she’s going to do everything she ever wanted to do, she’s still wondering “Will you be there when I’m coming up for air?”
And one final note — despite Conchita’s talk of not being ‘cool’ and having to settle for ‘sexy’ instead, “Up For Air” is most definitely cool and quite a bit sexy as well. Well done, love.
As for Conchita Wurst’s debut album Conchita, you can currently pre-order it on iTunes. It releases May 15th.
Conchita Wurst – Up For Air
Show me your scars
I’ll show you mine
My heart’s a mess
That you unwind
So let’s dive in
I don’t need air
Yes I can breathe
Just ‘cos you’re there
And now my heartbeat sounds like thunder
Baby take my hand and pull me under
And I wanna dive through the river
I wanna see behind the mirror
Out of the dark and into the light
Will you be there when I’m coming up for air?
So let’s get lost
Like it’s a dream in technicolor, ultramarine
Too hot to burn, too high to fall
I’m in too deep but it don’t matter at all
And now my heartbeat sounds like thunder
Baby take my hand and pull me under
And I wanna dive through the river
I wanna see behind the mirror
Out of the dark and into the light
Will you be there when I’m coming up for air?
Cos I’m coming up for air!