It's a bit startling to consider that both of these songs are a decade old now. Both artists have carried on, released more work, and show no signs of slowing down (even if Sufjan has left 48 other states waiting to get their due). And yet I suspect that when they play live, these two songs are still the ones that elicit a sense not just of joy but of relief from the audience. Yes! They're playing it!
This is music not just for movies but for movie trailers... songs for the soundtrack to the life you wish you had. I suspect that more than one wedding party has entered the reception to the tune of one of these beauties.
Yet, oddly, I feel like if these songs had surfaced in the 1990s, we would've rejected them. Too polished... too orchestral... too angelic. Bands are for cool kids... not for kids who, like, try really hard. Gross. We all think we have a solid sense of the distinctions between the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s... inevitably we will one day put the 2000s and the 2010s in two distinct buckets. The 2000s will look bleak, but we did get to play some heavenly music on our glossy new gadgets.
As advertised, it's not a contest. But I'm starting to think these pairings might be something of a personality test. And in this instance if you find yourself hating on both, finding them too precious or too grand, then please know that you cannot be my friend. (No big loss... I don't get out much.)
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