The Wanted - All Time Low

Boyband of the year?

McLovin

I've already spoken about my unnatural love for The Wanted, a love which my sister describes as 'sincere', others less generously calling it 'a bit strange' and 'slightly perverse'. No matter - I shall continue my unabashed fondness for the group which all began with this single. Craig first showed me the video, with my initial thoughts being 'is that the warehouse they shot Blue's All Rise and JLS's Beat Again in?' and 'I like the flares'. I didn't think all that much of it. More than six months later, who'd have known it would become such an important song to me?

The strings open the song in a classy fashion, hinting at Coldplay's Viva La Vida as inspiration, but becoming something far superior. What makes it so great is its balance between repetition and development. Lyrics are constantly repeated (Praying won't DO IT, Hating won't DO IT, Drinking WON'T DO IT!), creating that sensation of being stuck in a particular mindset you can't get out of (the all time low, if you will). But it carefully builds momentum: the beat doesn't come in until the second verse, and by the time we get the full on ravey synthy middle bit through to the finale, it's as though only a small explosion will transform this negative state of mind.

I went absolutely bonkers when I got to see them perform this, jumping around and singing every word as the crowd around me (mostly teenage girls) pointed and laughed at me. But it was their loss - All Time Low is a fantastic song, and I feel very lucky I got the chance to see it live. And yes, there were plenty of flares!