Random, unrelated editor’s anecdote: my seventh grade teacher was known for playing SHeDAISY’s “Don’t Worry ‘Bout A Thing” while we entered the classroom on the day of a big test, and we all hated him for it.
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Alfred Soto: School board say COVID okay/Go and hack to death another day/Don’t worry be happy
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Will Adams: Wanna feel old? This is what Daniel Powter sounds like now.
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Claire Biddles: I just find breezy everything’s-gonna-be-ok-:) songs with that kinda fake chorus effect on the vocals a bit sinister? Culty?
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Ian Mathers: Songs like this always walk a fine line, but if we’re going to be told “I’m ok, you’re ok” etc. in 2021, I will admit that adding in lines about middle fingers on the interstate and eating shit while pretending it’s gourmet make “A-O-K” land as not too divorced from reality. And he’s right, the guitar does sound pretty nice.
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Michael Hong: For something that opens with spoken word praising it, you’d think the guitar line would be memorable, and yet all I can remember is how grating its feel-good sensibility is.
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Alex Clifton: I can see myself on a beach drinking while this song plays on the radio, but I can’t see myself saying, “I’m in a good mood, and that beachy TikTok song will make it better.” It gets the job done, I guess, but is kind of vapid overall.
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Al Varela: I get what “A-O-K” is trying to do, and in some ways, I sympathize with it. It’s a song that’s afraid of the future and is just trying to live in the moment, even as their anxiety keeps creeping back into their mind. It’s not trying to downplay the struggles in their life, but also they kind of have to if they want to avoid falling into a deep state of misery. I’ve seen a lot of people get caught up in the shitty news we’re given every day and fall into this doomer mentality of nothing will be okay, so I support that a song like this is willing to say, “Fuck it. I’m gonna be happy and I’m gonna face the bad days head on with a smile”. Unfortunately, “A-O-K” is also really annoying and it’s especially grating when I’m having one of those bad days and don’t feel like being given pity. So I can’t fully endorse it as much as I want to. Sorry. I’m sure this goes off at parties though!
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Mark Sinker: i mean no
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Nortey Dowuona: Bless u, tall king. Make a better song next time around.
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