As your friendly neighborhood English major, I love writing song reviews. I view it as dissecting a poem while taking into consideration the element of sound that makes a song three-dimensional. And when a song comes along that really excels in every aspect, I can’t help but launch into a full, convoluted analysis of its technical elements and how they play into the song’s greatness.
So, I find myself here, writing a review of “Hummingbird” by Meiwei. I was surprised to find out that she wasn’t as known as I guessed she was, but I envision her as a potential breakout star in the world of indie-folk these days. Regardless, this hidden gem of a song is something that doesn’t really need an explanation as to why it’s great, but I’ll provide one anyways.
“Hummingbird” is a saga split up into two parts. In the first one, there’s a form of duality present, portraying a person who’s simultaneously hopeful and anxious. The song’s guitar complements this feeling quite well; it’s upbeat and slightly unsettling at the same time, keeping us listeners enticed to know whether this feeling is resolved.
“The hummingbird noise lives fast, dies hard // There’s beauty in a bruise”
Meiwei further provides us with some vivid, enticing imagery. Not to go all English major on you, but the use of the metaphor here is profound. Using the words “beauty” and “bruise” in the same sentence and even describing water so sweet and sugary that you get sick from or drown in it (from the lines prior) is songwriting, or even just general writing, perfection. It’s a more beautiful and nuanced way to understand that sometimes, too much of a good thing is actually bad.
And of course, you can’t ignore the flap of the hummingbird’s wings. The bird’s noise starts out strong and fast, but goes out quickly, just as Meiwei sings. She ties this symbol in really well with the sharp transition from Hummingbird Pt. 1, a busy, aggressive, percussion instrumental break, to Hummingbird Pt. 2, a much more emotional and piano-driven segment which begins with the faded sound of a hummingbird itself.
The second half of the song depicts Meiwei seemingly reflecting on the world around her. It’s much less metaphorical, but rather straightforward. I really like this change in tone; in the beginning, it’s like she’s trying to cover up any cynicism she has about the world with depictions of birds and beautiful things, but she lets her true thoughts take the spotlight in Pt. 2.
“I was just too drunk to remember // Taking a hold of myself // Letting go of everything”
At the very end of the song, as she concludes her final lines, the supporting vocals and light percussion kick in at just the right time so that we can feel her truly letting go of these thoughts she’s been having. Like I said, sound makes poems three-dimensional, and I find a lot of beauty in simple touches like this that add a lot of depth.
To put aside all of the big words and other nerdy stuff, seriously, guys, check out this song. You won’t regret it.
