I won’t lie. I often fall into phases where I solely listen to older music, especially from the ‘60s or ‘70s. To me, this music has a very specific sound and style which is hardly replicated in newer music today. That being said, I also value progression in music and believe that, for the most part, each decade has a unique sound to it which places it in its own niche. This is why some of my favorite modern music takes signature sounds from older music and incorporates it into a modern production. This blend of old and new is exactly what you can expect with Human Barbie’s song, “The Village Priest.”
Out of the gate, we are kicked into the past with a simple instrumental reminiscent of something straight out of the ‘60s. A guitar, bass and drums set the foundation before the vocals come in shortly after. Drenched in reverb, Christopher Leopold (singer of Human Barbie) begins sharing a tale about a village dealing with a priest who keeps attempting to interfere with the lives of said village’s residents, “The Village Priest marched over the hill with her / To exorcise the demons there where no one could observe.” Although the lyrics follow the vintage vibe of the song’s instrumentation, they can be interpreted in a pretty general sense. This priest, a supposedly holy figure, is trying to punish a girl for some wrongdoing she may have committed. Thankfully, “All the children hid by the old big barn / Jumping out before the girl could come to any harm.”
Following the instrumentation closely, the hook of the song begins with a new melody. Continuing the story, we learn that, “The Village Priest just ran away,” and the narrator follows up by saying, “I hope we meet again one day.” Although this person came into the village with the intent to harm and shame its residents, they have been scared off by a small confrontation with the village’s children. Not only is he able to be scared off, but he is able to be scared off by children, highlighting his weakness. Despite knowing his intentions, the hook ends with, “In any case, we’ll always pray / For you.” Exemplifying the character of the village’s residents, this line serves to show how they are accepting of those who they do not agree with, and that they are willing to help them become a better person. A jangly twelve-string guitar leads us into the following verse.
While the previous verse seems to describe the Village Priest as a representation for those in society who would like to enforce their beliefs and judges on those who do not fall in line, this verse describes a new character named Father Dearest. The story continues, “Father Dearest sang of a Holy Land / Passing the collection plate among the weary hands.” It seems that this character is a closer representation of what the village identifies with. Believing that we should all live in harmony together without judgement or shame, “All the children gasped at a glimpse of gold / Peeking from the leather pouch hidden in his robe.” While the children of the village felt compelled to scare the Village Priest away, they openly embrace Father Dearest.
After another run through of the hook, we arrive at the bridge which boasts a varied instrumental and melody. Taking a step back and reflecting, the village began to realize that nobody was quite sure of the origins of Father Dearest, “No one could remember / How long the man had been there / Everybody searched high and low.” While the village begins wondering about the origins of Father Dearest, and whether he really existed to begin with, they come across the village’s chapel on fire, “We heard a window crash at the edge of town / And found the little chapel there burning to the ground.” Presumably, Father Dearest freed the village of their worries in regard to ever having to deal with the Village Priest again.
Drawing heavily from the past for inspiration, in both their sound and writing, Human Barbie have successfully updated the vintage sound with “The Village Priest.” By combining this sound with a story which has its own unique setting yet also contains a social message applicable to modern society, Human Barbie has achieved a sort of timelessness which is sure to last long beyond the year it was released in.
