The Scarlet Goodbye just released a new song called Speedway from their first album, Hope Eternal which dropped March of last year. When I think of speedways, I imagine fast cars, noisy people, and loud rock music. But this song is totally different and I love it. It’s perfect for feeling happy and dancing away the winter blues!
Who Are The Scarlet Goodbye?
Before I tell you why I like this song, let me introduce you to The Scarlet Goodbye. They are a band from Minnesota, USA, with two members: Jeff Arundel and Daniel Murphy. Jeff has been on the scene for a while. He has made 5 solo albums since 1993. Daniel used to be the lead singer of a band called Soul Asylum, and they had a famous song called Runaway Train in the 90s.
Musical Vibe
Now let’s talk about Speedway. This song is super chill. I can imagine it playing at a tailgate or a campout by the Mississippi River on a warm summer night. It reminds me musically of a Jackson Browne or Tom Petty track.
I really loved how the music of Speedway set the scene. The guitars didn’t try too hard but made me smile, like I was by the river on a warm day without any worries. Unlike All Summer Long, which needed help from better songs to work, Speedway is real and needs no help. It doesn’t steal from the past to work but stands on its own and feels like it was born from a summers dream.
The Vocals
Next, let’s talk about the vocals and mixing. It’s just perfect! For a real summer song, you need vocals that makes you want to sing along, and that’s exactly what I heard here. Daniel is now 62 years old, but his voice still sounds like it did in 1993 when he sang Runaway Train. Again, I felt like I was lying by the river in the warm Minnesota sun.
The chorus is really the star of the song from a vocal performance. It is just so harmonious and I really loved how they combined vocal lines. The mixing of male and female vocals is a guilty pleasure of mine and for a summery rock song like Speedway, it was like that nice sea breeze off the water in my summers daydream.
The Story
Lastly, let’s talk about the story in Speedway. It’s a story about young love, something I’ve always liked in songs. Speedway is about the early days of a new romance, maybe one that starts in the summer. It’s super exciting and can surprise you, like a wall on a Speedway turn. But instead of worrying about crashing, you just enjoy the moment and have fun. I really loved what The Scarlet Goodbye were doing with this song from a story point.
If you love rock music with great storytelling you might enjoy our article on Hope Darling
Speedway dropped as a single last Friday and I can see this being in everyones feel good playlist and performing very well on the charts. I will certainly be adding this song to my playlist and playing it in anticipation of summer. If you love rock music with heart and soul then do yourself a favour and say hello to the Scarlet Goodbye and get your hands on this and their debut album, Hope Eternal.
The Scarlet Goodbye’s links
Website- https://thescarletgoodbye.com/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/thescarletgoodbye/
YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF73xjEtSeunFoGJ8bENuSw
Apple- https://music.apple.com/us/album/hopes-eternal/1669808850