Asbjørn, Boyology | Album Review 💿

On his third studio album, Boyology, Asbjørn delivers an enthralling album that is authentic, honest, and incredibly entertaining.

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emember his name: 🎙 Asbjørn (Asbjørn Toftdahl Terkelsen).  Mark my words, you need to check out this talented, Danish musician.  His talent deserves much wider recognition beyond Denmark and Europe! Terkelsen is creating some incredibly awesome pop music.  Taking it another step, he’s building a fantastic catalog that speaks directly to the LGBTQ+ community.  On his third studio album, 💿 Boyology, Terkelsen delivers an enthralling album that is authentic, honest, and incredibly entertaining.  Over the course of 11 tracks, he never misses.

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“(Love Like A) Teenager”

Asbjørn commences Boyology with a surefire bop, 🤩 🎵 “(Love Like a) Teenager”. Vocally, he sings incredibly smoothly and beautifully, with an exquisite tone, never forcing things.  The vocal production on “Teenager” is sweet too.  Furthermore, the production, a collaboration between him, 🎛 Tom Stafford, and 🎛 Rob Rox, shines. Terkelsen has a slick, backdrop to paint those sweet, tuneful melodies atop, with some inspiration from the 90s.  That backdrop includes keys, synths, and drum programming.  One rad musical feature is the key modulation, a rarity in popular music these days. Finally, you can’t mention “(Love Like a) Teenager” without highlighting the songwriting. Terkelsen delivers the goods bringing lyrics that are infectious and personal.

Appears in 🔽:

• Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: June 2021
• You’re Gonna Love These 15 LIKE Songs
• 15 Songs Filled with Considerable Love

On 🤩 🎵 “Be Human – Pride Version”, Asbjørn writes a marvelous, personal, and transcendent sermon to the LGBTQ community that speaks volumes. Regarding representation, Terkelsen asserts, “…Queer youth doesn’t only need representation once a year. They need support every single day, so nobody grows up feeling wrong in our society.” Vocally, Terkelsen gives another marvelous performance, including a rich middle register and ripe falsetto. His tone is gorgeous and the nuances spot-on.  Lyrically and thematically, he candidly speaks about gender and gender stereotypes. Ultimately, rather than focus on gender, he places emphasis on being human.  He executes this masterfully on the chorus, the centerpiece.  Beyond the chorus and those personal verses, I heart the contrast on the bridge, where he doubles down on the narrow-minded nature of labels.  In addition to a fine vocal and sublime songwriting, “Be Human” features more top-notch production (Terkelsen, Stafford, and 🎛 Rangeklods).

Appears in 🔽:

• 13 Marvelous Human Songs
• Awesome Songs: October 2021
• 15 Gay Anthems That Exude Joy (Vol. 1)

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“STB x Boyfriend”

“Love never kills in Beverly Hills / Long as it ends in dollar bills / Let’s do a swap; money for feels.” 🎵 “STB x Boyfriend” keeps Boyology going strong. Asbjørn references the ‘perfect’ state of California, or at least, the illusion of perfect. Despite the perfection of the places he describes, Terkelsen is struggling with finding and retaining love: “You might as well know how it will end before we start.” He asks his potential, short-term suitor, “Do you wanna be / My soon-to-be ex-boyfriend? / All the power vested in me / I give it to you, no defense.”  Despite the fact things are soon to end, “STB x Boyfriend” is a surefire fun pop joint.

On standout  🤩 🎵 “Young Dumb Crazy”, Asbjørn speaks from the perspective of an ex-boyfriend, but also, reflects on his own poor decisions within a relationship. “I put all the things into the song that I wished he would have said to me,” he says, later adding, “As I wrote the song, I realized the double-perspective, the irony, and my own hypocrisy.”  There’s plenty to heart, including a warm backdrop that never crowds the vocalist.  More impressive is the lovely, cutting vocals by Terkelsen, delivering an authentic, expressive, and truly nuanced performance.  Adding to the awesomeness is the sheer honesty of the lyrics and the personal tilt.  The crème de la crème is the catchy, memorably penned chorus.  Somewhere around the 2:17 mark, “Young Dumb Crazy” picks up intensity with some distinct vocal effects and colorful production touches. It’s a contrast to both what precedes and proceeds. All in all, a certified gem.

Appears in 🔽:

• Awesome Songs: May 2021
• A Must-Hear PRIDE 🏳️‍🌈 Compendium: 2021

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“Remember My Name”

“But you’re gonna remember my name / The boy that got away / You’re gonna remember my name / You’re gonna be so happy soon…” 🤩 🎵 “Remember My Name” is a triumphant record.  The production is picturesque – sleek to the nth degree. There’s ample R&B influence and, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that the sound is reminiscent of the late 90s/early aughts.  Terkelsen, once again, sings beautifully and performs confidently. Contributing to making “Remember My Name” a bop is the memorable, tuneful chorus. Also, the melody of the verses is tuneful and rhythmic.  I love how the bridge section distinguishes itself from the rest of the record; it’s a sublime, unpredictable change of pace. The lyrics are awesome too, the mark of sharp songwriting. “Remember My Name” fits the LGBTQ+ catalog perfectly given the ex-lover tilt while also fitting the broader idea that one day, he’ll be acknowledged and remembered.

Appears in 🔽:

• Remember My Name: 3BOPS No. 51 (2021)
• Awesome Songs: July 2021
• 15 Compelling Name Songs

No momentum is ceded on 🤩 🎵 “L to the Head,” which ranks among the most energetic cuts from Boyology.  The groove is electrifying to the n^th degree.  From the start, Asbjørn is locked-in, exuding ample personality.  Oh, and those vocals – including falsetto – are PHENOMENAL.  Set in a minor key, “L to the Head” continues to be a production showcase, which is perfect fuel for Terkelsen’s fire.  Love, a prominent theme throughout Boyology, continues to be ‘kind of a big deal.’ In this case, Terkelsen gives love a negative connotation, characterizing “A loser with love on the brain.”

On the two-and-a-half-minute 🎵 “PG-13,” Asbjørn has a complicated situation.  He likes this guy, and this guy has “love for him,” but not romantically.  Interestingly, it’s not far-fetched in the gay community, particularly since it comes from the perspective of a young man. Throughout, Terkelsen emphasizes this guy doesn’t want a physical relationship – it’s not about sex.  Among the most memorable lines: “He doesn’t want a boyfriend / He only wants a girl / I’ve wrote him many songs / Now he sings along / Kissing her instead of me.”  Terkelsen explores this continually on Boyology.  Things get ‘sexual’ on interlude 🎵 “Wet Dreams.”  Wet dreams, of course, are a characteristic of adolescence, something Terkelsen explores.  Just like there was nothing sexual between Terkelsen and his crush on “PG-13,” the only sex that goes down here is, well, in his wet dreams.

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“Happy for You etc” 

Following those “Wet Dreams,” Asbjørn expresses happiness for his ‘friend’ on 🎵 “Happy for You etc.”  Even so, the singer is disappointed that he can’t be the girlfriend that has earned his friend’s affection.   He admits he’ll have to compose himself essentially to give his congratulations.  Expectedly, “Happy for You etc.” is happy, but still, Terkelsen wishes they could be boyfriends.  On 🎵 “Off My Camera Roll”, the memories are hard for Terkelsen to cope with.  This is a relatable situation regardless of sexual orientation.  The scenario experienced by Asbjørn isn’t the least bit far-fetched.

Just as Asbjørn commences Boyology with a teen-driven record, he concludes teen-driven on 🎵 “Teen Heart.” “Teen heart, don’t fail me now / I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,” Terkelsen sings.  As he’s explored at times throughout Boyology, Terkelsen asserts this guy will end up with a girl as opposed to him. “You’ll give your heart to a girl / You’ll give your body to that girl / Both will break and I can’t help you / Cuz the day will come, you don’t need me.”

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Final Thoughts 💭 

Once more, I urge you to remember his name: 🎙 Asbjørn.  To recap, his third studio album, 💿 Boyology is a blast!  He sings incredibly well, the songwriting is fabulous, and the production is slick from start to finish.  This is an authentic, honest, and incredibly entertaining LP that will relate to the LGBTQ+ community, but also should relate to many folks regardless of sexual orientation.  Give the dashing Asbjørn Toftdahl Terkelsen the love he deserves!

🤩 Gems 💎: “(Love Like a) Teenager,” “Be Human – Pride Version,” “STB x Boyfriend,” “Young Dumb Crazy,” “Remember My Name” & “L to the Head”

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🎙 Asbjørn • 💿 Boyology • 🏷 Embassy of Music • 🗓 1.28.22
[📷: Embassy of Music]

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