Bastille, Joy | Track Review

British alternative darlings Bastille are indeed ‘joyful’ on “Joy,” the third single from their highly-anticipated third studio album, ‘Doom Days.’

“Yeah, I feel my pulse quickening / When your name lights up the screen.” After a three-year hiatus, British alternative darlings Bastille are back with their highly-anticipated third studio album, Doom Days (June 14, 2019)! The last time we heard from Dan Smith and company was in 2016 when they dropped their under-appreciated sophomore album, Wild World. Wild World featured an assortment of gems including “Good Grief” and “Send Them Off!” as well as the brilliant non-single “Four Walls (The Ballad of Perry Smith)”.  Moving on to Doom Days, Smith and company released the album’s third single and closing cut, “Joy” on May 2, 2019.

Examining the aforementioned lyric from the pre-chorus, without context, it would seem that “Joy” has a dash of object sexuality going on.  Honestly, as confirmed by the following chorus, it’s not nearly in the same ballpark as Luke Bryan’s “Light Me Up,” but worth mentioning.  On the song’s centerpiece, Dan Smith sings:

“Oh joy, when you call me

I was giving up, oh, I was giving in

Joy, set my mind free

I was giving up, oh, I was giving in.”

Prior to centerpiece, Smith sets things up.  There’s drunkenness on the first verse (“Thought I’d never be waking on the kitchen floor / But here I lie, not the first time”).  On the second verse, there’s mental anguish, which he shares with the person who ultimately gives him ‘joy’ (“I’m your walking disaster, keep on dragging me / From self-pity, poor me.” Confirming the joy is the bridge where Smith sings, “As night dissolves into this final frame / You’re a sweet relief, you save me from my brain.”

Final Thoughts 

The lyrics and songwriting play a pivotal role in the success of “Joy.”  Even so, Bastille has a winner on their hands thanks to great vocals (Dan Smith) and awesome production (Smith + Mark Crew and Dan Priddy).  “Joy” is quite relatable, yet another of an endless number of selling points.  Perfect choice for a single, as well as the album’s closer.

Bastille • Doom Days • Virgin • Release: 6.14.19

Photo Credit: Virgin