Sinead Harnett, Quarantine Queen | Track Review 🎵

UK R&B/soul singer Sinead Harnett provides perfect atonement for the COVID-19 blues with the gorgeous, relatable ballad, “Quarantine Queen.”

“When the world got turned upside down and we went into lockdown, life as we knew it changed catastrophically. Though there are good sides to this, ie: the slower pace, appreciating the simple things and being able to relax, the chilling question that weighs on my heart is ‘am I gonna die alone?’” What thoughtful insight that UK R&B/soul singer Sinead Harnett gives on her coronavirus inspired single, the absolutely gorgeous “Quarantine Queen.”

If you haven’t previously partaken of the gift that is Sinead Harnett, well, you are totally missing out.  In 2019, she released her debut album, Lessons in Love, following up with an acoustic edition of seven of its songs in 2020.  But, let’s remain focused on “Quarantine Queen.”

“I don’t wanna be alone / I don’t wanna stay here on my own,” Harnett sings at the beginning of the first verse, continuing, “Every time that I look, there’s another headline on my phone.” The coronavirus pandemic definitely increases anxiety and messes with your mental health and stability, something that Harnett captures perfectly in those three lines.  She goes on the expand the scope to the need for love to atone for all the bad, miscues, and misgivings.  Perhaps it’s simple to some extent, but ultimately, it’s incredibly complex.

“What a time to be alive
Are we all just pretending
That the world isn’t ending?
I’m afraid, that I ain’t done enough
And if we go up above
I never learned how to love.”

Wow – nothing simple about that – that’s deep, introspection right there.  Continuing her characterization of this incredible contemporary soul ballad, Harnett asserts, “That worrying emotion is what brought about ‘Quarantine Queen.’ Though a sad thought, there is hope in the song from a wider standpoint – what can we as a nation learn from this time in terms of how we are living. I hope that we will change for the better, that’s really what I was getting at.”

Final Thoughts

The point is loud and clear, Sinead Harnett.  Also, worth noting, besides the ‘woke’ lyricism and exquisite production, Harnett sounds nothing short of incredible.  She sings with such authenticity and expression; how can you not buy what she is selling? And the bridge section – gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! This is the perfect atonement for the COVID-19 blues.  Absolutely sublime!

Sinead Harnett, “Quarantine Queen” • Thairish Limited • Release: 5.22.20

Photo Credit: Thairish Limited