I mostly can't get over the "body shop" line because the Body Shop is the name of a bath products store chain and I can't shake the image of the fellow doing something unholy with scented soaps while nobody is looking.
I've only ever heard the song on the radio at work and I've been wondering why they were singing about The Body Shop, I was wondering if that's where people go to fuck now?
I didn't even get the "place that cars get fixed" reference until 5 minutes after watching Todd's video. I thought it was the body (human modification/upgrade) shop, and that was part of the "unholy"/scandalous story.
@@jotacostajr And what album would you suggest? Every album he released after Thriller went Number 1, and not a single one of them was critically hated. The only thing to talk about would be the controversy surrounding the posthumous albums, because we're not sure all the songs are actually him, and that doesn't sound like Trainwreckords material.
You know what, after listening to the song a couple times now I've come to the conclusion that it's aesthetically a bop but the lyrics feel like an afterthought. Somebody in the comments of the actual music video said "it'll probably be in season 3 of Euphoria" and that's the most accurate take I've seen so far, lmao
my pet peeve of pop music. i hate it when an otherwise good song has lyrics that are either a painfully generic take on a common subject (usually love/sex) or vague to the point of nonsense. sometimes I rewrite lyrics in my head so they are actually about something. its not hard to do and you'd think professional songwriters would be able to create a cohesive narrative bare minimum
This! I love the music and its vibe but the lyrics... turn me off? Really any weird lyric does that to me until I play the song enough times to learn how to tune it out haha. Like it's more fun to have it play without focusing on what its content is.
@@MineralTown Nah vague abstract lyricism is so much better, I honestly think it's so much better than stage musical style "here I am singing about exactly what is happening to the audience", I'd so much rather listen to Brave Little Abacus make metaphors and analogies that only they understand due to how personal they are or Bladee being literally schizophrenic and talking about super abstracted stuff than some dude just being as direct and "narrative-y"(lack of a better term) as possible. I actually think that's the mark of bad songwriting, it shows you're incapable of not just stating something as it happens with no stylism.
When you pointed out that Sam Smith was hearing this guy’s confession instead of the one having an affair with him, I immediately assumed they were a priest. You’re so right, what a missed opportunity.
Would be really spicy and fun, and yet I don't think it would piss off anyone additional who isn't already up in arms at the fact of Sam and Kim's existence.
@@everwhatever Exactly, in a song written and performed by a trans woman talking about fucking men for money/things and a nonbinary gay person getting off on the scandal of some dudes affair while both surrounded by scantily clad people of various sexualities and kinks, what more could you possibly do to piss off prudes and bigots? Just go whole ham with it. I love the aesthetic of the video, but Todd's right, making Sam be a priest in this scenario would add so much.
"I'm a straight white man!" I love how Todd is so confident that most of his audience is so new to his content to not know that's not true, and he's probably right 😂
I refuse to see any picture of what Todd actually looks like for the sake of keeping the magic alive. He’s obviously not a white guy, he’s a heartless from Kingdom Hearts.
@@morganqorishchi8181 I'm pretty sure the last time he used it is when he mentioned his actual racial identity. Spoiler alert, if you follow One Hit Wonderland and notice one of its most common trends, you know exactly what it is for the fact that Todd feels comfortable making jokes around it at all.
@@ds4251 I hated that this song was sung by Sam. Their voice is fucking incredible, but it does not fit every vibe or type of song! Like jennifer hudson lol certain songs for certain singing styles
My laptop literally crashed and blue screened right as Todd said "Here's the thing about the trans stuff". I thought it was a bit, playing on Todd's whole "I'm not touching that political topic" joke, but nope...laptop literally crashed at the perfect time. I died of laughter twice today
I feel like you're just comparing both songs because they have queer artists singing. They're completely different and don't try to hit the same thing at all. Not everything by a queer artist need to be a deep analysis on queerness and trauma. I really don't see any connective tissue between them besides "they try to sound sexy".
@@MiloKuroshiro Not really. Admittedly, I'm judging more on the whole presentation, not just the song, but the themes of religion, blasphemy, sexual impropriety, and the darker production run through both. I don't follow pop music or celebrity gossip. If it wasn't in the video, I wouldn't have known their sexualities. I just see enough similarities between the two that I think there's an influence, but one played it safe. Not the first time it's happened, won't be the last. Just making an observation.
I mean sexy or not I can believe that Ed Sheeran fucks. The same can not be said for Sam, they may be more attractive than Ed, but they have ken doll energy.
MAN Sam Smith belting the lines feels RIGHT in this song, the affair isn't a secret from this dark cabaret club/community/thingy, i feel like this song has a more celebratory nature than "sexy", especially since Sam Smith isnt the one HAVING the affair with "daddy", Sam Smith is just telling us. It actually feels like a song in an opera by a side character who has learned of the main character's affair(s). This is the part where the rest of the set goes dark and Sam Smith's character gets a whole vivid monologue about their friend's sordid activities. And then Kim Petras i guess chimes in as a fellow eyewitness.
@@Valhalla05 I said the "best comedy", not just any comedy. Has a stand-up comedian ever survived by just doing 6-second gags during a comedy routine? No, because it would become nauseating and tiresome very quickly. Call me old, but that's not real comedy, that's just noise. The best comedy includes a build up to a good joke, with a nice side of cynicism and uncomfortable truth (George Carlin is the best example). THAT kind of comedy sticks with you.
There's some drama with the whole 'it blew up on TikTok' before it was actually released that I think will have larger repercussions for how artist's release/tease new music down the road. The clip that went viral was Sam in the studio jamming out to what is clearly a not finished version of the song. The vocals aren't as crisp, the choir and instruments are overpowering...and people loved it. It fit the "unholy"/dirty vibe that Sam was going for. The viral clip was also just the chorus so we didn't have the larger story from the song. People were pumped that it seemed to be an unabashedly horny song about 2 dudes hooking up. Then the song released and, it was disappointing. The song was definitely cleaner than people thought it would be - production wise and the fact that, on the surface, it's just a straight dude having an affair with a side chick. And to top it off, EVERYONE is annoyed at how short it is.
I was gonna mention this! The original clip sounded SO much better and fit their vibe SO much more, the actual release ended up being kind of a letdown.
Remixes, alt-versions, and transformative covers are so common these days, so there's hope there. Checking spotify, ofc Halocene already has a cover. The hardest working rock cover band out there, I swear.
So the finished product kinda has the same issue as Justin Timberlake's "Filthy": Too sterile and bland for a song about supposedly dirty or unholy things
I expected a bigger climax at the end of the song with a bridge and an extra chorus with an outro so this song will be great. The choir made it so big which is why the song feels unfinished.
I feel about Unholy how I feel about U Got the Look by Prince. I adore U Got the Look and when I learned there was a longer version, I was ridiculously excited. I love Unholy and wish there was more and will be just as excited to find out there is
If there was a moment where the beat and loudness of the while things just completely dropped during the bridge, and the bridge was sung only by the choir (maybe even slowly integrating Sam's voice back in) I think that'd be pretty epic
I’ve never heard a more accurate statement then “this song feels like it’s missing 60%of it” this should be a great workout song but I can’t even finish my reps before it’s finished
No way. I literally thought, like twenty minutes ago - "I wonder if Todd is going to review unholy.... there's no way he's going to like it." And here we are. Amazing
The "theatre kid as a mechanic is hilarious" bit is funny. Just remember, Todd: as long as someone's core identity isn't the punchline of the joke, you're good. The vast majority of us aren't afraid to laugh at ourselves. Also you followed it up amazingly. I more or less feel similarly about this song. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like it's incomplete. (I personally don't think they can dance, but that's neither here nor there)
@@jogeller5731 On the “Mr. Blue Sky”-“Band On The Run” episode of _Song vs. Song_ he mentioned people calling out his use of “suite” instead of “movement” in the comments of the _Passage_ Trainwreckord; I guess he didn’t learn his lesson :p
the line that always cracks me up is 'he left his kids at ho-eo-eome' like that makes him an even worse father. Like, I feel like he would be worse if he just left them downstairs in the lobby watching HGTV while he got his rocks off at the secret burlesque club upstairs.
I always assumed that line meant to convey that he was chosing to be at the sex club instead of at home with his kids. The problem isn't that he didn't bring his kids, it's that he's not home.
I honestly don’t get the appeal of tiktok. It seems like it’s simultaneously a bad social media site and a bad video platform. The did multiple things terribly rather than do one thing right.
I have a strong distrust of Chinese-run websites (yes, TikTok is run out of China, for those who didn't know). No way in hell I'm ever registering there.
I hope it won't take that long. There are so many obvious improvements that you could change in a cover, that I'm even more disappointed in current music scene if it takes that long. Change the second verse to have something referencing any of the themes of the first or chorus (dirt, sin, holyness, secrets, double life). Add a bridge that reveals more about the situation. Make the narrator explicitly a priest, a pimp, a PR person or the wife's side guy. Just pick a scenario where the term Unholy makes sense and commit to it for the duration of the song and you have much better song.
"Unholy but it's gay" by Reinaeiry on RU-vid is already a massive improvement over the original by 1. making the narrator a woman and 2. having her seduce the man's wife, making it into a situation where a dude confided his guilt to his best friend and she decided to take the opportunity while he's busy to swoop in there. I love it a lot more than the original.
IMO: Not nearly unholy enough. Like, there is absolutely nothing scandalous or sacrilegious about this song. It's really not even that inappropriate. It feels like they wanted the Montero buzz without the Montero backlash. Really though, for a supposedly sexy song it feels incredibly sexless and clean. Even the word "unholy" makes it seem like they're not doing anything with holes.
A quick stab at rewriting Sam Smith's verse to match Todd's proposal: A lucky, lucky girl She got married to a boy like you She'd kick you out if she ever, ever knew The things you tell me in the confessional booth Dirty, dirty boy It must be hard making mommy think you're straight Why don't we meet behind the alter after eight Let your Father help you pray your sins away
Not me here chuckling because IDK why that is so funny to me. "Sex havers". Pleaseee. 🤣 It's so true yet worded so... clinically, if you will. Thank you.
This review made me think of Madonna and especially "Like a prayer". When she did that number, she went all out, Sam and Petras should have done some similar.
I actually think that if they went harder on it it would have ruined the entire thing the song is doing. The gist of the song isn't that it's trying to be some weird sex anthem for queer people. It's a troll. It's teasing out dipshit fascists and making them look stupid when they get pissy about a song daring to say that adultery is bad.
it's ok todd as a nonbinary person i understand that the real issue is not that nb people are bad at auto repair, it's that theatre kids are. also the moment he starts clapping LET SAM SMITH FUCK i cracked up so hard. love an ally
Todd isn't bigoted against gender fluidity or sexual identity, which are natural and not a choice, and deserve to be respected. He's bigoted against theater kids, which is a choice and unnatural, and deserves to not be respected.
Todd: "I'm worried that as a straight white guy, I might say something offensive here on accident." Also Todd: "Needs more gay and more sex." Damn, I wish we had more cishet allies like this. Todd GETS IT.
Also the jab he throws out about how cis-het men get away with a LOT, just so long as they give lip service to trying: "Your lower standards are noted" Damn if that isn't one of the COLDEST lines I've heard in a while. And it's a great ally statement -- that even the straights should be held to a higher standard.
The thing that's also hilarious about this bit is that Todd is either not white or at the very least he's multiracial. So the joke has several layers to it.
@@lays5277 Look at the video for the Nostalgia Critic review for The Wiz. Todd appears in the video less than a minute in wearing a mask but you can still see the bottom half of his face. Please tell me what race you think Todd is. Wrong answers only. Also it's said, though I can't find the original source, that his ex-girlfriend Lindsay Ellis stated that Todd is half-Vietnamese. He also says in his Jump Around review that he is part Irish though you wouldn't know that by looking at him. He also says in his This is America review that, "I'm not black. I'm a lot of other things but black isn't one of them." So again, he's very likely multiracial and not someone who others would immediately see as white even if that is part of his background.
Okay, am I alone in thinking Sam Smith’s part would’ve been better written for someone like Adam Lambert? Lambert is known to go as over-the-top with his persona and music as I think this song requires while having a similar vocal range to Smith (if not bigger). Heck, he’s fronted QUEEN for a while! His voice could’ve worked well with this song, as well as Petras’ own seductive yet over-the-top nature with her music. I’m not sure.
I love Adam Lambert and this does feel like a lot of his early music, but I also kind of like Sam’s weird deep-yet-keening voice with the music. I’d love to see that alternate version though
adam lambert isn't going to make this record go #1 even if they're the better fit. this is what u get when the record industry makes a blatant copy of real music.
I immediately thought of this when I saw the music video! Adam Lambert has always done sexual music, like For your Entertainment and he can actually pull that. I'm interested to see where Sam Smith goes though, and whether he'll continue in the same direction as Unholy
a few points: • this song just isn't finished. why has it been released. • neither artist is American, and Sam Smith definitely has more of a UK based demographic. I'm not British myself but I understand from reading news and talking to British citizens that transphobia is much louder in the UK public conscience than in the US, so Sam Smith strategizes that this song being a hit would feel more like a statement over there. any Britons want to chime in here? • this song needs an official remix with featured artists who are all characters making the song tell at least a rough story. this song is already too short, but if it were 3 minutes and change it would still feel too short. • Nine Inch Nails - "Reptile" ass baseline is what I thought at first lol
One thing I really like about the song is the instrumentation of it. The metallic noises remind me of SOPHIE, a trans woman who was essentially the creator of hyperpop, and I REALLY hope that was what they were going for cause that would be such a nice tribute... (RIP) Also Todd being confused why he has such a big trans fanbase as if we all don't relate to hiding ourselves with a big hoodie LMAO Whether you liked the song or not it's your opinion and we respect it, and I definitely agree that it could've been sooooo much more.
Honestly I got the same vibe, to be honest I really wish they leaned more into the SOPHIE influences. Make it more aggressive and in your face, that would work better with the whole dark cabaret vibe.
Sam Smith sounds like they wanted really badly to make a sexy and edgy song while having no idea about what constitutes "sexiness" or "edginess". Them referring to a guy cheating on his wife at a strip club as "something unholy" in the chorus has the same energy as Ben Shapiro saying "p-word"
I always read it as basically calling out the hypocrisy of conservative men who preach about Family Values while also doing things that are decidedly not that, so in that context the "something unholy" does actually make sense?
“I am a straight white guy, no one will criticize me as long as I look like I’m half trying“ got the ugliest cackle from me, you’re doing more than fine darling 💝
Todd isn't white but having listened to his podcast, he's 1. straight to the point of not just lacking gaydar, but lacking the ability to detect even the most out and proud person in the room, even if they're hitting on him directly and 2. very concerned that he's going to say something cruel and hurtful as a result of his inability to pick up on these things. As in, his cohost mentions this is something Todd has spoken about off the podcast before or mentioned in texts because it's lowkey on his mind frequently. Todd is doing his best. He's like a golden retriever: not a genius, but full of heart.
@@morganqorishchi8181 I remember when put Sam Smith in his top 10 and he replied to a comment saying he checked it over a hundred times to make sure he never misgendered them. I feel kinda the same, I accidentally misgendered a non-binary friend once and wanted to jump in a hole for the rest of time. Just last month I accidentally misgendered Ezra Miller out loud when talking about them and felt bad, less so when it was revealed that they go by he/him in private and mostly does the they/them thing as a facade to the public. But I still say they/them when referring to Miller just in case.
@@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep it happens sometimes, I'm trans and I mess up too. As long as you apologize and don't make a huge deal about it I'm sure they'll understand.
Regardless of the song’s actual quality, it’s funny to me that the uptight bigots who would be offended by this song would be too scandalized by its mere existence to realize how utterly unscandalous it is.
@@LynetteTheMadScientist I mean it's about infidelity, but it's also about how dirty the dude doing it is. Sam Smith is basically judging him for it the whole song. This isn't even half of a dirty infidelity song as that one Doja Cat song that charted this year.
@@dyldragon1 the problem with making music in the transgressive-and-Catholic vein like this is that it means competing with Like a Prayer-era Madonna and that's a really high bar
@@LynetteTheMadScientist Well it's not about that, and. more that it's selling the song as edgy when...yeah, being an annoying cheating guy is narratively boring and also just awful. Also, it's a song. Thus, fiction.
@@LynetteTheMadScientist Oh yes we're all like Lil Nas X riding the pole to *hellll,* just gleefully at the bottom of the pit and ready to grind on the Devil... 'cause we're unmoved by this boringly written/produced/sung thing about fictional infidelity
Smith looks like a drama kid happy that the teacher allowed them to use curse words during their talent show monolog. I can relate all too well. I'm now too old for this to be on my radar, but it's kind of endearing how chasted this "sexy" song is.
I used to be such a huge Kim Petras stan, had to stop supporting her after finding out Dr. Luke exclusively produced most of her discography cause you know, I got morals, but honestly i’d be lying if I said a part of me is not happy to see her blow up, especially without a Dr. Luke produced song and with Sam Smith whom I like most times. The song itself is mostly underwhelming aside from the chorus. I think I like more what it represents rather what it actually is.
@@soaribb32 Oh, that’s a given. And we’ll never truly know what terrible things artists do in private, but I’ll always try not to support anyone publicly known for doing awful things/ being associated with people who are proven to be horrible mostly cause It just makes me feel uncomfortable knowing who they are and listening to the music. It takes the enjoyment out of it for me in a weird way and I just feel like I cannot fully dive into the music without a voice in the back of my head telling me I should not be enjoying this.
@@soaribb32 absolutely, and I get uncomfortable with how people single her out for supporting him rather than the industry at large, but she also defended him on a personal level
I think that live performance of the song you used shows Sam Smith's "sexless"-ness that you were talking about and provides of juxtaposition to what the song is trying to do. Music video: Sam is a sexy mystery person leading the cabaret with provocative dancing Live performance: Sam is just standing in one place while wearing mom jeans and a denim jacket
Music video: Sam is someone who runs and performs in an illicit brothel/cabaret and has to listen to men who confess all their crap to them because if they tell anyone he can get them arrested "talking on the scene.... Can't keep your business clean" this is clearly about a problem client that the staff warn each other about
Every time I think “that’s it, this is the most cursed thing William Maranci can come up with. He cannot go lower”. And yet, every time, you prove me wrong. I should never doubt you.
This song is going to be in rotation at every strip club in America and while it's short, it's kind of the perfect length for a set (as stated by the ex-stripper that I follow on Twitter who I first heard about the song from).
I was literally just thinking, what's the point of a 40 second song? I mean when would you ever listen to it? The shortest song on my playlist is Slaughtercult by Exhumed and even that one is a minute and a half. But for a strip club, I guess that makes sense, I've never been to one but I assume they aren't playing like doom and prog songs.
@@gelitrippingkiddo5907 Damn, detest is pretty strong, why do you hate it so much? I don't like any pop music but this doesn't sound that bad to me, no worse than most of it at least.
@@RoguSpanish Imagine listening to despacito on repeat as a walmart employee. It's good at the start, then it gets bad overtime. Kinda the same scenario the stripper is talking about.
Honestly, considering your analysis of the song itself vs the marketing, all I can think of is a particular line from the Big Bang Theory: Way to think outside yet push right up against the box. Edit: Also, now closer to the end, Todd's idea of it being a confessional just shows what I'm on about. And in light of that, this almost seems like 'Montero (call me by your name)' but made by the establishment instead of an actual provocateur
@@thrownstair I kinda wonder that too, but I think it may be because of both a difference in style and attitude Call me by your name is more 'you say I'm damned and so be it.' Unholy is more 'ive sinned and I'm ashamed but turned on by my shame' at least in attempt/concept but watered down so as to be radio (advertiser) friendly
I hadn't event considered it but... fuck, you're right. Montero is boundary-pushing (in mainstream culture, anyways), sexual and gender progressiveness done right in a pop song. This, meanwhile... screams of "the establishment" of pop music trying wayyyyy too hard while also shying away from actually pushing boundaries. Montero was explicitly about gay sex hookups, and stated so graphically. This meanwhile... wants to shock, but she's away from actually saying anything.
@@TheKeeperofChaos Ya want true boundary-pushing? Listen to Walk On The Wild Side by Lou Reed. It's from 1973. Just repeat this phrase while you listen: This was on the radio in Nineteen Seventy Goddam Three.
The song would have made more sense if they were BOTH having an affair with the married man and either laughing about it behind his back or didn't know it was the same man till the ending as a "reveal" 🤣
Bear with me, this scenario involves writing a bit more intro into the song. The music video starts and they're both just... clearly hungover, sitting in a brightly lit, slightly cold coffee shop. And then Sam smith slides his sunglasses down and starts the song, spilling tea about this guy from last night at the Body Shop. Kim responds with a story about a similar guy buying her presents, then just before the last chorus the guy walks in WITH HIS WIFE and everything stops for a sec while they all go 😬. Guy/Wife leave. Kim and Sam exchange looks, grin, and launch into the last round. "oh my god same guy". After credits, wife finds evidence. ...or is it better if the man himself is a priest?
It might have been cool if the song was about a guy struggling with his sexuality who had an affair with a boy, then dumped that boy because the relationship was "Unholy," and then the boy became a girl. Then, the man ends up having an affair with the 'girl', not knowing the truth. The boy is mocking him behind his back because, according to the man, their relationship is "Unholy."
As a non binary person who’s been subscribed for nearly a year and a half now, I honestly to commend how respectful you are. You never made it the whole point of your argument, and you used the correct pronouns. Thanks Todd, you deserve so much more support and it makes me happy to know that you support a community I’m apart of :)
@@seanmcloughlin5983 I had no idea this was a thing, I’m actually a trans dude now lmao. I feel it’s like saying women can’t drive, idk it doesn’t matter what the person identifies as, if they can do the job well who cares, I don’t think that this is a big issue tho
@@Emshii_ I was joking about the joke Todd made about how silly Sam Smith looks playing a mechanic The joke is it’s not a real negative stereotype (as far as I know,) The real prejudice is that theater kids can’t do auto repair
@@seanmcloughlin5983 Ohhh damn, oops. I haven’t seen this video in a year, sorry I’m kinda quick to defend myself when it comes to any question regarding queerness. After so many awful people in comment sections, I tend to get jumpy. As a theatre kid as well, yeah no don’t think I could be a mechanic lol
I realized what this song was trying to emulate pretty quickly: Labrinth's soundtracks for Euphoria - those bring a lot of choral elements in with some bassier production. The thing is, Euphoria isn't sexy, it's a sad melodrama where the actors are all supermodels, and the choral aspects fit more with that.
@@CrossingRover i was more exaggerating/joking, tho only a lil bit lol. my buddys a mechanic so for this next oil change i was gonna have him watch me do it just so i don't tweak. defintley need to work on knowing more about cars and shit tho
The way I gasped at the idea of Sam being the priest the man is confessing to (And getting off on it) - like MAN that would be SO GOOD!! Like bruhhh and it could have added some more lyrics for the song to help provide the context
The thing is that there's a couple of songs that charted during the last few years that are way more unholy than this song. It's not even the most unholy song charting right now.
I think that WAP becoming such a big hit and being played in Wal-Mart is... I mean, in a world where no one gets shocked when a person says a swear, why would anyone want to swear? I feel like by making it socially-acceptable for a kid to listen to such an explicit song kinda ruins the fun. Part of the fun of sex songs is that you're not supposed to listen to them, which is why it makes people feel brave, powerful, and dangerous when they sing them in a bar while their friends cheer them on. When your 12-year-old niece is dancing to Cardi B explicitly describing a sexual act while her parents are like "OMG, that's so cute," it makes sex stuff seem childish. Hot take: I think we need cancel culture to make things exciting on some level. Honestly, if we all could just say whatever we want without anyone ever objecting to anything, that would make pretty much everything boring. I'd rather be annoyed by an SJW telling me that I have misogynistic opinions than be completely bored shouting "She-Hulk, the show, had a crappy finale," while everyone is like "Oh, well, that's just your opinion, and I won't engage with it."
@@qty1315 I was gonna say, the bassline reminds me of WAP, its like they were trying to go for that and then decided to dial it back at the last minute.
I had the exact same vision you did for a church theme but with the choir calling him out and it being a huge exposé of the husband and as a tik tok user, tik tok has a very similar relationship with the song, when people promote their song on tik tok it comes with the expectation that there will be more to the song and you get to hear the rest upon release, so when the song released and people heard the exact same thing they heard on tik tok a lot of people were disappointed and had similar criticisms about how the song doesn’t really deliver on the theme,
Trans woman here! I think you talked about it well, and you don't need to worry as much about walking on eggshells. Also as a trans mechanic, Sam Smith as a mechanic is hilarious.
I'm so proud of myself. Yesterday I thought, "it's been a month and half, Todd's probably close to done cooking up something." I wake up today, and I woke up with the power of Toddstradamus.
This is 3 months late but I know exactly who Sam is supposed to be. They're the Emcee. In the musical Cabaret the character of the Emcee give all the framing devices for the songs that happen at the titular cabaret, as well as singing several of his own songs that tell stories that mirror what is happening between the two leads. He is usually portrayed as very androgynous and openly bisexual. Sam's dressed like him, they introduce Kim the way the Emcee introduces Sally, and the way they interact with the dancers is a lot like the way the Emcee casually flirts with the performers at the club in Cabaret.
As a trans woman myself it kinda makes me sad that Kim is our most famous trans pop star, considering how buddy buddy she is with Dr. Luke. You just inherently feel icky about supporting her if you are someone who supports and believes Kesha, so I can't enjoy her music even though it fits my taste.
I feel like there's got to be some sort of entertainment industry "playing the game" BS going on that keeps elevating trans celebrities with really problematic views/loyalties.
Anyone else want extended versions of songs (again)? That way we don't feel ripped off and the short version can stay with those who use them for shorts.
Harry Styles singing it makes it much more interesting. A guy doing it gives it much more interesting meanings. Could be about being in love with a straight guy. Could be about wishing you were a girl. So many ways to interpret it!
The song at the end is "Unholy" by KISS from arguably their best album, _Revenge._ I always look forward to what song Todd puts at the end of these. I think my favorite is still "This is Not America" at the end of his "This is America" review.
@ironicdivinemandatestan4262 Was thinking he would put Flaming Pie or Honey Pie or Wild Honey Pie from Paul McCartney, or possibly Magic Pie by Oasis which he as covered before. I was not ready for The Rock lol
I think what’s the funniest thing ever is that, from what I’ve seen, people are hating this song. Cause the OG chorus went hard and it sounded so intriguing only to be met with a shockingly short mid time. And coupled with the fact that it took forever for it to come out, it honestly makes for a hilarious outcome
@@JaneDoeValentine exactly. I feel like I always talk about Taylor Swift, but she would never leave a song feeling unfinished like this. Or take me to church, not really on the same level but has a dark and dramatic vibe in a way that’s really well done and meaningful
Honestly I think you perfectly explained why I need to look up extended mixes and remixes of literally every popular new song lately Tiktok video formats are so short and repetitive that music producers just release choruses without the actual, yknow, rest of the song. It's simply more effort than needed when the only place people find music is a 10 second video. If you actually want to listen to a SONG you need a remix from remix makers who are likewise disappointed the beat they like was barely a song
Honestly. Sam Smith making a character as some weird sex gremlin who runs an underground sex club, and gleefully delights in the goings on of their patrons’ depravities would be a really fun topic for a song
"Unholy" by Sam Smith is the most song I have ever listened to EDIT: the way my mouth dropped at 14:28 when you suggested the role Sam should have played in the song because IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BRILLIANT! I really wish now the song would have taken that direction, it would have been so new & refreshing (and actually more "scandalous")
Same being the priest also plays into Tom's other complaint about it being too short. Like there just isnt enough "going on" in the song to be really gripping. Nothing to latch onto. (I say this as someone who feels very 6/10 towards unholy. Like it's fine and I don't dislike it, but I don't really like it.)
It's too bad the song doesn't have the sophistication or the audacity to have gone that way. I'm disappointed because I think the machine behind this either overwhelmed or squandered these two artists who have proven they know how to deliver.
The best way I can describe this song is both rushed and unfinished. With a choir and a chorus like that, you'd think we'd be in for a epic sexy time, but all we get is something too short, way overblown and with pieces missing. I feel like Sam should make an extended version.
When I listened to this song for the first time I was really intrigued after the Sam smith verse because it sets the scene and I was waiting for some more drama to unfold throughout the song and then the Kim Petras verse was just generic I like expensive things talk that could’ve been AI generated. And then the song just ends. I love their vocal chemistry and I wish that the song would’ve been longer with Kim doing a verse that I haven’t heard before like a billion times already
One of the things that annoyed me a bit about this song also is that the LGBT comunity overall has so much awesome art and aesthetics to pull from and yet they went with the most predictable feel for this, to me it's not that it isn't sexy it's just a tired type of sexy.
The frustration I would say is they just leaned on boring cliches for the burlesque. Like there's way to do it, but Sam decided to do nothing for special or interesting really. That was really disappointing for them.
I found it disappointing cuz I think both artists have a lot to offer and have shown they each know how to delivery. I feel like the machine behind this overwhelmed and/or squandered their potential for this to be a great project.
Holy crap. This is a sketch for a song, not a finished piece. I really like the chorus, but I'd like to hear someone finish this. Also, Sam Smith looks better than they ever have.
He is certainly letting air pass through his Vocal Folds, and giving enough Pressure and Tension to them to allow vibrate at the right frequency to create the sensation that we can certainly call singing…
I didn't love the song but upon first listen my response was "Wait, it's already over? I fucking hate TikTok" We're at the point I'm wishing that songs I don't even like were longer.
Honestly my problem with this song is that the chorus doesnt hit as hard as it does in the beginning when its acapella. Other than that, the bass line is amazing and the song really makes you feel dirty for listening to it, which is just what it should do.
I was legit and nervous when Todd was talking about him not wanting to water down his opinions anymore after he mentioned about a non-binary and trans person only to be completely relieved and overjoyed that his supposed "controversial opinion" is his hatred for the vapid spying platform known as TikTok. 🤣
He co-host's a podcast with a trans woman and has made it clear numerous times (on the podcast and in his videos) that he fully supports the LGBT+ community!
I had to give this song a listen and I gotta say, you hit it on the head. It's not a good sign when your back-up choir has more dynamic vocal range than the two leads do, even if it's how this song hits the ear properly, hence it's popularity. Also, thanks for introducing me to "Unholy" by Kiss.
