“Some Girls” by Penelope Robin

The music video for “Some Girls” by Penelope Robin opens in darkness, fading into a scene where Robin is playfully dancing in a park in a picturesque city. A melodic piano strikes away at glassy keys, and she starts to sing in her trademark velvet-soft voice. “Some girls want everything” she croons in a half-whisper, the words cascading through our stereo like raindrops falling from the sky and bouncing off of the hard bassline churning the beneath the keys. Robin stares into a storefront window at colorful trinkets with awe, her happy gaze triggering an oceanic harmony just itching to break free as we approach the chorus. The beat is only implied at this point, but the rhythm is gripping us tightly and encouraging us to venture forth in the track.

We cut to high above the city; from this aerial vantage point, everything looks so small and insignificant, especially in contrast to the voice dispensing lush lyrical verses over the subtle instrumentation in the background. The pace of the track seems to slow down for a moment, only to come raging back to life as Robin ascends towards the second chorus. Quick cuts of a children’s puppet show, Robin playing in a giant pile of leaves, and cityscapes that are like something out of a blockbuster movie flash before our eyes, the music blanketing each shot with an innocent tonality that is beautiful and startlingly evocative. This ode to imagination literally transports us to a dreamy place that many pop singers strive to reach but few ever actually do.

OFFICIAL VIDEO:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNK9D15ZWIk

“Some Girls” doesn’t try and smokescreen its narrative with a lot of visual frills that would ultimately come between the audience and the artist, and while it’s far from the most conceptual music video that I’ve seen in the last year, it’s definitely one of the more focused and sincere. We’re not overwhelmed with a lot of excessive shots that have little – if anything – to do with what the substance of the lyrics is trying to address; instead of watering down her breakout single with an inauthentic pop polish, Robin and director Patricia Nieto treat us to the real article. If this 11 year old’s truly inventive style and contemplative artistry doesn’t impress you, then frankly I don’t know what would.

Whether you’re familiar with Penelope Robin’s amazing work or not, you’re going to want to make a point of checking out “Some Girls” when browsing for new music this February. She shows off some real skills in both the single and the video, and though she’s still got room to grow into whatever sound she decides to pursue, saying this track isn’t a treasure of a pop single would be criminally dismissive of how organically talented she is. “Some Girls” features one of the most intoxicating harmonies of 2019, but far more importantly, it makes a positive statement that is remarkably refreshing among all of the gloom and doom in modern pop music. I think we can expect some great things out of this young songwriter, and after you hear this song, I’m sure you’ll agree with me.

DEEZER: https://www.deezer.com/us/track/614315932?autoplay=true

Mark Druery