Great Sounds Great; Bad Sounds Bad: Gin Wigmore ‘Black Sheep’

Every week, a panel of writers for The Corner will focus on a bunch of recently released local singles and grade them. We call it Great Sounds Great; Bad Sounds Bad. Read through the panelists thoughts below and let us know what you think of the song in the comments section.

[Listen / iTunes]

[Grade: 3.8]

Eamonn Marra: Gin Wigmore has possibly the most annoying voice in New Zealand. As far as I can tell this song is about how she isn’t very good but people should like her anyway? NZ’s sex symbol for the ugly girls, singer for those who can’t sing, role model for average people. It’s actually kind of a nice idea. Pity there are no other reasons to like her, and she is sold to you just the same as every other pop singer. The use of the line “Once you go black you never go back” is an obvious attempt at some sort of humour to sell the song, but it’s pretty cliché and the song could do without it. [3]

Luke Jacobs: The official Universal Music site has the following quote describing the song, “it’s got all the attitude you’d expect from Gin, plus it uses the line “once you go black, you never go back”, which is pretty hilarious.” No that is not hilarious. Not at all. And I would say that the lack of fun is this tracks biggest issue. This song is no fun at all and has perhaps the most chronic mismatch of vocal style and production I have heard this year. Gin Wigmore wants me to feel that she is dangerous and a little alternative, but her song writing is anything but. The trouble is that the track isn’t slick and it has no hook. That is bad news when you are writing a pop song. [2]

Dan Taipua: If a GSG song is available on iTunes I usually purchase it for the sake of having the best quality recording for review. I also think it’s important to support the people whose work you’re reviewing; generally, it incentivizes a more considered response. This is the first time I’ve regretted making that purchase. There is no incentive here. [3]

Matthew Hutching: I’m not sure who she recorded with, but it sounds like even without the Cardinals she’s still got a solid backing band. There’s still the percussive piano, with heavy kick drum & snare. I’m sure fans of Holy Smoke will be pleased with essentially more of the same. Again she could be accused of parroting Amy Winehouse or Duffy, but she seems to have an attitude that doesn’t hide or deny it, which deserves some respect. I like the southern gospel sound of the bass vocals, but I almost thought I was about to hear another version of Kanye’s ‘Monster’ at the beginning. Unfortunately her lyrics really let it all down. I’m not convinced she’s as “bad” as she declares, and “once you go black…” is a badly chosen cliché that does not work here. Not even ironically. [5]

Louie Ginmore: Is black voice the new black face? Is duck voice the new black voice? [3]

Timothy Marsh: Despite this not only sounding like an obvious track to coincide with the Rugby World Cup but something to lift the spirits of any kiwi native in distress, this song has a real power behind it. Taking pride in being different, its out caster themes give a real aggressiveness – forming this into a ‘fuck you’ kind of voodoo chant, perfectly executed by its wavering of primordial outbursts and dirty piano slams. [7]