Christopher Shayne “Give a Damn“
In an interview with ED Magazine, Christopher Shayne admits he knew with “Give a Damn” was going to be a “fuck-you anthem” type of song. Christopher Shayne, an Arizona-based Southern rock band bearing the name of its founder, starts innocently enough with “Give a Damn“, his country twang complimenting the gentle strum of a guitar. But that quickly gives way to the more Southern-rock-inspired sound the band has come to be known for, as Shayne bellows “I’m trying to remember/If I give a damn/You can pack it up, give it up ’cause hey/I am just who I am”.
There’s a strong chance you’ve heard “Bad Guy”, the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 by Billie Eilish. But if you haven’t heard this amazing Southern-rock-tinged version by Christopher Shayne, stop reading and press play. In the aforementioned interview, Shayne said he finds it an engrossing creative challenge to “take something someone else did and think ‘What would this sound like in my voice?’ … Taking a song like ‘Bad Guy’ and trying to transform it into what we are leads to a lot of different questions in your head as a creator.” As a listener, my only question is how can I get this version of the song into more ears?
Within the first 15 seconds of “Break My Heart”, it’s easy to hear why Dua Lipa has burst onto the scene in the last few years. Originally from London, Dua Lipa first came to international attention with her well-received eponymous album and has continued to soar since, with Grammy wins, more critical acclaim, and a second album “Future Nostalgia” that came as lockdowns forced many listeners to stay home amid COVID-19 fears. “Break My Heart” is from her second album and is a catchy, poppy, synthy blend that spotlights Dua Lipa’s gifted vocals. And if you need any proof that this track is a bit of an 80s throwback? Look no further than the songwriting credits, which feature Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss of INXS.
“Last Chance” is a tune from Waylon Reavis’s latest project, A Killer’s Confession (AKC). Formerly a member of Mushroomhead, Tenafly Viper, 3 Quarters Dead, Reavis cedes no quarter in this alt-metal song, which features a brief synth number in the intro. “Last Chance” sees Reavis bemoaning his situation with this unseen partner, “This is my last chance/I’m so ashamed of every moment that I failed you,” though also making it clear he isn’t the only at-fault party, “‘Cause you know in your heart/Why no one will stay.” The rest of the Cleveland-based rock quintet surrounds Reavis with instrumental play that matches Reavis’s renowned vocal output.