A social media platform, relatively new and still evolving into a streamlined product. Accessible to the masses through phones or computers. Easy to break into with talent, charisma, and a little luck. Sounds like current-day Tiktok, right? Not quite. Before up-and-coming musicians fought to create the next viral sounds and gain loyal fanbases, another website preceded it. Youtube. In the early 2010’s to be exact. Sure, music trends and style has changed and evolved over the past few years; on Youtube it was reworking covers and showcasing vocal ability, while Tiktok is into sampling and emphasizing relatable lyrics or danceable beats. But it all boils down to the same goals that every artist aspires to . . . fame and fortune.
That’s where Karmin comes in. There cover of “Look At Me Now”, an early example of a viral video in he ever-growing online landscape, catapulted them from relative obscurity whilst studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston into the world of Hollywood and Epic Records. Although the cultural relevancy of there cover hasn’t held up in later years (primarily due to questions of insensitivity towards Black art and whether it was worthy of it’s current 120 million views), this single definitely has longevity.
Brokenhearted is so 2012 in the best way possible. It fits right into the niche of nothing-there-to-think-about pop that artists like Cher Lloyd, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Justin Bieber pioneered in that era. That plays a major hand in why it still hits like it did when little eight year old Brody listened to it; it has nothing important to say. It’s a pastiche of every formulaic hit that always manages to chart but never has an impact. But unlike the others, Brokenhearted is camp as hell. In between those aforementioned lyrics about obsessing over a romantic partner is a rap bridge with a reference to mullets and ugly outfits. There’s adlibs and wailing high notes in the background of the final chorus that somehow work. And don’t get me started on the random inclusion of “cheerio!” in a chirpy British accent. She just says “cheerio!” AFTER EVERY CHORUS AS WELL AS HER RAP BRIDGE. That is why this song is a classic for me. Whether it’s unintentional or not, this song is a parody. Compared to “Crash Your Party”, their true debut single that failed to perform like “Brokenhearted” did, this has that oomph that makes a track feel special.
This doesn’t mean I don’t have any issues with the song. I find the production to be bland and repetitive. The background guitar blends with Amy’s high-ish notes during the chorus and doesn’t really work for me sonically. In general, Amy’s voice is a mystery on this track. You wouldn’t be mistaken to believe that the song was sung by three separate performers because the voice used in the verses, prechoruses, and bridge all sound off. The jump in between them can be off-putting to say the least.
She shines the most during the final chorus, along with this little moment right before the start of the second chorus (2:04 if you’re interested).
I think a lot of the hate for this song came from how Karmin as a group came to be. Their Youtube debut to Top 20 hit felt like a meteoric rise not fit for their output, and I can understand that. At the time, Karmin’s brand felt disingenuous. Watered-down music industry mush, if you will. Being able to look back on it ten-ish years later, those accusations are true. Karmin moved on from Epic and put out a solid Indie-pop offering that was quote “the music they wanted to make”. Amy, now going by the stage name Qveen Herby, doesn’t stand by a lot of the work during their record deal because it wasn’t her or Nick’s genre or style. No one would never ever choose to wear that 1950’s housewife bun/roll hairdo that she rocked for their debut single. But hey, at least we got a solid song out of it, Right?
Final Rating: 3.5/5 Stars