I am so fucking disgusted....
#28 - East Northumberland High: 7.686
(created by Suburbia)
Highest: 4x10s (Me @DJHazey @Remorque @savilizabeths) 1x9.8 (@M24) 1x9.25 (@Maki)
Lowest: 1x1 (@Guy) <- What the actual fuck?? 4x6s (@Entropy @phily693 @iheartpoptarts @AbCF15)
My Score: 10
Favorite Lyric: You're my type of guy, I guess if I was stuck in East Northumberland High for the rest of my life (I love the idea of knowing you've grown past what you would have been attracted to in high school, and I think these chorus lyrics really strengthen that message.)
Trajectory
5 Voters: #33
10 Voters: #53
15 Voters: #43
19 Voters: #28
Total Points: 146.05
East Northumberland High was written by Antonina Armato, Tim James and Samantha Jo Moore, produced by Rock Mafia and recorded by Miley for her debut album. Samantha Moore is apparently a singer-songwriter from Canada who released a few albums but hasn't made a huge impact on the music industry or - from what I can tell - worked with anyone noteworthy, except for this song. It makes sense that she's Canada, as East Northumberland High is a school in Brighton, Ontario in Canada, and Samantha had acutally attended the school, hence this song. An absolute
TUNE, a bouncy pop-rock song that manages to stand out, to be a little different from the rest on the album, lyrically it's about a guy she knew back in high school who wants her back but she has since realized that she's older and wiser and not into him anymore because he seems to be stuck in high school. Obviously it makes no sense with Miley singing it, since she was 14 and had still been in the equivalent of a high school relationship, and she isn't from Canada and hadn't attended the school, but that doesn't stop the song from being amazing, and besides which, Miley is very convincing in her vocals. Honestly, this song is one of the best on the album: immaculately produced, with a driving, almost bubbly rhythm of drums guiding everything along, with chugging guitars that come in at certain points, specifically near the end of the chorus, and honestly so many different parts that would take me forever to breakdown each and every one, with a shiny brightness to it all that adds a level of joy to it that Miley enhances with her vocals. She sounds so bouncy, confident and happy in her complete dismassal of this guy who she's completely moved on from - even though he never existed for her in the first place. I just everything about this, though I think the bridge is my favorite part. The quiet, almost calm feel of the production, with the backing "ah's" and "oh's" and Miley's sweet vocals that convey a breathlessness she doesn't actually have, almost like when someone you're attracted to stands close to you. Then the production speeds up and adds drums and Miley's voice gets stronger as she realizes that this guy and what they had in high school is in the past and she just exudes joy again with "Guess you gotta laugh at i-it!" then a large portin of the production, save the drums, drops out for the first line of the chorus before it all comes crashing back in. Ugh God such a moment. And the extra lines of that final chorus from "And if there's some confusion..." just bring everything to a whole new level and make it that much better. I honestly am so shocked this is going out now. It's just not even just the shock of knowing the song is amazing and feeling bummed that a lot of y'all didn't recognize that. It's the shock of someone who was sure this was a fan-favorite, beloved by most and would last a while. And it's not even top 20. I should say though, that if
@Guy hadn't voted, it would be, landing at #17. So do with that knowledge what you will. The song was performed at select dates on The Best Of Both Worlds Tour, and the audio of which was included on the live album, though the performance wasn't included on the DVD, much to my extreme dismay. As for critics, only
AllMusic had something to say, but it was quite something indeed: They called this "I'm-so-over-him number" the best song across the entire set of two discs. Taste.
Taste is something a few of y'all seem to be missing. Since
@Guy didn't submit commentary, we'll start with
@iheartpoptarts (6) who doesn't even talk about the song:
So Northumberland is somewhere around here in Canada. I couldn't even tell you where really. Well, I just told you. You're welcome. Next we have
@phily693 (6) who...I just...I can't deal with right now:
Why does this sound like the theme song to Sonny With A Chance but worse? The best part is clearly “just because I liked you back then” parts. Excuse you, So Far, So Great is a damn BOP, and this is clearly the better song. Taste in picking a favorite part though. The rest of you had the sense and taste to like this.
@Sprockrooster (8) simply says:
Sick beat. And all I have to say to that is you're not wrong.
@Maki (9.25) prefers the verses:
An amazing album track, except that the kind of quirky chorus kind of ruins the dramatic vibe the verses. I actually adore the verses here. It's very different from the rest, which is a big plus. Okay, I love you, and I'm perfectly okay with this opinion, but also no, the chorus is perfection and doesn't ruin anything. Writing commentary had a positive effect on
@savilizabeths (10):
One of my favourites when I was younger! It’s so catchy and fun! Another song that’s super fun to sing. It’s so sassy! Drag him baby Miley! I originally scored this a 9 but bopping to it while writing commentary raised it to a ten because it’s just so damn fun! The chorus is such a drag and such a moment. I just! Yes! Taste! Love you so much. Out of curiosity, are you surprised to know this isn't a miley co-write? A couple of you remarked on it's back-to-back placement with See You Again as tracks one and two on the album.
@M24 (9.8) is unsure why it's amazing:
I can't spot what it is about this song that works so well. But it just does! 11-year-old me must've been floored by listening to SYA and this back to back for the first time. Honestly, a whole-ass mood. And of course,
@DJHazey (10) has an answer for him:
I just got through stating that "See You Again" is sitting in the pop dictionary next to teen-pop and this comes storming in with its sights on that crown. Copy-n-paste every quality because they're here in spades as well. The "whoa-ohs" in the verses, string of uncanny "bah-bah-bahs" interludes, and that autotuned quirky little "rock n roll" in the fade-out are all equally anticipated every time. The chorus is unattainable heights of pop glory, with those guitar strikes at the end each line in genius fashion. Whew, what a song. I love when our taste aligns perfectly.
GET your LIVES people:
Jam to the live version:
And here's an okay-video of the performance, complete with a "Hey Miley" intro from her back-up singers:
And lastly, this theme song BOP:
