The latest track by Energy Whores ‘Pretty Sparkly Things’ might seem like a fun, groovy synthpop track, which it is. What you will realise on a closer listening is that it is a stark commentary on the incessant rise of consumerism, and thereby capitalism in the present day world.
Shimmering synths start off the track which quickly moves into a pulsating rhythm that turns the pace of the track around. The song blends art rock, protest elements, synthpop to create an electronic upbeat track that can easily qualify as one for the dancefloors, until you decide to pay attention to the lyrics. The songwriting is deeply satirical while also being sincere. The lyrics target all the ways that overconsumption and overconsumerism is visible today, thereby targeting the influencer lifestyle and the celebrity lifestyle. It captures the shallowness of the trends in the society at present, and in a satirical way comments that “If you want them, you could never have them” which represents the general mass of the people, who lead far from flamboyant lives.
The song makes an interesting choice with the blending of an electronic dance music sound and lyrics akin to a protest anthem. On the basis of the sound, you would not expect the lyrics to be so heavy in its theme. The lyrics therefore come forth with the element of surprise, completely catching you off guard.
Bold, raw, and unfiltered, this song is a staunch reflection of the society that we live in at present, stripped off of all the romanticisation that we sometimes tend to lend to these fleeting capitalist trends.