Snow Patrol: 'Just Say Yes'

Released on Monday, Nov 2 2009

Published Thursday, Oct 29 2009, 13:06 GMT | By Mayer Nissim | 16 comments

Snow Patrol aren't the first indie act to discover unexpected Balearic sensibilities. Keane were relatively early spotting which way the wind was blowing with their bouncy 2008 single 'Spiralling', while Jack Peñate won critical acclaim with his summer career reboot Everything Is New. Now comes 'Just Say Yes', a track Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody claims is "closer to techno than we've ever got".

Written for Nicole Scherzinger's abandoned solo album (there are live versions on YouTube), this is certainly more electro than 'Chasing Cars' or 'Run', but it's hardly the second coming of '80s Detroit. Where Keane and Peñate actually succeeded in introducing a new feel to their sound, Snow Patrol have merely grafted on a few floaty keys and hoped for the best. Otherwise it's business as usual, with the same over-earnest lyrics ("I won't be OK and I won't pretend I am") and soporific melodies as ever. Guitarist Nathan Connolly recently promised: "No matter what kind of musical direction we'll take, we'll always make it sound like Snow Patrol." He wasn't lying.

More: Snow Patrol, Nicole Scherzinger, Music

Your Views

16 Comments

Your Responses

Ross, on December 20th, 2010
Its okay but quite dull really :/

sue,lancs, on November 20th, 2009
I agree. The song grows on you after a few listens. Another class song!

S.,w.yorks, on November 19th, 2009
If you listen carefully to the lyrics, they can apply to most people's experiences. The song and melody is so simple which is the strength of the song.You can listen to it again and again without it getting boring which you can't say of all other songs.The song was always a snow patrol song even if others have tried to cover it first. Well done to the lads for doing an excellent job with the whole sound and feel of the record. Top marks, guys!

Mike in Hamilton, Ontario Canada, on November 10th, 2009
We would love you guys to play Hamilton Ontario and I love Songs for Polar Bears and When It's All Over, not just your "catchy" stuff, which is great also but love your beginning stuff. Please come here, my wife demands it! It's her birthday today and no way was she going to see you guys as a warmup to Coldplay or U2, sacrilege she says!!

Big D, on November 4th, 2009
prroperjob

Steve, West Yorks, on November 2nd, 2009
The epitome of snow patrol - boring, lifeless, rubbish melody that doesn't even register, forgettable. How they've become so popular is beyond me. Lightbody is the polar opposite of people such as Alex Turner as far as I'm conerned

Marina, Serbia, on November 2nd, 2009
I love the song, it still sounds like them, the backing sound is great,and the lyrics are beautiful as ever.It is still SP!

Matt, Manchester, on November 2nd, 2009
2 stars?! really?! I think it's great! Not quite up there with chasing cars, but comes close for me. One of my favourite new things around at the moment!

Michael, Redcar, on November 1st, 2009
Bland and lifeless. The instrumental backing is alright but the song has no real energy to it.

Shahriar, on November 1st, 2009
Well, I like this song.

Lainey, London, on October 31st, 2009
What can I say? Another really rockin track from SP, Lovin it.

Iceman, Leeds, on October 29th, 2009
Another safe delivery from Snow Patrol. It could do better but still a lot better than having a gold laden rapper with a stupid chain shouting obscenities in your ear!

James, Watford, on October 29th, 2009
this is just dull. some of the singles from their last album weren't great, and this song is no better. it just plods along with line after line of the same boring lifeless melody. the bridge sounds like it's going to explode into a huge chorus, but it ends up being the opposite. there's just no spark to it, nothing at all about the song to get into. boring and repetitive. in my opinion they've really gone downhill.

bernie jones, on October 29th, 2009
yet again another poor review e.g. you give westlife 4 stars for an awful cover of what about now

sam c, on October 29th, 2009
i prefer the nicole version

xox, on October 29th, 2009
Gary Lightbody is one of the best lyricists of this era I would say. He is right up there with Brandon Flowers and Johnny Borrell. How you can give this song two stars is beyond me. This is a fantastic track from a fantastic band. These reviews are becoming more dire by the day. I may stop using Digital Spy for RELIABLE reviews. The reviewer is terrible. I think Just Say Yes is obviously a five star track. It is a brilliant song with a great instrumental background. And why would we want Snow Patrol to change? People like Snow Patrol because of their distinctive sound and Lightbody's distinctive voice. Please get your reviews right.