I mentioned Rachael Yamagata in my Sara Bareilles Song of the Day pick as another of the Fiona Apple disciples who’ve hit the scene in recent years. And based solely on her debut album Happenstance, I’d definitely call her my favorite.
Yamagata is a 31-year old Japanese-American who has a powerful voice and knows her way around a keyboard. Happenstance is one of those debuts that feels like it was made by a veteran… featuring confident songwriting, bold production and a willingness to stretch the boundaries in which young singer-songwriters (especially women) are often trapped. She reminds me a lot of Apple in that way, as well as in her overall sound.
This is a slow burn of a song told from the perspective of a woman who cheated on the man she loves and is realizing what that horrible mistake has lost her. It’s a great song, but I’m also picking it because it’s a refreshing change from many of the broken heart tunes I hear from a lot of young women artists. The woman as guilt-ridden villain is a fresh take that really elevates this song.
(Of course, I could be missing a whole slew of songs with the same perspective, so if you know of any, please feel free to mention them in the comments section)
P.S. Fans of Battlestar Galactica should find this video interesting.
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m sure the video helps you interpret the song in a particular way. I can’t help wondering if you chose a video with a woman slugging away at her male opponent to air the morning after Sarah Palin took a few slugs herself as some way to exercise your conflicted demons about the whole notion. Of course, unless Sarah proceeds to embrace Barack and shock both Todd and Michelle by their illicit affair, I don’t expect the video parallel goes much further. Oh no, I’ve managed to bring politics into the non-political arena of music. Sorry.
Back to the song… Powerful. Confident. Talented. Very difficult to imagine it is coming from an inexperienced woman. Oh. Wait. Did I just start talking politics again? 🙂 No, no. I’m talking about Yamagata and this song.
Now I’m the one not taking the bait. 🙂
WOw, she does sound alot like Apple, although the music isn’t quite as complex, which probably makes Rachel a bit more immediately accessable. Pleasant song to listen to, but I’m not sure if gripped me enough to crave more.