Tag Archives: Just Daniel

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Song of the Day #6,214: ‘Just Gray’ – Daniel Gallup

Concluding my look at Just Daniel, the new EP by singer-songwriter Daniel Gallup…

The EP began with ‘Just Say’ and it ends with ‘Just Gray,’ a nice bit of symmetry that is reflected in the collection’s title. And while the opener was a jaunty portrait of young lust, the closer is more somber and contemplative.

Daniel is a political science major who now makes a living performing music, so it’s not hard to decipher the first lines of the chorus: “When LA is the clouds and DC is the ground you land somewhere in between.” This song suggests you shouldn’t lose yourself in pursuit of your dreams, but that those dreams are still worth pursuing.

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Song of the Day #6,213: ‘Somewhere in August’ – Daniel Gallup

Continuing my look at Just Daniel, the new EP by singer-songwriter Daniel Gallup…

‘Somewhere in August,’ track four of the EP, is another of my favorites. It has a laid back country vibe that suits the melancholy of its lyrics. In sound and theme, this song reminds me a lot of my beloved Miranda Lambert. I’m not sure if Daniel has listened to her work.

This is the most cryptic and metaphorical lyric of the set. In a TikTok, Daniel says that a failed American Idol audition led to the writing of this song. I like that something so specific led to a song about so much more.

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Song of the Day #6,212: ‘Eager Eyes’ – Daniel Gallup

Continuing my look at Just Daniel, the new EP by singer-songwriter Daniel Gallup…

The next track, Eagle Eyes, is another that reminds me of John Mayer, particularly when it gets to the great guitar solo at the climax.

Like ‘Just Say,’ this song finds a hopeful romantic shooting his shot. This guy is a bit more serious than the previous track’s dance club flirter. He’s even ready to hear the lucky lady’s opinions on the latest season of The Bachelor.

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Song of the Day #6,211: ‘All is Well’ – Daniel Gallup

Continuing my look at Just Daniel, the new EP by singer-songwriter Daniel Gallup…

Track two, ‘All is Well,’ is my early favorite from this release. It reminds me a lot of John Mayer’s softer songs, with a rich blend of acoustic instruments and some well-placed electric guitar.

I love the lyrics, too. They trace a path from uncertainty to self-assuredness, and they read like a dizzy debate you have with yourself in your own head.

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Song of the Day #6,210: ‘Just Say’ – Daniel Gallup

It’s been awhile since I featured new music releases. In addition to Throwback Weekends, lately I’ve been spending a lot of time on artists of the 60s and 70s.

I had hoped to have a new Lana Del Rey album to sink my teeth into by now but that one keeps getting delayed. Instead, I’ll give a listen to recent releases by Lorde, Haim, Jason Isbell, and Lady Gaga, among others.

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