'Fans': Kings of Leon's ode to the British
In my desperation for the summertime, I turn to this tune to pull myself through...
For me, Kings of Leon has become ubiquitous within my childhood memories, and my mom. Every time she got ready, Kings of Leon was on. Every early morning school run, the Tennessee native band would blast through the stereo. And yet it was one song dedicated to their British fans that rocked up on a playlist for me this week and hit me with a wave of nostalgia.
“Fans” is an up-tempo acoustic ode to the English, released as the second single from the band’s 2007 album “Because Of The Times”. Having enjoyed more success on this side of the pond, Kings of Leon crafted a chilled-out tune to reflect their admiration for their British fans and the British way of life. For myself, this means one thing… Pub Gardens.
I’m the type of person who spends about nine months of the year wishing it was summer, so I love finding chilled, bouncy, relaxed tunes that bring me back to that summer feeling. “Fans” is definitely one of those songs. It’s incredible that even after hearing it a few dozen times, I can still pop in my headphones and press play and suddenly I feel the sticky summer heat against my skin.
Caleb Followill’s unique vocal style is one of my favourite things about Kings of Leon’s music. The textural elements to his tone range in such a way that he can switch seamlessly from a grit filled growl to a looser, untameable yelp (described in complete sincerity as a “yowl thing” by producer Jacquire King). The way his vocals melt over the thumping bassline evokes memories of heatwaves gone by; drinking too much, smoking too much and absolutely sweltering.
Trapsing through the damp and dreadful weather this week, this has been the perfect song to whack on and pull myself through the grey skies and misery. Oh, how I dream of the days when I can lull about in front of the fan and rock to the rhythm and bop to the beat of the radio…