An ode to a love like the movies – Erica Manzoli’s newest single, ‘Suzy Loves Sam’.
Erica Manzoli continues to live in her own dreamy, eccentric world with the release of her third single of the year, ‘Suzy Loves Sam’ – a desperate plea for a love like in the movies, specifically a love like Suzy’s and Sam’s in Wes Anderson’s ‘Moonrise Kingdom’.
Described as a ‘love letter’ to one of her favourite films, Manzoli wrote this song inspired by the two protagonists in ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ who fall in love and elope into the wilderness with no inhibitions – a far cry from the disappointments of modern dating which has made terms like ‘ghosting’ and ‘situationships’ a common part of the vocabulary for those looking to find love in today’s age.
The verses describe a great love affair which is entirely a fantasy, meeting at summer camp and dancing on the beach, completely contrasting the reality of the chorus which expresses a relationship full of complexity and disappointments: ‘I’m left lonely after all / You’re in a café avoiding my calls / I play it off like I don’t even care / I don’t understand / Why can’t you love me like Suzy Loves Sam?’.
Despite the chorus, ‘Suzy Loves Sam’ is largely a love song, dedicated to the innocence and devotion of the main relationship in Wes Anderson’s sixth feature film. The track is upbeat and playful, with a folky, country-inspired sound, jaunty rhythms and a touch of 60s influence which echoes the song's visuals.
The Erica Manzoli philosophy is that the visuals that accompany her music are as important as the sonics, and ‘Suzy Loves Sam’ is no exception. Having teased this track with a short video that mimics the warm, nostalgic hues in ‘Moonrise Kingdom’, there is no doubt that a music video with the same creativity and intrigue as Wes Anderson’s films will be released in tow.
Erica Manzoli is a pro at manufacturing not only a catchy track, but also a whole whimsical world for it to live in – creating her own style of quirky pop music which is nothing short of refreshing and original.
9/10
Erica Manzoli’s ‘Suzy Loves Sam’ has been added to under the radar’s Elite Picks.