Paul Kelly - BeautifulFeeling

Mon 3rd May, 2004 in Music Reviews

Paul Kelly is a veteran of the Aussie music scene who for the past two decades has been one of our premier singer/songwriters.  His talent lies in the honesty of his words and music, his stories have an authenticity that’s hard to replicate.  It’s this gift that has endeared him to audiences in songs such as To Her Door and Every Fucking City. 

His second single from the recent Ways And Means double album, Beautiful Feeling, is a summery piece of pop about the overwhelming joy of being with the one you love.  A lazy, meandering guitar line is propelled along by a jaunty beat that captures the semi-daze you feel when you are truly smitten with someone. 

Occasional crescendos break alongside lines such as I pledge you all my love, you’ve got my soul, which in print may sound hokey, but paired with the joyous music is touchingly genuine.  Kelly’s voice, though distinctive, isn’t particularly strong, so he sweetens the vocal side of things with some lovely background harmonies. 

Beautiful Feeling is a real grower; at first it seems slight but on repeated listens reveals itself to be far more endearing than initially thought. The song is the perfect accompaniment to strolling hand in hand with your love on an unseasonably warm autumn day.