The Singles Jukebox

Okay fine but I get the aux cord then…

[Video]
[4.50]

Katie Gill: Because when I think of the “Budapest” guy, I think of hot summer party jams? I appreciate George Ezra attempting to write a song that’s vaguely summery considering that our song of the summer prospects are pretty dire, but the word salad lyrics and chill sound come together to form a weirdly calm hot summer party jam. Still, if “Cheerleader” could be a serious song of the summer contender, then this might have legs.
[5]

Alfred Soto: This deep-voiced kidder hasn’t done much business Stateside, and unless he duets with Cee-Lo or Future Islands his dumb would-be soul tunes ain’t happening.
[3]

Stephen Eisermann: The British response to bro-country is George Ezra: songs about partying outdoors without the misogyny, basically. Sadly, that only makes this slightly less bad.
[3]

Matias Taylor: George Ezra’s not-so-secret weapon has always been is his gorgeous, striking lower register, the kind of sound that allows him to imbue vague wanderlust with an infectious carelessness that simultaneously registers as wizened gravitas. He’s still running away from home, but he’s realized there is untapped fun in letting someone else choose the destination. It doesn’t hurt that this barely tries to disguise its pop maximalism with indie rock trappings; he’s having too good a time with the wind in his hair to care (listen to the way he luxuriates in his drawl during the chorus: “hot-one”, “some-one”), and why should he with a hook this good.
[7]

Nicholas Donohoue: This was probably written on a dare to make a song about adventure and relaxation sound as unappealing as can be, but the stupendously ridiculous moments (u-UST to this, h-AW-t sun, sa-UMMMMM) also shows some level of tongue firmly in cheek, and what’s wrong with that?
[4]

Scott Mildenhall: After the subtle childlikeness of “Paradise,” a nursery rhyme that announces itself with a see you later/alligator rhyme. George Ezra is quite literally having a laugh. Take against his smarmy joviality if you wish, but on this showing it really doesn’t sound like he would care. Ultimately it plays to his advantage, because this wouldn’t come off without the self-satisfaction — it even overrides the ineffectiveness of the false ending — and if you are opposed, it plays to yours too: by the time this goes to number one on Friday he’ll have turned to chocolate and eaten himself.
[5]