Due to the fact he hasn’t had a top 20 single in the UK since 2007, anyone would be forgiven for thinking that Darren Hayes had given up on singing altogether. He’s actually released 5 singles since then; they’ve just never charted well in the UK. Hold on to your hats, people, because this is set to change.
“Bloodstained Heart” is the 3rd single taken from Darren Hayes’ “Secret Codes and Battleships” album and it seems like it might be 3rd time lucky for him. The first release – “Talk Talk Talk” - failed to chart in the UK and the second, “Black Out The Sun”, only managed to come in at 101.
The song combines lyrics that talk about being there for someone you love, with a mildly upbeat tempo which seems to make it powerful and rather addictive to listen to. It’s one of those love songs that would confuse someone’s emotions should they listen to it after a break-up; the melody makes you want to dance, the lyrics make you want to cry (though that could be because they’re not the best). Perhaps reaching a middle ground and tapping your foot with a melancholy look upon your face is the way to go. That being said, if anyone wants a Bridget Jones moment where you sit and sob your way through a song, the typical high notes of Darren Hayes make for a fun sing-along.
The lyrics aren’t great, but if you listen to the song enough you might find that you forget that tiny detail because the song grows on you. Admittedly, it sounds like something you’d expect to hear on the soundtrack of a cheesy rom-com, but that doesn’t make it any less brilliant. In fact, in a weird way, that almost adds to its brilliance somehow.
The best part of the song, without doubt, is the Coldplay-esque breakdown with the anthemic repetition of the word “oh” that accompanies it. It’s hard to miss and it’s fair to say the song wouldn’t be the same without it.
There’s no denying the song’s good but Darren is nowhere near his “Insatiable” days - although he’s definitely on the right track compared to previous solo releases. In fact, the single is somewhat reminiscent of his Savage Garden days, just with a more modern twist. This song is the best Darren Hayes has sounded in a long time and it deserves to do well.
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“Bloodstained Heart” is the 3rd single taken from Darren Hayes’ “Secret Codes and Battleships” album and it seems like it might be 3rd time lucky for him. The first release – “Talk Talk Talk” - failed to chart in the UK and the second, “Black Out The Sun”, only managed to come in at 101.
