“The Other Side” - Swift Current

Song Review: “The Other Side” by Swift Current

“The Other Side” is easy to love and has about 100-million less streams than it should. The instrumentation introduces itself in a bluegrass feeling groove, while the narrator’s raspy, melodic voice describes a chaotic lifestyle. They’re in-and-out of the lives of their loved ones, and the first verse line puts me in a lyric-hollering mood (“I’ve been running from so many things in my life.”) From there, I’m hooked into this story, instrumentation, and unreal, unique vocals. The verses are well-spaced, vary the cadence of each rhyme scheme and gives the song movement, and you eventually fall into the chorus like it’s a comfy chair:

‍ ‍ Well I don’t want to live like this. 

‍ ‍ Tell me how I’m supposed to feel. 

I’m on the other side. 

I’m just way too high. 

The first-two lines are a fun call/response to the second-two lines, and I dig the mountain of space in the feel of the second-two lines when singing them – and you can imagine a crowded room of people effortlessly screaming these lyrics. The post-chorus breaks away from vocals into light, delicate musicianship right before the narrator begins to sing about another miscreant who’s just as chaotic as them.

There’s another slight variation of vocal tones and rhythm to give movement to the second verse, as we learn of the storyline of this second person who clearly understands the narrator’s issues and singing the same song. The instrumentation surrounding the vocals is light but purposeful, and it feels like a wave of harmonies driving the lyrics forward to final resolution. The ending vocal-highlighted chorus sticks the landing and sends the audience out on a cool tremolo-y mandolin note that adds realistic tension to the ending of the narrator’s story.

Every mood and setting seems to fit this song. It does not matter if I’m sad or happy, celebrating or mourning because what’s captured for me feels like an ode to self-acknowledgment, like the narrator seemingly understanding what they truly want do with their life and what it takes to get there. Or they might just be “way too high” and rambling. (I’ve been there too often, and maybe why I like this song so much).

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