Leaving nothing to wonder, the dramatic and forceful “Because Of You” from Boston, Massachusetts’ born Darrell Kelley is a pointed and poignant statement on the National Rifle Association (NRA) and gun violence. Kelley’s daring music beds and auto-tuned vocals may seem jarring at first, but the justifiably emotionally-charged message channels the desperation and anger so many Americans share. “Because Of You” jumps over the Second Amendment supporters and triggers the emotional reaction of dying children.
URL: https://darrellkelleyofficial.com/
Kelley keeps things plain and simple in “Because Of You”. The beats are just as impactful as the lyrics: “NRA, it’s because of you, did you hear the children screaming…did you see the children dying…tell us what you’re going to do…this is all because of you.” The fabricated beats and orchestrations illustrate the lyrics and elevate the urgency in his vocals. He sings as if he’s not coming from a place of straight-up anger; he appears to be coming from a place of desperation and emotional turmoil. The tandem music beds create a lasting impression and tattoo their way into the listener’s experience almost as much as the charged images of Kelley singing “did you hear the children screaming?” The repeating chorus funnels his points across and as a listener, one has to stop what they’re doing and ponder those words.
Kelley’s message isn’t about removing guns from responsible gun owners, he said in his press release. “I’m not against the right to have a weapon. If someone breaks into your house or tries to rob your business, you are supposed to be in a position to protect yourself.” He’s asking that guns be kept out the hands of the wrong people. His song is a reflection of that, and at its heart, the emotional journey that the news has brought into so many American hopes begs for awareness. Kelley’s audacious artistic approach to the subject is brave and straight-forward. He’s soulful in his sound and his Gospel background gives it an added layer of emotion and fellowship.
The music bed is a bit sparse in terms of interesting hooks or jazzy turns. It still has its dramatic turns, just not organic ones. It’s sung to track. Wishful thinking would be that Kelley drop some of the production embellishments and be a bit more real, but he very much comes across genuine nonetheless. Supposing he released this song in a rap version or angrier tone, it would be equally impactful, but he stays genuine to himself. His authenticity is to be applauded. He makes the listener join him in the song’s journey.
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“Because Of You” may not be Top 40 radio ready, and it may be more suited for a community radio station or even a public service announcement (PSA) but it gives voice to the voiceless. It’s a commendable, artistic endeavor. Darrell Kelley’s words and singing is a bright spot on a very bleak subject matter and his words hold merit. This is a protest song. This is a modern song. This is an American song.
Jodi Marxbury