Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Joshua Paparo – Marie (2020)

Are you looking for a song that tells the tale of an intense but fleeting relationship while capturing the longing for something more? If you are, Joshua Paparo has just what you need in his single ‘Marie’. Using the purest songwriting sensibilities, he looks at such a relationship that is primarily fuelled by drunken lust and the one-sided yearning of the protagonist for something more.

The single is far from the riff-heavy music Paparo has made in the past. His current music is looking to make sense of the insecurities we all face while tackling the underlying fears and heartache of life. Turning to the simple and classic, he creates a haunting soundscape that is more powerful than you can imagine.



‘Marie’ draws you in with a gentle acoustic guitar opening. The strummed melody captures the vibe of the song while providing an almost sea shanty feeling to the music. You can just imagine Paparo strumming his guitar in a pub while everyone sings along. There is a captivating thread to the melody that invokes feelings of longing that match perfectly with the vocals. The simplicity of the melody with only the acoustic guitar adds an authentic and intimate feeling to the music.

The vocals have a layered vibe that adds to the sea shanty vibe of the music. While multi-layered, the performance is packed with emotion from yearning to a sad acceptance that the want for more was one-sided. The haziness of the vocals is very different to anything might hear right now and has a touch of The Mamas and Papas to it.

Joshua Paparo fills you with a one-sided longing through the intimate and authentic look at fleeting relationships that is ‘Marie’. The single uses a simple acoustic guitar-driven melody to create a sea shanty vibe. The layered vocals are captivating and utterly compelling.

Find out more about Joshua Paparo on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

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