Hey, guess what! We finally got new music from Mandy Moore. I really like Mandy and always have. I don’t even follow her career that closely, she’s just someone that I find myself rooting for every time I see her. Anyway, she teased us that she was recording new music for a while now. It’s been 10 years since she released her last album, Amanda Leigh. Sure we had the Tangled soundtrack and she covered Willin a while back, but yesterday, she released a brand new single that’s all hers. And it has a video to go with it:
I’m happy with it. I always forget how much I like her voice and it’s really strong here. The song itself is fine. The tune isn’t all that complex, but I the lyrics are. As we know, Mandy was one of the victims of her ex Ryan Adams. In addition to the emotional manipulation, Ryan sabotaged Mandy’s career as a way to assert his control over her. Not only did he convince her she wasn’t “a real musician,” he would fall apart if she worked for any real stretch of time, requiring her to come home and see to his needs. In this context, the lyrics from When I Wasn’t Watching take on more weight, “My favorite version of me disappeared/ Through longer days/ And shorter years,” and “What I became/ When I wasn’t watching/ A little lost/ A little rough/ I ask myself/ Have you had enough?” It’s powerful, right? And I love that the video has just Mandy in it. Even though Mandy gets all the credit for getting herself back to this place, it’s also nice to know that she made this music with the love and support of her new husband, musician Taylor Goldsmith. She’s in a better place all around.
She’s already tackled Mt. Everest. We can look forward to more music. Plus she has her award-winning show, This Is Us and the film Midway coming out in November, that I am very excited about. So Mandy’s standing tall after taking back her life. Good for her, she’s earned this moment. I hope she enjoys the hell out of it.
Photo credit: WENN Photos and YouTube
Uf.
I love her voice, and the lyrics are great actually, but the production of the song is really… I’ll choose the word strange. It sounds like a demo.
To me it kind of has a folksy 70s vibe to it, like Carly Simon almost. I can get into it.
Happy she pulled herself out of that hole, and is able to be herself again and accomplish whatever she wants. It’s awesome.
The lyrics are great, the melody kind of blah and the video is awful. Way too much writhing around against a wall. But I like Mandy and am rooting for her. LOL
I haven’t listened to it yet, but I’m glad she’s back to making music after what she went through with Ryan Adams. In general its nice to see that she is doing well – music, acting, etc.
Will it be a direct ripoff of a Robyn song, like “Candy” was?
Isnt that from like the 90’s? Maybe get over it?
How bizarre-“Candy” predates any Robyn song by about twenty years.
Huh? Robyn has been around since the early 90s at least. Not saying anyone ripped anyone else off but she’s been around for a long time.
Her music isn’t my cup of tea, but I really like *her*. And her interviews surrounding the Ryan Adams stuff were heartbreaking. I hope this new push works for her, riding high on her This Is Us wave.
Sounds like Jenny Lewis a bit. I like it.
@BETSY I was thinking the same thing while listening to the song. She’s trying to sound like a wanna be Jenny Lewis (who ironically had worked with Ryan Adams, but he screwed her over too). Also, the melody is giving me B side of an old Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Christine Mcvie single vibes. I’m glad she’s singing again, but this song is bland and too derisive for my taste. Also, we get it Mandy! You look the best you have in years and your on NBC’s top drama series.
I liked it. Definitely not Top 40 radio, but it suits her. I think she’s more earth goddess/folksy than she’s shown previously – if she can find her tone and create a musical identity on an album, I’m in.
Also, Ryan Adams is the worst.
This music isn’t really my cup of tea, but it suits her. She has a lovely voice. I honestly wish she’d stick with music — I really like her as a person, but I find her acting insufferable. I had to stop watching This Is Us primarily because of how grating I found her.
I love Mandy sooo much. I always have – since I was like maybe 10. She’s so great. So real, so warm. I think everyone needs to really understand that no music is original, regardless of who sings it or produces it etc. Everything is inspired by something before it. Just like fashion, hair/makeup and any other artistic thing. Maybe she was inspired by Jenny Lewis and Robyn, maybe she heard a folk song from the 70s that inspired her. She’s not ripping off anyone. The lyrics are hers and they’re very real – just like everyone elses. I’m rooting so hard for Mandy.