Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up
I'm not sure what I prefer more - the song or the video. There's been an influx of official lyrics videos from artists recently but this has to be the most creative of them all. Usually it's just the lyrics flying about on the screen - like a funky karaoke. This one, however, breaks that trend. It tells a story that relates to the song and, in some ways, is better than the official video (which can be viewed here).
As the name of the song suggests, the single is all about not giving up - about doing what you can for that special person, helping them however you can. It's about fighting for what you want and not just giving up at the first hurdle. The melody does this song such incredible justice; it tells the story perfectly. It starts off slow, describing how the other person makes them feel and what they like about them. The melody then gradually builds and becomes more intense, just like the relationship that's being sung about. By the end, the melody is fast-paced as Mraz describes how the relationship might not have worked the way they wanted, but that he's still there for them. It's really quite beautiful.
Mraz's vocals on this track are flawless too. The emotion in his voice is evident for anyone to hear but not so over-whelming that the listener starts to feel as though it's all false. Something else that makes this track so beautiful is the fact it's not overloaded with instruments. For the most part, it is just him and a guitar, telling a story we can all relate to.
We've all fought hard for something that might not have worked out in the end, but it was worth it in one way or another - that's another thing that makes the track so listenable - we've all been there at some point in our lives, whether it's a relationship or a friendship and it's helped shape who we are today.
Prior to this single, I'd only heard one other song from Mraz - 'I'm Yours' - and I played the song so much I got bored of it. I've had 'I Won't Give Up' on repeat for days now and it still has the ability to reduce me to tears. This song deserves to become a big hit!