Sunday Sounds: November 14, 2021, “Common Language”

Samantha Colleran, November 2021

Who Are You Now album cover. Genius

If you saw one of my most recent posts, you’ll know that I was lucky enough to attend night two of Harryween on October 31st! Of course Harry was incredible, but one of my favorite parts of the night was getting better acquainted with the music of Madison Cunningham, the first of two opening acts Harry had lined up for the evening. I didn’t know much about Madison going into the show; I only had time to listen to a couple of her songs, but I was blown away by her stage presence and overall sound. So, for today’s Sunday Sounds, I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite tracks of hers!

Coming off of her 2019 album Who Are You Now, “Common Language” is an absolutely gorgeous track instrumentally and lyrically. Choosing a song off of this album proved to be a difficult task because they’re all wonderful, but to me, this one stands out just a tiny bit more than the rest. It showcases Madison’s vocal range; she hits these gorgeous higher notes towards the end of the song as the instrumentals build up, and it makes my heart soar. The instrumentals are slightly haunting but so interesting to listen to; the drums are steady, the guitar creeps in perfectly, and both allow Madison’s voice to shine through in the best way possible. 

The lyrics of “Common Language” are some of the most fascinating I’ve heard in a while. “We’re the same note in different octaves”, “Similar hearts speak dissonant phrases/ Differing souls speak a common language”, these are just some of the incredible lyrics you’ll hear throughout the song. I was so blown away by these words, I couldn’t stop listening to it the first time I heard this track. There’s something so powerful about Madison’s words, my only complaint is that I wish I’d heard this track sooner!

You can listen to the track below, and please let me know your thoughts in the comments! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

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