Billy Joel might not have started ‘The Fire’ but Denmark’s Mattias Kolstrup unashamedly puts his name to one.
He’s the former front man of Danish indie group Dúné and this is the lead single from his forthcoming second solo album.
It came on him suddenly in a Eureka! moment and was completed in 10 minutes, prompting him, as he says, to “choke on my coffee”.
In a demonstration of democracy Mattias allowed his fans to select ‘The Fire’ as his next single in what seems to have been a Battle of the Songs rather than one of the bands and it earning him a cult following as a result.
Mattias is reported to be inspired by The Smiths and Fleetwood Mac but I have to profess I don’t hear a suggestion of either in ‘The Fire’, and certainty not the ever depressing Morrissey.
There’s a 1980s new wave romanticism about it, a sort of Howard Jones-lite, the melody is easily filed away for rapid recall and the underlying one is not dissimilar from Highasakite’s ‘Golden Ticket’ which immediately puts a stamp of approval on it.
The lyrics concern opening up about vulnerability and not being ashamed of it. Big boys don’t cry is no longer the mantra in 2025. And they are particularly relevant as he is about to become a father for the first time, with all the responsibilities that brings.
He isn’t the only one touching on feeling the light within him. I recall one of this year’s Eurovision entries following a similar theme. It’s a popular subject.
And some of his lyrics are cute. I like the reference to “a symphony of silence” especially.
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