Bunch Of Fives: Charlie Floyd

Geordie singer‑songwriter Charlie Floyd unveils Stay, an intimate, heart‑worn acoustic ballad he wrote and self‑produced. Sprightly guitar, ambient organ, subtle strings and gentle rhythms create a warm, textured backdrop, giving the track a quiet emotional clarity. At the centre is Floyd’s at‑times Bono‑esque vocal, steady and expressive, guiding the story of two lovers with a grounded, unmistakable sincerity.

Here, Charlie tells us about his favourite acoustic ballads with a bunch of fives…

Awkward – Tyler, The Creator
For all this track sonically might be out of place for a conventional ballad, the lyrics and story of this song always make me listen to the full thing whenever it comes on. Tyler’s story telling is extremely underrated on Wolf and some of the earlier projects. I learnt most of any creative conceptualising from Tyler’s format of releasing albums and creating a world within each one through visuals and production. The reason why I think it’s a great ballad is because when the instrumental switches to the point in the song “wait don’t think this is going to work, things got complicated and a couple feelings got hurt” and “I got to comfortable and started to think we was really a couple but hey” the production and instrumental really feels like your heart drops at the moment of realisation in the story that the love is one sided. I love that just the choice of Rhodes and horns really makes you feel what the lyrics are saying. Then you go and top it off with a Frank Ocean outro which is cheating.

Amy Winehouse – I heard Love Is Blind
Aside from how gorgeous these chords and recording is, on top of Amy’s vocals which require no descriptive words to describe. I am so invested in the emotion behind her lyrics. Such an interesting story and perspective, so vulnerable lyrically and honest. The humour in the unnecessary details actually makes a better case for justifying cheating. I don’t for one second doubt she is being genuine in what she’s saying. And so in terms of a ballad, here’s another one that the story and detail is just so interesting I could never skip it.

The Beatles – Girl
One of my absolute favourite Beatles songs. It’s pained me to have to just take one spot in this list with a Beatles songs, but I thought I should make the list fair by doing so. For the sake of my own sanity I have to listen my reserve Beatles choices for this list as; If I Fell, Michelle, I will and For No One.

But with this track it’s another one lyrically and emotionally that just align to force you to think and feel something. “She’s the kind of girl you want so much, it’s makes you sorry” “and she promises the earth to me and I believe her, after all this time I don’t know why”

The deciding point that this song wins out of all the Beatles ballads is the chorus refrain, John just simply drawing breath is genius. Such an ache and pain in John’s vocals and the instrumental which holds so much weight to deliver this story.

The Streets – Could Well Be In
Of course Mike Skinner’s choice of words and production alongside the rest of this list is a bit of a contradiction, but this song is just as romantic as the rest. There isn’t a specific line in this song that I could highlight as a standout, it’s more built up of small and somewhat irrelevant details that are so complimentary to the company of the girl in the story. Of all the ballads listed, I think my release is most similar to this song in providing context to the surroundings and the inner thoughts rather than revelations or reflection looking back on the story which is being told.

The Libertines – Music when the lights go out
Pete Doherty one of my first musical heroes for the lyricism and style. “Is it cruel or kind, not to speak my mind and to lie to you. Rather than hurt you?” “Alarm bells ring when you say your heart still sings when you’re with me, oh won’t you please forgive me, I no longer hear the music”The honesty of taking the side of being the one to let the other lover down has arguably more emotional weight when it’s being expressed with lyrics like that.