So far Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall, the duo that comprises the EDM group The Chainsmokers, are the masters of creating yearly hits. In 2014, it was the group’s song “#Selfie” that garnered them recognition. Last year, “Roses” was warbled on dance floors and blasted in cars everywhere. It was a song that bonded people with diverse musical inclinations all through summer ending, the leaves changing and our waiting for the snow that never came. Perhaps “Don’t Let Me Down” is The Chainsmokers’ triumphant 2016 single.
The single features the indelible vocals of 17-year-old Daya of “Hide Away.” The lyrics — “I need you, I need you, I need you right now/So don’t let me, don’t let me, don’t let me down” — are more than a little repetitive. But the simplistic pop lyrics are offset by the alchemy of music genres evoked in the song. As Daya sings, horns, percussions and claps lead the song away from typical pop categorization and into the relam of trap music. “Don’t Let Me Down” is tranquilizer for your ears — a song you can unwind to at the end of the day or dance to as the sun rises. With its release is the realization that while people in general may let you down, The Chainsmokers continues not to.
Gwen Aviles is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at [email protected].