Darling You Hurt Me

Ala.ni “Sha La La”

The melody of “Sha La La” is warm and familiar to the point that I get a sort of deja-vu feeling when listening to it – where exactly have I heard this before? It sounds very ’60s to me on down to its arrangement, which feels a lot like when Studio One players would adapt American girl group music into ska and rocksteady. Ala.ni’s arrangement leans heavily on a cappella with just a bit of subtle percussion and organ to bolster the architecture of the song. Her voice is sweet and sad as she sings very direct and plain spoken lyrics about a breakup. It’s not angry or bitter, just honest in what she needs her former partner to know about her feelings. She just misses the connection and affection – “someone to hug and trust,” as she puts it. She feels betrayed by their initial promise not to break her heart, but it’s hitting her now that no one can ever guarantee a thing like that. It happened and she’s feeling it, and she’s moving on, sha la la, sha la la.

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