Trembling In The Palm Of Your Hand

Laura Mvula “Got Me”

Laura Mvula holds back on the verses of this song, singing at the low end of her register in a rhythmic monotone that slips right into the groove but conveys a slightly deadened feeling. She’s waking up, she’s remembering being with this other person, and now just feels a lack. It sets the scene, but mostly is just to provide contrast for when she sings in her fullest, most passionate voice in the chorus, back up by a very ‘80s R&B horn fanfare. It’s like the movie trick of changing color saturation or film stock to signal a drastic mood shift – the verses here are too rich and Michael Jackson-ish to come across as black and white, but think of it like cutting from a muted palette to bold, bright, super saturated colors. She sounds confident and joyful on the chorus, expressing absolute pleasure in submission – “I’m a slave to the sound of your command.” As Trent Reznor put it years ago, happiness in slavery.

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