Omar Apollo released his new album, ‘God Said No’, this summer, which once again includes a good handful of songs that can be counted among the highlights of his career. ‘Spite’ is one of them, and the most listened to of this era. ‘Dispose of Me’ has also made an impact among his fans. And then there is the gem that is ‘Done with You’.
On ‘Done with You’, Omar Apollo features a 60s and 70s-style R&B and soul sound, a classic Hollywood-style string arrangement, and a cameo by John Mayer on electric guitar. It’s the Song Of The Day.
The sound of ‘Done with You’ is reminiscent of the smooth soul of people like Bill Withers or Al Green. Above all, the mix of strings and soft grooves evokes the sound of Minnie Riperton and, specifically, that of her 1975 album ‘Adventures in Paradise’. Apollo’s approach is modernized with the use of synthesizers, but the background is classic, and ‘Done with You’ can be described as timeless. And classic too, so soon?
‘Done with You’ sounds happy and bright, perhaps because, after the breakup Apollo narrates in the lyrics, a better future awaits the singer. Although things are not always so easy: the bond is still there. Apollo continues receiving messages that he chooses not to read, and he continues “wearing the clothes” of his lover. Even when in the second verse he sings, begging, pleading with that person to “let him go”, it is clear that this connection has not yet been completely broken.
However, Apollo is clear: “you and I are done” is exactly the phrase he repeats over and over again in the chorus. Although the message that should be burned into memory from ‘Done with You’ is another: “sometimes love can’t do everything.” Wisely, Omar suggests that in a relationship there can be love, but there can also be many other equally important things missing.
Apollo has just made headlines for being confirmed as a cast member for ‘Queer’, the new film by Luca Guadagnino (‘Challengers’, ‘Call Me By Your Name’), which is premiering soon at the Venice Film Festival. Surely ‘Done with You’ could be part of the soundtrack, somehow. You can check out our interview with Apollo here.
