Song of the Week: 'Over You' by Ingrid Michaelson ft. A Great Big World

Ingrid Michaelson is the quirky indie pop chanteuse who has made hearts soar since coming to widespread attention with her breakthrough single "The Way I Am". A slew of sensational songs have followed, “Maybe”, “Parachute” and “Keep Breathing” among them. Adding to the tradition is her most recent single “Girls Chase Boys” off her new album, "Lights Out", a sea of sonic candy that bears the emotional soul of indie music's signature truths & the catchy synergy of pop's repeat-ability.

An astonishing offering from Michaelson off her new record is her stunning duet with A Great Big World, "Over You". It's an expertly crafted ballad that builds on a stirring piano melody, relying on an intense vocal performance from both artists. A poignant song about letting go of a former paramour, it uses a sparse compound of lyrics to convey the message and on this rare occasion, less turns out to say more. The deft use of lyricism hints at the small nuances still recalled about a love lost and far from forgotten.

Harmonies with sweeping emotional resonance conjure the image of a pair of shattered hearts’ futile attempt to move forward. Michaelson's voice reaches out with a haunting echo of poignant pathos. As with their smash hit single "Say Something", A Great Big World demonstrates remarkable restraint amidst the storm of cascading melodicism, complimenting the emotive power of Michaelson's vocals with their unique brand of Broadway-style, half-spoken vocalization.

The profound highlight of the song comes with the commanding unity of their voices when singing the lyric "The way that you said that you’d always be true", a crushing ache surging through their performance. In this instant, "Over You" exemplifies everything a duet is supposed to be.

A song like this does not come around often. It's a rare gem that keeps itself simple with a quiet roar that jolts with awakening effect. With the help of A Great Big World (they also co-wrote), Ingrid Michaelson, always an artistic pleasure trove of musical jewels, can add another brilliant tune to her illustrious collection. Listen to it here

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