My first introduction to Missy Higgins was on a Frontier Airlines flight to Denver from Seattle. Frontier has little screens on the backs of the seats that show in-flight movies and television shows, among other things, and at one point I glanced over at my seatmate's screen and saw a bit of the video for Higgins' song "Ten Days." I was immediately enchanted by the grin on her face, and switched my screen over to the music channel so that I could hear the music as well. It later struck me that Higgins' sunny disposition in the video didn't quite match the heartache of the song's lyrics.
With her second release in the US, this Australian singer/songwriter has continued to write about broken relationships and self-exploration. On A Clear Night begins with stark piano chords and Higgins' voice, soft and sad. "Where I Stood" is an attempt to explain why the protagonist had to end a relationship, despite their continued feelings of affection for the other. It could be considered to be a follow-up to "Ten Days," but according to Higgins, that honor goes to the sassy, up-tempo song "Peachy." In that song, the protagonist is wrestling with the realization that the other person has already moved on and is doing just fine, thank you very much. Whereas Higgins' vocals in "Where I Stood" carried the weight of sadness and regret, they now contain an edge of bitterness in "Peachy." It's subtle, but characteristic of the way she can add depth to the simple lyrics of her songs.
"Steer" has the honor of being the song from which the title of the album is drawn. It is also the first single, and rightly so. The music arrangement gives the listener a sense of anticipation and hope, which appropriately matches the self-empowerment in the lyrics. According to Higgins, unlike many of the rest of the songs on the album, this one did not come from a dark place. Instead, she was inspired by a clear night sky and the realization that it is pointless to dwell on negativity for too long. "But the search ends here / Where the night is totally clear / And your heart is fierce / So now you finally know / That you control where you go / You can steer."
Article comments
1 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites and Boston.com.
2 - Rushell Tl
This album is one of my favorites, the way she can convey her emotions through her voice gets me every time. I think this album is her best by far!
3 - Julee
Her voice is sultry. It's sexy. It warms my soul and makes me want to listen. I find myself humming along now and just relaxing.
I hadn't heard of Missy Higgins until about a week ago. Now, she is all that I play while driving or just relaxing. Her "On A Clear Night" is an amazing tribute to her voice.
I can't stop listening to her! Youtube would be a great place to experience her and then give more of her music a try.