This Year. by Broadwing

“This Year.” is Broadwing’s follow-up single to “I DNT WNT 2 B ANYONE” both of which are influenced by early 2000’s emo pop rock with a blend of current production styles. “This Year.” is centered around a feeling of escapism and the visually impactful lyrics “I’ve got holes inside of my head. I’ve got dreams; they’re already dead inside of me.” The song starts off with acoustic guitar that has a tone and style like Green Day. The heavy tone of the electric guitar and the downstroke rhythm gives the song some metal aggression, as does the big drum sound. The soundscape changes in a few different sections of the song, such as a rap section where the drums change to trap-influenced production, and the mix of genres here is similar to Twenty One Pilot’s style. Because any changes in production style for a section has some kind of motivation, the sections do not feel stark from each other and the song retains cohesiveness. The differences in the sections keep the song exciting and interesting even after multiple listens. The builds and dynamics between the pre-choruses and choruses also make the song engaging. The anthemic vocal delivery in the chorus and gang vocals invite shout-singing along. The last section of the song is brought in with a marching-like drum beat followed by a short guitar spotlight, which feels similar to My Chemical Romance. Then a round ensues with the two most central stanzas: “I’ve got holes inside of my head. I’ve got dreams; they’re already dead inside of me” and “Gotta get fucked up with my friends. Gotta get straight out of this place. Getting really fucked up in my head; doesn’t really matter what I take.” Then the song comes to a quiet ending with one amended lyric: “I’ve got dreams inside of my head inside of me.” This lyrical change finishes the song on a note of hope; that dreams have returned or new ones have been found, providing motivation to keep moving forward. Overall, Broadwing’s “This Year.” provides reassurance that many people go through hard times, but it is possible to overcome them.