Music Review: Defeated – Chasing Abbey

Something we strive for here at Our Muchness Guide is originality and a unique approach to something done plenty of times before and, like us, our topic of discussion today, Chasing Abbey, does the same. We’ll do our best to offer you insight and plenty of information regarding the new song as we review but, since it’s been a while since we last reviewed Chasing Abbey and they released their newest single ‘Defeated’ yesterday, I think it’s only fair that you get some thoughts and opinions on this single too.

For those of you who missed our Spotlight Artist post, Chasing Abbey is an Irish pop dance trio from Offaly whose most recent success, prior to this release, came from their previous single Lately. Their newest track was highly anticipated appearing on TikTok as a sound for videos almost a week before the release date and easily slid into the top spot on TikTok’s UK Dance chart. You may be asking yourself why TikTok data matters but, recently, a large quantity of popular music first gained traction on TikTok before its release and it seems that ‘Defeated’ will be no different.

So, without further ado, let’s break down ‘Defeated’.

Following on from the success of Lately, Ro, Bee and Teddy C are stubbornly resilient in their new single which stems from tough times and demoralisation but, though they may feel defeated, this track doesn’t throw in the towel. They never actually state that they are down and out in this track which only adds to that sense that, though they are going through tough times, those moments are surmountable and will not put an end to things. This track seems as much about pushing forward and persevering as it is about struggling. Much like their previous releases, Defeated’s chorus is undeniably catchy and will get stuck in your head mainly due to the bass line that really makes itself fully known in the first chorus. The opening instrumentation gives off a positive vibe with, what sounds like, piano notes using a built in or possibly computer generated effect mixed with claps to give the verses some bounce. As the chorus arrives, the bass is fully introduced while maintaining the original beat from the verse underneath at the same time. In previous reviews, I noted Teddy C’s enunciation and this time it really is a stark improvement and a well practised, immaculate delivery. The lyrics are crisp and crystal clear and a real effort was made to Americanise the pronunciation of defeated so that the ‘t’ wouldn’t be a stumbling block during the chorus.

This new era of music for the band began to take shape with their previous release ‘Lately’. Upon listening from one track to the other, it is clear the songs compliment each other, however, ‘Defeated’ itself can certainly stand on its own two feet and here’s why: From the very first listen of ‘Defeated,’ it was obvious to us that something was different about this song in comparison to anything else Chasing Abbey had released before. As stated above, the catchy chorus had us hooked from the very first listen, something that will draw in a majority of listeners. As we were bopping our heads along to the beat though, something gnawed at us before we dug a little deeper into understanding the unique makeup of this song.

While looking at the production aspects of the track, there is a subtle intro hum that introduces the song and builds under the piano notes/chords and at its peak breaks into the claps of the verse which only adds to the positive connotations of the opening verse’s backing track. The production was put together with the help of Alan Sampson and Goldfingers and has reached a pinnacle that has added an extra layer of polish to the track. It’s clear that this track could easily hold its own alongside the likes of Joel Corry, Tiësto and Regard. During the chorus the bass line isn’t necessarily a beat which is why I decided against calling the chorus ‘beat driven’; the bass is used as an instrument on its own and blends well with and supports Teddy C’s vocals rather than forcing itself to the forefront of the track. It is one of the focal points of the chorus just not the sole focal point of the chorus. It acts like a reflection of the attitude of the song as a whole; an unapologetic statement of perseverance because, even though it isn’t present in the verses, it returns in each chorus. Chasing Abbey have clearly found their niche within dance/pop music on this occasion though they haven’t locked themselves into the genre and have the freedom necessary to change genres should they choose to.

The clever use of production mirroring different points of the song to tie all of the lyrics together is the glue that makes ‘Defeated’ stand out from the crowd. However, my favourite use of highlighting lyrics within the beat and production can be summed up in one moment of this song. This moment, I would argue, is the most pivotal point of the song where the clever use of lyrical composition and the underlying beat is the true hidden gem of the song. To find it you just need to focus on the second verse of the song starting with the lyrics:

“And make it pure and right. I’m asking you one last time…”

This section of the song heading into the chorus is a mirror sound of the opening sound of ‘Defeated’ once the lyrics kick in. This shows just how important belief in the group as a whole is key to success and ‘Defeated’ has truly unlocked something special for Chasing Abbey.

In terms of general music enjoyment, all that we have discussed so far comes together to create “one hell of a bop” that people around the world can enjoy. However, it is important to look past the catchy, upbeat and optimistic sound of the production and take a moment to listen closely to the lyrics. By doing this, it will help you to truly understand how special ‘Defeated’ is. A song full of hope that the band can get past this rough patch. We have to admit that when we first heard the promotional clip of the chorus we felt this might have been pointing towards a song about a relationship. We were happy we could be proven wrong though as this song can be adapted to suit any hiccup in life. The last thing I want to highlight in the lyrics is the lyrical section just before the last chorus. You cannot help but smile at this blunt honest moment that we all can relate to, however, I can only “cross my heart, hope for life” that this is only the beginning of a line of honest, catchy and relatable material from Chasing Abbey.

I’d like to finish this review with an exceptionally big and bold statement. Every so often a song comes along from an artist that takes on a life of its own. It becomes the song that unites both artist and fans more than any previous release. It signifies the end of one era as we all push towards a brand new one together. These songs usually appear after conflict, extreme hate from doubters within society, writer’s block or to sum up memories. Examples of my personal favourites are Taylor Swift’s ‘Long Live’ and One Direction’s ‘History’. I’d like to emphasize the fact that Chasing Abbey’s ‘Defeated’ has joined this rank, as the single can be seen as a promise amongst themselves and to their fans. We’re ready for more songs that are truly them and not the songs they try to pen just to chase glory and stay relevant!

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‘Defeated’ is available on all streaming platforms now.