Someone Else’s Game is the second solo single from 15 year old John Denton. Who originally gained recognition as frontman of the band The Height. He may be a teen, but he has achieved things that even people double his age could only dare to dream. Such as performances at iconic venues including Manchester Academy and Liverpool Cathedral. He also, back in 2023 won the prestigious Johnny Marr award. Denton’s newest track is the soundtrack of adolescent life, perfectly demonstrating what it’s like to live in a world full of contradiction and expectation.
The song is slightly nostalgic, like the theme tune to a 00’s family based sitcom. Happy go lucky vibes, Brit-Pop inspired drums and riffs that make you want to wiggle. The lyrics, though completely clash with the instrumental. They’re darker, moodier, and a dose of reality. They hit in a completely different way to the music, perfectly demonstrating Denton’s intentions of showing the reality of life as a teen.
The clash within instrumental and lyrics is a clever move. It takes you off guard momentarily, and then you can really get on board with it. When the backing vocals come in though, I personally feel they overshadow the main vocal. This is a slight shame as Denton has such a lovely tone to his voice. It’s not too subtle, he’s got the perfect balance between calm and emotion. With just a tiny bit less power in the backing vocals, I think they’d compliment Denton’s main vocal beautifully.
Overall, Someone Else’s Game is a fantastic example of how teens are currently feeling. Denton really shows his potential within his lyricism and tone. The intentional instrumental and lyrics clash is a stroke of genius, and combined with his lovely vocal make for an easygoing listen.
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