When it comes to feel-good music, there is very few songs that come quite as good as Japanese Breakfast’s newest single, Be Sweet. 

From the moment it begins, it soaks in 80s nostalgia. Not in any way that feels too overbearing, but rather as a very carefully crafted love letter to the genre. Don’t get me wrong, everything we love about 80s music is present in this tune: the pop grooves, the hyperactive basslines, the countless layers of synths and pianos, all toppled with cheesy melodies. The combination of all the elements make for the perfect 80s song, but we’ve all heard it before. What makes this song all so special is its incorporation of Japanese Breakfast’s own twists into the already-beloved genre. Oriental flutes make their appearances every few bars, especially prominent in the intro, as well as a somewhat more aggressive drive to the genre. The 80s were known for the dreamy, teen-bubble pop sounds that we’ve all grown to love (or hate), and while this song incorporates those elements, it feels far more driving, a bit more electric than its contemporaries (or rather, parents). The chorus’ melody is a bit cheesy, as mentioned before, but I would have it no other way. It perfectly symbolizes the beauty of pop music from over three decades ago, and is incredibly catchy. After a few listens, I caught myself humming the melody countless times; it’s absolutely contagious.

Be Sweet is an extremely appropriate title for such a fun track – think of it as a small cupcake with an inch of frosting resting on top of the pastry. Just seeing it makes your mouth water, and you scarf it down in one bite. It only takes a bite to realize that if you eat too much, you’ll probably get sick, and so you stop yourself and savor that bite. Be Sweet is that first bite, that delicious, sugary rush that gives you instant happiness. Only you get to experience that every time you listen to the song; it really is that catchy.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.