If Bill Wurtz tries to make comedy the primary focus of his music, to the detriment of the song at hand, he failed so miserably. Not only is his newest song ‘I’m Scared’ hilarious, but it’s also one of the greatest neo-jazz songs to be released in the last decade.

Bill’s expression of jazz harmony within the confines of groove-and-funk oriented music isn’t something particularly new, though he’s mastered it to a degree that no one else has before. His understanding of movement is beyond understanding, where even a more thorough study of his movements and song structure can only be answered with a few brief jazz tricks and a shrug. ‘I’m Scared’ follows in this suite; it’s a song that’ll get you bobbing your head through its entire three-minute run, filled with jazzy gems. Also impressive is the production of this track. Beyond what’s on the surface, which is the crystal-polish sound of each instrument, is the complexity of those instruments. There are musical passages played for only a fragment of a second, never to be heard again in the composition. It really feels like every single note was meticulously placed for a greater purpose, a level of quality barely seen in top 40 hits, let alone a comedy track.

Bill Wurtz proves like always that comedy music can be much more valuable than what the stigma ensues. Removing the whimsical lyrics, and this is a song with as much foundation and validity as any other classic and beloved neo-jazz track. The comical nature of the lyrics, in my opinion, add to the charm of the track. It can be appreciated by an even greater range of people, if not simply for the entertaining value of the lyrics (and the video that accompanies it). If anything, ‘I’m Scared’, like many other Bill Wurtz tracks could be used as a gateway into this very nerdy style of music shared by people like Jacob Collier. ‘I’m Scared’ is truly a masterpiece in every venture it reaches.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.