Portugal. The Man has a long history together. The name, which may raise some questions, derives from a David Bowie concept that suggests that the artist or song is bigger than the idea. With Portugal being a country, the symbolism of every man and woman belonging to one identity is important in this notion and creates a wonderful idea for the name of a band.

When I listened to Dummy, I struggled to find the link between the title and the lyrics. On further research, it appears to be linked more to an era in the past when the threat of nuclear annihilation through Cold War antics was put to one side. While the threat was a reality, people danced merrily to the soundtrack of the 1980s. With that in mind, the connections and, at times, dark phrases make a lot more sense and give the lyrics real power.

Musically, this song is really fun. Portugal has teamed up with Taco Bell as part of their ad campaign, and the bouncy vibe of the production fits a marketing brief well. The melody is really interesting, with clever phrasing and versatile vocals. What I love too is the fullness of the sound, particularly in the chorus. However, for me, my favourite bit is the busy bassline that gives the song its energy. Dummy is a fab, fun song that I enjoyed listening to again and again.

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and Managing Director of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.