Ealing-based artist 50mething, aka Paul Jenner, released “You Can’t Tear It Up” back in January, inspired by a BBC documentary about the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. It’s a song about digital permanence – the idea that once something is out there, there’s no negative to destroy, no way to take it back. Heavy subject matter. The kind of thing that could easily become a grim, preachy listen in the wrong hands.
Musically, the song is almost whimsical in its presentation, which makes the eventual shock and realisation of what the song is actually talking about all the more potent. The rhythm is bouncy and super danceable, the harmony is catchy, and the pop-style hooks keep the song in your ear for a long time. The production quality is remarkable too – not just the arrangement, every layer of this rhythm section pops and feels alive.
Mixed and mastered by Sefi Carmel, there’s a hybrid groove running through it that feels both human and mechanical, which is exactly right for a song about intimacy colliding with technology. The nod to Todd Rundgren’s playful, layered production sensibility is real, and it works.
The catchiness is the whole point. Paul Jenner is using it against you – you’re moving before you’ve fully clocked what you’re moving to. “You Can’t Tear It Up” is a modern cautionary tale that trusts the listener enough to let the contrast do the heavy lifting.