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“Denise” – Fountains of Wayne
(Words/music: Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger, available on Utopia Parkway, Atlantic 1999)

Fountains of Wayne frontman Adam Schlesinger knows his way around a melody.  In addition to writing songs for his band, Schlesinger produces records, wrote songs for other pop acts, and composed music for Tom Hanks and Stephen Colbert (among others).  Still, it takes more than knowing how to harmonize to write a song that resonates with an audience.  Even the most formulaic hit song needs an intangible element to distinguish itself from the rest of the pack.  Some unique quality, whether it’s a specific stylistic flourish, memorable performance, or quotable lyric, helps the song transcend its formula and catch our ears.

Schlesinger, particularly when writing with his Fountains of Wayne bandmates, knows how to focus in on minute (and often absurd) details.  For instance, “Denise” references a chain of travel agencies, a late 90s hip hop icon, and a lavender colored luxury car.  These references warrant a giggle at first, but ultimately Schlesinger includes them as a way to help create a character.  While others might only name their love interest, “Denise” paints a specific picture.  Every time I listen to the song, I start to construct what this woman might look like, using the details as a starting point.  It’s that engagement as a listener that brings me back to the song repeatedly.  Once I had my vision of “Denise” constructed, I started looking at the ways Schlesinger constructed his Denise.  Specifically, it’s the small touches like the post-chorus keyboard or the punning on her name at the end of the second line that catch my attention now.  While this level of detail sometimes grates on a listener, “Denise” becomes a little more real with each specific fact we learn about her.

More on Fountains of Wayne: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm