“THE GOVERNOR’S DEAD” BY AMES HARDING & THE MIRAGE MAKES VIOLENCE PALATABLE

“The Governor’s Dead” is an upbeat, mid-tempo, Caribbean-inspired song that singer/songwriter Ames Harding claims is a “murder ballad.” For those not familiar with what one is, here is a brief lesson: It is a sub-genre of the traditional ballad form that deals with a crime or gruesome death. The ensuring lyrical content takes shape to create a narrative that describes the events of a murder, which can include the lead-up and or the aftermath of one.

This buoyant and catchy single is not based on real-life events per se but loosely on history. Harding said he wrote this song while he living in Cuba and Chile. He characterizes it as a “catchy and playful song” using the music he found himself surrounded in those countries. The topical content of the song which kind of sounds tongue in cheek makes references to coups, revolutions, and assassinations. Lofty ideas percolate through this ambitious track that’s also flat-out entertaining and lively.  The Mirage is responsible for those key musical elements with Eli Weidman on drums, Mike Saunders on bass, and AJ Arnett on percussion.

Find this track and others on Get Some Magazine’s constantly updated April 2024 playlist on Spotify! Click HERE for the goods!