Songs: "Short Change Hero" & "How You Like Me Now?" - The Heavy

 

The Heavy is a British rock band, and are from Bath, England, United Kingdom. The band became active in 2007 when they released their first album called Great Vengeance and Furious Fire. However, this first album was not actually released in the United States until 2008, and in May 2008 the band was mentioned in Rolling Stone’s Hot List. Their genre(s) is considered a mix of neo soul, rock, blues, and funk. So, their music consists of many different styles. The Heavy currently has three studio released albums out – Great Vengeance and Furious Fire (2007), The House That Dirt Built (2009), and The Glorious Dead (2012). In the U.S., The House That Dirt Built charted at 191 and The Glorious Dead charted at 192.

Though, The Heavy has many, many good songs, there are two of my favorite songs that are from The House That Dirt Built album. Those songs are “Short Change Hero” and “How You Like Me Now?”

 

“Short Change Hero”: This song is used in many films, television shows, promos/trailers, and even video games. To name a few movies/shows the song has been used on includes Faster (2010), Strike Back (Theme Song: 2010-present), The Vampire Diaries (Season 3), Suits (Season 2), Longmire (A&E Memorial Day New Season Promo). The lead singer Kelvin Swaby and Dan Taylor put this song together.

·         Content/Story: The song starts out with a one minute and thirty seconds introduction, which sound western-like. Swaby (leader singer, The Heavy) wanted that to sound like that, which was like a bad guy coming into town and then being ran out of town. As you can probably tell when you listen to the song, it sounds like cowboy boots in the introduction. Though, this song was basically composed and written based on Swaby’s experience with one of his young relatives falling on the “wrong side of the law” in England. To many people this song sounds like it came from a movie, which is what I thought at first too; however, it was not.

·         My Thoughts: This song can be used for so many different story lines, such as those portrayed in Strike Back, Longmire, and especially Hatfields & McCoys.  Personally, I first heard the song on Strike Back, which one of my favorite shows, and the song suits the main characters of that show perfectly. Therefore, on a 1-5 star rating scale for this song I would give it a 4.5/5 rating.

“How You Like Me Now?”: This is song is also used in many films, television shows, and other media outlets. The shows that this song has been featured in include Entourage (2004-2011), Community (2009-), Rookie Blue (2010-), and White Collar (2009-). The movies that the song has been used on include The Fighter (2010), The Change-Up (2010: Trailer), Horrible Bosses (2011), Limitless (2011), This Means War (2012), Ted (2012), and G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013). The song has also been used at many events and commercials.

·         Content/Story: Swaby (lead singer/song writer, The Heavy) has indicated that this song is about being at the end of a relationship. It may be because the “protagonist” has not exactly been faithful, or something of that sort in the relationship; therefore, the “protagonist” shouldn’t be loved. It presents an arrogant feel. It is like the “protagonist” has taken advantage or can take advantage of a situation and it doesn’t matter what the protagonist does, so the question is asked, “How You Like Me Now?” If the significant other in the relationship still loves the “protagonist” then the “protagonist” can pretty much do whatever they want and get away with it.

 

·        My Thoughts: As with the Short Change Hero song, this song can also be used for many story lines and particularly it is good for action type scenes or chase scenes. However, it seems that the media is using this song a little bit too much, and they really need to give it a rest. Though, they should still use it where appropriate, but just don’t overuse it. I absolutely hate it when the media overuses a song, because then I just don’t want to hear it at all. Despite the overuse of the song, I would give the song a 4/5 rating.



Short Change Hero Lyrics:http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/heavy/shortchangehero.html
How You Like Me Now? Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/heavy/howyoulikemenow.html

Short Change Hero:

 

Strike Back - Theme Song - Short Change Hero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qATXa4_skXU

 

 

Longmire - Season 2 Trailer - Short Change Hero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnQyFh9x77M

 

Short Change Hero by The Heavy - Full Song (w/Introduction): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6eSksEp27U

 

 How You Like Me Now?:

 

Ted - Trailer - How You Like Me Now?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fbo_pQvU7M

 

This Means War - Paint Ball Scene - How You Like Me Now?:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3Qr6eG1gp0

 

 The Heavy

How You Like Me Now? by The Heavy - Official Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVzvRsl4rEM