(Image by Lewis Chaplin via Wikimedia Commons)

Robyn is one of those rare artists who can do pop without being too tacky. Pop remains fun and smart with artists like her. “Be Mine” is one example of her mastery of the genre. This single was released in March 2005 as a single in Sweden. There was also a European release around 2008.

The piano and the vocals in ballad version version drags out the pain from the beginning. “It’s a good thing tears never show in the pouring rain.” The piano starts to become hauntingly sad by the time the song hits the line “And now you’re gone it’s like an echo in my head.” You can feel the sadness and the longing as Robyn sings the lines from the chorus: “No, you never were, and you never will be mine.” A sincere feeling of helplessness is clearly heard in the way she sings those lyrics in this version.

Before the ballad version came out, there was this original version. Although it has the same lyrics, the treatment is different. You can hear a sense of rebellion right from the start. Sadness mixes with a sense of pride, as if the song were saying, “Even though I’m heartbroken, I can prove to you that I can move on.” This is not explicitly expressed in the lyrics but in the way the song was handled.

Personally, I like the original version (the non-ballad) since there’s a feeling of empowerment when I hear it. But I like the ballad version too, it’s just that I like the original version a bit better. Both versions are examples of good pop in my standards. What about you? Which one do you like better?

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