sorry isn’t good enough is one of the lead singles off of Joy Oladokun’s in defense of my own happiness. The track focuses on thinning patience and growing resentment towards an unnamed partner. Instrumentally, it is reminiscent of Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know, but is a more brooding and incensed cut than the 2011 mega hit.
sorry isn’t good enough builds up with Joy’s vocals over a plucked, muted guitar, leading to a chorus that is emotionally explosive but not overwrought. It’s exasperated, shaded with a mild bitterness. On the choruses, the unique timbre of Joy’s voice makes itself known. It is in turns smoky and delicate, but rich with urgency. The track smolders.
The accompanying video is simple and stylish, utilizing a mostly black-and-white color palate. Singing to the lyrics, Joy paces through a darkened, spartan set in the shape of a domestic scene. The mood is dejected as Joy absently stretches on the two-person bed, wanders about, puts on a coat and takes it off and smokes a joint. The ennui is sure to resonate with anyone who’s faced bouts of depression.
The chorus is infectious, the production is tight, and the performance is impassioned. If emotionally intense singer-songwriter music is something you seek, this track is one to put on the radar.
— Tín Rodriguez