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British boy band The Wanted follow their top 5 US breakthrough for "Glad You Came" with a former #3 hit at home in the UK from early 2011. "Gold Forever" was released as the first single from their second album Battleground and was also the Comic Relief charity single for the year. Unfortunately, "Gold Forever" seems to lack in the energy and memorable melody that made "Glad You Came" a standout.

It is a distinctive dip in momentum for the group.

Pros

• String flourishes in the verse
• Lyrics celebrating the power of the present

Cons

• Lack of a strong hook
• Standard sounding production
• Lack of distinctiveness in vocals

Description

• Written by Steve Mac, Wayne Hector, and Claude Kelly
• Produced by Steve Mac
• Released March 2012 by Def Jam

Guide Review - The Wanted - "Gold Forever"

The sentiments of "Gold Forever" are solid. The words speak about basking in the current moment because it is so special, and, as The Wanted sing, "Some days stay gold forever." Unfortunately, the music itself is not nearly as memorable as a song like this should be. The song kicks off with upfront singing, a simple keyboard accompaniment kicks in, and then we head into, by now, standard issue dance beats. The most catchy parts of the song are the string flourishes accompanying the verse. The chorus itself is a bit of a letdown and never really sticks in the head.

"Gold Forever" was produced and co-written by Steve Mac, one of the UK's most successful pop producers.

He also helmed "Glad You Came." Unfortunately, this time his work sounds more like it was churned out of a pop hit factory than presenting a sound that is unique to The Wanted. When viewing the video accompanying the song you realize the lead vocals shift among group members, but when simply listening to the song the separate parts become almost indistinguishable lending a sort of faceless feel to the record. If you want a simple, straightforward pop song to add to your personal playlist, "Gold Forever" would work, but it is not a standout.

Will "Gold Forever" continue the US hit streak for The Wanted? It is a crucial release as the group heads into their debut EP release on these shores. The song is unlikely to be a smash at the level of "Glad You Came." It was not a huge hit for the group in the UK either and only managed a #3 peak even with the power of the Comic Relief charity behind it. Perhaps "Gold Forever" will be a solid holding pattern while we wait for a stronger single from The Wanted.