Jonathan Stuart Ransted – aka Jonny Melodic – was in the 90s Britpop band Slim Fit alongside Peter Richard Adams of Hey You Guys and God Save The King fame. The latter’s album Not Again Cribbins God Save The King #2 (Number VIII) was in my top 10 last year (you can read the album review).
Jonny Melodic clearly has a rebellious streak. On new single ‘Different People’ he states, ‘I live my life by a different set of rules’, and the artwork depicts a perma-grinning V for Vendetta vigilante. That said, I’ve seen Jonny’s LinkedIn profile, and a teacher with over 20 years’ experience has to adhere to the status quo at least some of the time. For those not listening at the back, status quo is Latin for ‘existing state’ as well as a synonym for denim rock.
If Thom Yorke did an impression of Axl Rose, he might come up with something like ‘Different People’. It’s dark and catchy, and while the guitars are made in the UK, Jonny’s vocals on the chorus sound like they were made in the US. In addition to being a rock god, Jonny is a classically trained violinist, which just goes to show that even gods should have another string to their bow.
As well as being a lyric in ‘Different People’, ‘Who’s to say who is right and who is wrong?’ is the irritatingly evasive yet philosophically sound response of all smart alecs who appreciate the subjectivity of truth. However, if the teacher had just asked the question ‘Do you agree with SLAP Mag that ‘Different People’ by Jonny Melodic is an absolute belter of a song?’, the correct answer would be ‘Yes’.
‘Different People’ is out now on Spotify.
By: Neil Laurenson