It’s not every day that you get to make your dreams come true. However, it seems that singer-songwriter Alex Isley has done just that. She’s made no secret of her love and admiration for the immensely talented Raphael Saadiq in the past, so it was only a matter of time before the two of them crossed paths. That has now happened, and we get to reap the benefits as Alex has released an updated version of her much-loved WHEN track “Thank You For A Lovely Time” produced by Saadiq himself.
The beauty of “Thank You For A Lovely Time,” originally produced by Alex’s collaborator Oh Gosh, was its unique approach to heartbreak. The song concerns Alex discovering that she’s been played once again and dealing with the emotional repercussions that come with such a revelation. But rather than rightfully crashing out, the chorus of the song finds Alex simply brushing her feelings off by politely saying, “Thank you for a lovely time.”
This new version transforms the dreamy, melancholy production of the original into something much moodier. That’s due to the incorporation of a few new elements — including upright bass, guitar and muted keys. It’s also due to a reimagining of the song’s structure. The verses feature just Alex’s vocals, bass and guitar to add a layer of darkness to her heartbroken musings. The chorus, however, switches to a lighter, more melodic tone that creates a tension between her real feelings and the façade she presents.
Raphael and Alex’s musical sensibilities work well together, and the songstress has been gushing about the experience on socials since the single dropped. “When I started producing for my first EP in 2009, I studied him to help find my sound,” Alex said in an Instagram post, hinting at how much Saadiq inspired her artistry. “And now, here we are.” She later thanked Saadiq for his “genius & sensibility” on yet another post.
We’re very impressed by what the twosome have done here and seriously hope that there is more where this goodness came from. Listen to the Alex Isley and Raphael Saadiq collaboration that was years in the making when you play “Thank You For A Lovely Time (Raphael Saadiq Version)” right here. Then watch them cook up musical magic behind the scenes in the song’s official visualizer.
