We’re here with a mid-day bluesy ballad that would fit in right along with Kate Bush’s discography, but with her own personal flair that keeps me coming back to this song for the last 4 years. As Haddard says in the refrain, “I can’t get you out of my head.” The Brooklyn-based Haddard put together an impressive debut with her 2018 album Blue Part. While Haddard released two singles prior to the album, it quickly became clear that “Charley” was the true show-stopper.

With a voice that sounds straight out of a smokey late-night lounge, Haddard pines after “Charley” with her voice pleading with them to come back around and appease the desire that’s got them stuck in the singer’s head. To me, this perfectly captures that new relationship energy that we can so often get sucked up in when we’re excited about a new connection and obsess a bit over getting our fill.

That’s not even to mention the emotional build musically in this one. The guitar work keeps it simple enough that it never overpowers Haddard’s voice, but the riff itself is catchy and keeps you humming it long after the 2:33 song has drifted away. Another nice touch is the background almost angelic vocalizing that builds up to the song’s crescendo before Haddard fades us out with excellent control.

Charley, oh could we go back, just 24 hours

24 hours is all I need

I could see you, I could meet you

One more time, one more time

What’s going on? I was sitting around and now

I can’t get you out of my head…

Aubrey Haddard – “Charley”