Lily Allen's original version of "22" is a bittersweet pop romp about a girl who is going nowhere at 30, as societal conventions and shoulda, woulda, couldas weigh down on her. The upbeat tone of the music plays with the listener as it unearths that easy, yet still fantastic, juxtaposition trick that happens when you shine a sparkly light on someone in a jam. But, that all changes once The Big Pink gets a hold of the track. The bounce is gone and what has taken its place is a slightly less aggressive version of an industrial grind mixed with club spin, where the cheeky vocals and knowing narrative are now downgraded into the realm of second class passengers. The music now distracts from the words, mimicking the mind of a girl lost in a sea of people and the feelings that come with a club life. I don't think I'd make the case that it's better, but it does allow you to come at the song from a different vantage point.
This player (SoundCloud) didn’t survive.
Via Stereogum