We are obsessed with narratives as a culture. We are not only fascinated with the stories that others tell, but the stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves. It’s tricky business and it’s always easier said than done to be forthcoming about who we are.
URL: https://cecebullardmusic.com/#
That’s why Cece Bullard’s single “You’re Looking at Me” is such an utter delight. It’s a song that in lesser hands could have been a power ballad with its word structure, progression, and the way it heightens at the end. Instead, Bullard with her bag of Jazz tricks pulls a fast one on us and almost distracts us from the honesty with just how attractive she makes the bad sound, just like the good. These words are often overused in music criticism when it comes to praising something of a certain genre, but in truth, if you’re not a Jazz fan, this will make you one. It’s seductive and slinky almost. It’s got a texture to its sound despite having minimal instrumental accompaniment and so much of the true heavy lifting rests on the more than capable shoulders of Bullard. She’s a tour de force on this track really twisting every word for its worth as she paints a canvas of ups and downs that any person will find relatable, but I suspect will have plenty of resonance with women.
For a song that’s nearly 6 minutes long, I truly wish it could have gone on for 10. I’ve listened to it multiple times for this review and otherwise and there’s something so infectious about it. It feels triumphant, like a theme song to a 70s show where a plucky lead always knows how to lift herself up. I was unfamiliar with Bullard prior to this track and it’s very obvious her respect and admiration for this genre and music as a whole are palpable. She’s had the pleasure of collaborating with the likes of Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Rita Coolidge to name a few and it makes perfect sense why her voice and sensibilities would be so in demand. Where plenty of post Rat Pack crooners stumble is that they tend to emulate without bringing anything of their own identity to the table, and Bullard doesn’t settle for being the “Lady version of ___”.
Even before you get into the meat of a song that’s all about owning what you are and flaunting it with poise and grace, you know immediately who Bullard is, and you’re left craving to know more. Big love sent to the backing band for her who get their own moments to shine, and certainly don’t take an immediate backseat to Bullard and her wonderful pipes, but work in tandem so perfectly with them. This is a magical song made for misty nights and mellow days. It feels intimate like it’s being performed for you one on one, and Bullard has you memorized by her beautiful siren call. It’s very apt that the song is called “You’re Looking at Me”, because you won’t be able to turn away.
Claire Uebelacker