Download of the Day 8/5: "A Little Bit Longer" by the Jonas Brothers

The time has come.

For those who have been reading my blog for a while, you are very well aware of my feelings about the Jonas Brothers. At first, I despised them, like most other Disney factions. Then, I found out Nick had Type 1 diabetes. Seeing that I have Type 2, my hate for them dissipated a bit. Still, their music still sucked.

A few months ago, I wrote about the Jonas Brothers' upcoming record, and the song Nick wrote about his diabetes. I was intrigued, because I wasn't sure what to expect. I would've forever hated Nick Jonas if he even dared to make light of such a terrible illness like diabetes. An hour or so after writing that post, I found the two live versions of the song on YouTube. The concert version was impossible to listen to, so I stuck with the Stripped version. When I heard the song, I was utterly shocked. The lyrics were poignant, sad, lamenting. How the hell could the same trio who unleashed "S.O.S." on the unsuspecting world create this?

I was very impressed when I first heard the song live, so I was expecting to be even more so after hearing the recorded version. So, did it?

Yes.

Truthfully (and I am not even a fan of the Jonas Brothers), this is unarguably, without question, their best song to date. The growth between this song and the crap that was their last album is exponential.

Of course, the biggest achievement of this record is the lyrical content. Hearing the recorded version, it still is surprising how poignant, somber, and beautiful the lyrics to this song are, especially when you consider the bouncy, teenybopper material they've released in the past. His feelings about his diabetes (reportedly written in a hotel's ballroom) seem completely unfiltered, as he takes the listener through his experience in the beginning verses. The recurring line "A little bit longer, and I'll be fine" is a promise to himself, one that he repeats as that little becomes bigger than he hoped. The ending is the true kicker:

So I'll wait till kingdom come

All the highs and lows are gone

A little bit longer and I'll be fine

In case you don't know, the highs and lows he mentions are the highs and lows that a diabetic's blood sugar levels go through. The implication that he'll only be truly okay when he goes to Heaven is unnerving, striking, and tragically beautiful all at the same time. It makes you realize how much of a toll all of that touring and recording could take on someone, and even if you hate their music, not admiring both his bravery and strength is unspeakably cruel.

The arrangement of the song, compared to the live version, isn't better. In fact, I felt that the extra instrumentation took a little bit away from the mood he was trying to convey. Maybe he was trying to lighten it, but it wasn't necessary. The piano and the guitars coming into the middle were enough. It sounds good regardless, especially with the welcome addition of the violin. It's good to see them expanding their musical horizons; they just overdid it a bit.

My only vice with this song is the vocals, but its not big enough to detract from the song's greatness. Thanks to studio magic, Nick's voice sounds much better than its does live. I may not like his voice, but I can appreciate the passion-filled delivery. The light harmonies of his brothers when the second chorus comes around is a nice touch.

When everything together is considered, "A Little Bit Longer" is a triumph for the brothers. They finally made a song that can't be easily thrown away when (or if, when this song is considered) the Disney novelty wears off. If they continue developing their craft for a more mature audience, then they could easily move past teen idols, into true, respected performers.

To those who declare the Jonas Brothers utter failures, put the hate in a box of 3 minutes and listen to the song. Listen to the story of a kid whose world was turned upside down by a terrible illness. If you can't even listen to the song, at least read the lyrics. If you still feel nothing, then I question your taste in music.

To Nick, I commend him on writing a song this personal. As a fellow juvenile diabetic, I could easily identify with everything he wrote. I may never completely like their music, only time will tell. He does have my respect, which counts more in the long run.

Rating: 8.5/10