Zilli Henneberg’s recent single ‘Melona Coco” will make you feel like you’re listening to a stream of consciousness through a sunstroke at the beach on Mallorca. It’s ironic, bizarre, self-aware, and way too silly to take seriously. The song lists anecdotes about hung-over lazy mornings, fruit vendors, surreal dream episodes, and unexpected yet refreshing moments of physical and mental nakedness and makes you feel like you can’t believe you had this vacation day, too. This is the result of a truly nonchalant artist and the proof that having a good sense of humor and not caring about being weird are the keys to being able to make music like this. “Melona Coco” isn’t a song that was made up of separate parts. It is a story, but in the way we can tell it to our friends – if we choose to do so, of course. You know the feeling of lying on the beach from dawn to dusk, half awake, half asleep, occasionally interrupted by the unbearable shouting of a fruit vendor with a slightly squeaky but memorable and catchy voice yelling “Melona, Melona, Melona, CocoooooHoo”. Zilli sings as if he’s telling that story to someone on a beach somewhere, not sure he’s still asleep and daydreaming this anecdote from his holiday.
“Melona Coco” is catchy, in a weird way. Mainly due to the song’s main element – spoken-word lyrics going back and forth from nonsensical yet meaningful melodic lines. The music is light, groovy, and, above all, mirrors that lackadaisical state of slightly impaired understanding as the words do. The vibe is a weird mix of ska and just chill beach vibes – you know, the background music you can see and hear when you lay on the beach and not sure if you’re awake. Speaking of the lyrics, they are slightly vulgar and as repetitive as they get but that’s just one of the details that makes you feel like Zilli is being absurdly honest in a heightened version of reality, as most of us tend to do.
It is impossible to tell that Zilli has lived a long and eclectic music life without it seeping through this piece. He has been around the block several times when it comes to performing arts, even started his music career in rock and blues, only to later specialize in ska and reggae. That doesn’t mean the song is deep in that way – after all, it is mostly some idiotic lyrics over a minimalistic beat. However, a good sense of humor and life experience that “Melona Coco” gives off by the bucketloads just make the music so much more memorable and gives it personality. “Melona Coco” is good if you’re in for something surreal, funny, slightly strange, and easily hummable.
Follow Zilli Henneberg on Spotify, Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Also Visit his Official Website
About the Author
English