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White Flag by Dido

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Dido takes her arty lyrics with attitude to a new commercial level with this determined to get over it love song.

Concept
A song about martyrdom in surviving a disappointing love affair. The singer won't give up even though she's tempted to.

Lyric
Dido's poetic message of her longing for what did not materialize and determination to get over it reads like a movie or novel. I know you think that I shouldn't still love you, Or tell you that. But if I didn't say it, well I'd still have felt it where's the sense in that? I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder Or return to where we were I will go down with this ship And I won't put my hands up and surrender There will be no white flag above my door I'm in love and always will be I know I left too much mess and destruction to come back again And I caused nothing but trouble I understand if you can't talk to me again And if you live by the rules of "it's over" then I'm sure that that makes sense

Groove
The track is based on 8th notes with an underlying 16th shuffle feel. Dido phrases jn both 8th and shuffle rhythms.

Melody
A strong memorable melody with great architecture and curt phrasing in a major scale that echoes both one's longing and a resolve to put it in the past.

Harmony
A classic Dido palette of diatonic chords alternating between bright major and relative minor scale dark triadic harmonies. i v bVII iv v // bVI bIII iv i

Structure

Signature

Production
The moodiness of the song is well flanked by 's excellent subtle omnipresent groove and production.

Performance
This British popstress shows her reflective ironic style expressing itself at its peak in this recording.

Predicted Longevity
This recording was Dido's biggest hit and one of the standouts of the year. It should remain a classic for some time.