jamaraz unreleased #29: 'You Look Like You've Been Crying (Original Version)'

So I completely forgot this version of the song existed, but this is the original first version of the song that I made in early 2022 - about 3 years ago now! Well over a year before I even released Worst Album Ever (August 2023), which is where the song first appears officially in my discography.

At the time of making this, I was super into this artist called Ariel Pink, and that influence is DEFINATELY present in this recording. Take one listen to 'Lipstick' by him, and you'll realise I stole the retro dream pop vibe straight from him. Then take a listen to 'Another Weekend' and you might here that I basically stole the chords from the intro...

That's why this version sort of got left to collect dust, because I never wanted to release it and be faced with people criticising how similar it was to Ariel Pink, which it certainly was. So it when it came to WAE, I re-recorded it in a totally different style (the recording that you're all used to) to ensure it was different enough. But here's the original!

Lyrics

Oh Gracie, you look like you've been crying
I can see you trying very hard to hide it from me-me
Did Mama kamikaze?
I can see the dried up rivers on your face

Everybody's favourite place
Yeah your face
Everybody's favourite place
You're the game
Everybody wants to play
Your the phase
Everybody's favourite phase

Oh Gracie, you look...

Look at your face
What a mess you've made
Yeah your face
What a mess you've made
You're the game
Everybody's favourite game
You're the phase
Everybody's favourite phase

Oh Gracie, you look...

© & ℗ Copyright Ricky Jamaraz Music 2022 & 2025.

So what do you think? Which version do you prefer?

Personally I think I prefer this version. Maybe it's just the nostalgia of my first year of recording, but this track has something special in it for me. Also tell me why the lyric "look at your face / what a mess you've made" didn't make it into the re-recording of the song??? Oh well...

Hope you enjoyed this one guys, check back next week for another episode offff JAMARAZ UNRELEASED