In my post on ‘5 Colours in Her Hair’, I called it the perfect song for McFly to launch themselves with. Their second single, then, was the perfect song for McFly to announce that they were here to stay.
Obviously, by McFly (their 2nd of seven #1s)
1 week, 27th June – 4th July 2004
‘5 Colours in Her Hair’ was largely Busted under a different name, with a big nod towards the same pop punk sound; though with a much more melodic, classic rock influence. For ‘Obviously’ they keep the melodies strong, but this is much more of an understated record, balanced somewhere between power and jangle pop.
Can a song be instant, yet understated? If so, then this is that song. This made me a McFly fan, and started me on the path of buying every album, seeing them live three times, and buying each copy of Attitude magazine in which they shamelessly gay-baited us on the cover. It’s got a hell of a chorus, especially when Danny and Tom’s voices soar and intertwine towards the climax.
This is also a cut above Busted in terms of the lyrics, in which McFly prove that teenage boys can write songs about not getting the girl without sounding like spoiled toddlers. They’re in love with a girl, but have quickly come to the realisation that they aren’t good enough for her… Cause obviously, She’s out of my league, I’m wasting my time ‘cause she’ll never be mine…
The rest of the lyrics are either quite funny: the girl’s boyfriend is twenty-three, He’s in the Marines, He’d kill me… Or they’re endearingly clunky: I think the only reason they chose to run off to LA in the second verse is because it rhymes with that’s where I’ll stay… Their debut album, ‘Room on the 3rd Floor’ is full of similarly teenage lyrics, and is an LP I’ll always listen to fondly.
The one thing I’d change about this are the strings, which add strangely grand flourishes that a song this simple doesn’t need. Maybe they were worried the song was too subtle after 5CIHH, and wanted some more oomph, but it’s a bit much. In fact, that’s one of my few complaints with early McFly – an over-egging of the pudding in an attempt to prove themselves as a ‘proper’ band. It was worst on their second album, from which they’ll be scoring two more #1s soon enough.
The UK Number Ones Blog 
Seems like quite a hard line to tread for production, mixing boy band with pop-punk. Good song though.
Admittedly, when I saw the photo of McFly you posted, I pictured a boy band like Backstreet Boys or NSYNC who are generally not my cup of tea. That said, “Obviously” is a pretty good power pop-ish song, which reminds me a bit of The Rembrandts. Good reminder not to judge a book by its cover!
They were marketed as a boyband – inevitable when they were all 16-18 when debuting – but they wrote their own songs and played their own instruments. And were pretty great imo. Definitely worth exploring their back catalogue.
This is very nice. A good slice of jangly power pop. I like their previous No. 1 more due to it sounding like it should be a Monkees song, but this is a good song. This isnt even pop punk – its just a good power pop/pop rock song. I actually really like the strings. Gives me 70s T. Rex vibes ala The Slider.
Well, I was very much not target audience for McFly and they remain beloved to those who were. It’s OK. My main problem with this one is the vocals – a bit too strained for my tastes – and the plodding pace and understated melody. I dont mind the strings, actually and the general vibe is pleasant enough, but I much prefer (to the horror of fans of both bands) a movie-related Busted track which does speak to me as a child of the 60’s!
Yes, I agree that Danny oversings the second verse. (But 18 year old me refuses to say anything bad about Danny Jones from McFly, so… sorry not sorry.)
I have already written my post on the next Busted #1, and yes, I was finally able to give them a good write up!
McFly as people are fab, and they have matured beautifully – i never expected to be buying their singles downloads in the 2010’s and beyond 🙂 Ooh look forward to that Busted review then!