“Songs to Listen to in a Wendy’s Parking Lot” EP cover. (Photo courtesy of Apple Music)
This piece is from the CU Independent’s opinion section. Any views and opinions are not representative of the CU Independent.
“Songs to Listen to in a Wendy’s Parking Lot” by Wendy’s pioneers the music industry with grace. The shockingly human-made EP makes me wish I could buy a whole aisle of eyeliner to have as backstock: to ensure that any time I go to Wendy’s in my life, I will listen to this EP with eyeliner on.
The EP opens with “She Said She Didn’t Want Fries,” and I can’t believe that anyone wouldn’t want fries! When the chorus hits, we learn that the title wasn’t true. Matty Mullins sings “She lied, She lied, She lied.” Of course! Anyone that goes to Wendy’s will be overcome with the temptation of their delicious fries, “FRESH NEVER FROZEN,” as said throughout the entire song.
Chloe Kinnon brings the flare in “Salt in the Wound,” throwing shade at another burger joint you can probably find across the street from a Wendy’s when she sings, “Ice cream maker’s down again, how can you be surprised?/You’ve been sold a sundae dream on a broken bed of soft-serve lies.”
In an emotional ballad, “I Miss the Sunroom,” Shane Told laments about missing the sunroom. I agree. I wasn’t alive then but I can imagine it so fondly. Told tells us “Felt alive, but now I’m broken/You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone,” giving the world a warning of renovations by corporations. Wendy’s, WHY would you replace the sunrooms with Coca-Cola freestyle?
“The Best Combo Meal on the Worst Night of my Life” is utterly gut wrenching, with a very real voicemail where someone says “I didn’t want to cause a scene/But I can’t keep pretending anymore/There’s someone else, I’m sorry.” Beau Bokan attempts to deal with the pain by ordering a burger and fries after this life-changing breakup, probably definitely crying in the car wishing they could dip their fries into a frosty. They sing “Guess I’ll take another Dave’s Single ‘cause I am single once again.” I’ve never heard anything more depressing and powerful in my life. The emotions are pouring like a spilled Wendy’s cup full of Coke on the pavement.
“It’s Not a Phase, It’s a 10pc” discusses never letting go of some childhood things, like a 10 piece nugget. As Derek DiScanio sings, “It’s not a phase, it’s a ten-piece/When I’m a mess, they can mend me.” The world needed to hear this. 10 piece nugget meals could sweeten any memory, only with a side of honey barbecue of course. Maybe Bokan can take a piece from DiScanio’s order to move on from their breakup.
To end this stunning EP, “My Frosty’s Funeral” discusses the worst part of a wonderful meal: when there’s nothing left. Kat Leon adds sweet vocals to the songs that elevate it to another world. She sings “The final bite is gone/…/How can I carry on?” I felt these words in my soul, as anytime I have a Dave’s Double Combo with a small vanilla Frosty, I miss it until I have another one. Oh, the agony of “a salty sweet goodbye.”
The EP was stellar and I was on the verge of crying every other song. The vocals by each person added a flavor, like salt to fries, and made it their own. It was perfect; it was the best thing I’ll ever hear in my life.
WENDY’S blew me away with their artistry and lyrics. The features worked really well and will be my favorite release for the next century!
100/100
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Christian Garcia-Fuentes at chga1866@colorado.edu.
