14. The Finale

 The Finale

I believe “The Finale” is a rather appropriate title for this track. Of course, it is the literal finale to the album (besides an additional track featuring Sia), but it also feels like a grand finale to a show. It’s not “The End” for a reason. Labrinth incorporates prose in the beginning as he did in “The Producer”, but instead of coming in with a clear melody, he brings in layer upon layer of gospel choir vocals. It’s an incredible mix and gives me chills up and down my arms every time I listen. This is only the second song of his to accomplish this physical reaction, and it is why I would call this the most underrated track on the album. Being just under 30 seconds long, this song has so much soul and power. It acts as the culmination of everything we’ve been hearing, leading up to the success of the narrator/artist.

This song is so simple, yet so full of soul by the end and holds such an impactful message in the few lyrics there are on the track. The lyrics are upfront and honest, calling everyone out on their bullshit. We go through our lives hoping for success and “more.” We always want more of what we have or something that we don’t have. It is a constant toxic cycle. This cycle often prevents us from realizing what we have to be grateful for, what is already sitting right in front of us. Even simply reading the lyrics gives me chills. I will include them for the sake of referencing them, but also to possibly impart this emotion onto you, readers.

“So who you gonna call when you’re standin’ on top of the world

and it still don’t feel like victory?

I guess the only one left to reach is the Almighty”

It sounds as though an entire orchestra is brought in right after these words, shocking us into a decision. We must either face the harsh reality that chasing one single thing will not lead us to happiness or contentment, or face God at the end of our days. To chase an outcome for our entire life leaves us with nothing once we have reached that outcome. We forget to live along the way and at the end are face-to-face with the Almighty, forced to answer to what we have learned and experienced. If we live through a fish-eye lense, we go through life completely unaware of all the wonderful things happening around us. Labrinth comes in at the end of this album to tell us that a time may come when we feel like we’re on top of the world yet still don’t feel victorious. This ties in flawlessly with the end of the previous track, “Mount Everest,” which addresses the feeling of being on top of the world, with the biggest things in the world being worthless in comparison to the speaker. Although one may feel above everything and everyone because of the material success they have reached or own, it is not enough. There is no concrete feeling of victory or accomplishment. People in this situation are often faced with confusion and greed. “The Finale” ties up the album fairly well after we have gone through the journey of working towards a goal, overcoming hardships, and becoming what the speaker envisioned; we now must face the rest of our lives.