Song Stories: The Clause: Weekend Millionaire
'Weekend Millionaire is the latest offering from the boys from Birmingham. The Clause has been with us now since 2016, and consists of frontman Pearce McMenamin, guitarist Liam Deakin, bassist Niall Fennell, and drummer Jonny Fyffe. They have been releasing music for a few years now, but have really stepped things up over the last couple of years.
2023's 'Pop Culture' EP was a real step up, showing so many different sides to the band. The EP's title track tackles the desire for fame, with a groovy instrumental backing. With nods to Foals. 'I Don't Care' is an indie anthem for the ages, with one of the best choruses in recent memory. This song seems like 'Weekend Millionaires' little brother, but more on that later.
'Fake It' is the band at their most feisty. With the frontman snarling at points, it's almost a punk song, with pulsating drums and a driving bass line.
'Hate the Player' is the weakest track on the EP, but it is still an indie gem. With some very funky guitars and a tight drum beat. The Clause is all very good musicians, and this EP proved that. 'Gabrielle ends the EP. A slower-paced love song about a girl called 'Gabrielle' which showcases some brilliant lyrics. A real change of pace, that shows it's not all indie bangers and snarling punk, the band have a sensitive side to.
'Weekend Millionaire' is the band's next EP. We have had three songs on it so far, and they have been a step up again. 'Fever Dream' is a catchy indie tune with a hint of social commentary about the nature of the world we are all living in. A confusion fills the track with the refrain 'none of it will ever make sense to me' being repeated throughout.
'Take Me Home' reminds me a lot of the Arctic Monkeys with 80s synths backing them up. Talking about young love, one-night stands, and what happens in bars and clubs every Saturday night up and down the country. It has a throwback feel but also firmly feels like The Clause.
The EP's title track 'Weekend Millionaire' is the best thing the band have done to date. Since its release on the 27th of September. It has been on heavy rotation.
Lyrically, the song talks about the escapism that comes with going out on the weekend. Whatever that may be. Musically, the song is a massive jump. Each member has their moment in the sun, and it knits together perfectly.
It's been the most I've been gripped by a new song in a very, very long time. I cannot stop playing it; it has that infectious feel that makes you want to keep listening. A catchy chorus and verses that are so relatable.
The band described the song as "A song for everyone who feels like their life is slipping away and there’s only one thing you can do about it…"
Its reliability alongside the sing-along nature of 'Weekend Millionaire' makes it one of the best songs of recent memory. The subject matter is something we can all relate to, tackling friendships falling apart, the nature of the world at the moment, young lust, young love, the ecstasy and agony that comes with a heavy weekend. A song that will go on to soundtrack plenty more heavy weekends, and lead the indie faithful to the dancefloor.
A song that embraces indulgence and talks about why we do it. The final line sums up the feelings of the song, "if life's fucked up, do not despair, just live your life as a Weekend Millionaire". It's also the mission statement of the album, clinging to those moments of youth even when the world sometimes doesn't allow you to. Not only one of the album's standout moments, but it is also one of the greatest songs of the last five years, and one of the best songs to ever come out of Brum.
The track captures a specific brand of British hedonism: it is an anthem for the dreamers who find their sanctuary in the neon glow of a Friday night. By weaving together the mundane frustrations of a 9-to-5 with the electric surge of a dancefloor, 'Weekend Millionaire' transforms from a simple indie tune into a modern social commentary. It highlights the friction between the digital age's isolation and the visceral, messy reality of being young and skint in Birmingham.
The songwriting shines in its ability to romanticise the "overspend" and the "meaningless romance," turning a hungover Monday into a distant problem for a future self. Within the broader context of the album, 'Weekend Millionaire' acts as the emotional anchor: it is a defiant middle finger to the "modern world" and a celebration of finding beauty in the chaos. It doesn't just describe a night out; it immortalises the feeling of being invincible for forty eight hours, proving why it has earned its place as a definitive classic.
Thank you for reading x