SINGLE REVIEW: Daddy Drwg - Wise Guys
Richard Proctor, aka Daddy Drwg (Welsh for Naughty, pronounced Droog), isn’t here to stroke egos. He’s here to torch them. 'Wise Guys' is a clever, biting takedown of performative masculinity, but it’s not just swagger and sarcasm — it’s also introspective, cathartic, and full of contrast.
The song begins gently, with soft, almost haunting vocals laid over delicate instrumentation. There’s a chime-like quality to the sound, like water hitting glass — subtle, calming, and slightly eerie. The lyrics are playful from the start, but the tone stays restrained until things start to build. Gradually, the track moves toward something bolder: guitars come in, a catchy whistle cuts through, and the energy lifts without breaking the spell. It’s a clever use of dynamics, shifting between cinematic stillness and upbeat jangle to keep you hooked.
The rhythm is punchy and hook-laden, driven by a confident stomp that keeps everything grounded. Proctor’s vocal delivery leans into a sneering wit, sending up every arrogant blowhard he’s ever met — but there’s feeling under the mockery. It’s not just parody for its own sake. There’s a subtle emotional weight running underneath the satire, and it really hits during the bridge: “Slow, slow down the days…”. That line reveals something more human. The fear of fading relevance. A flash of honesty behind the smirk.
The whole thing is sharply written and sharply arranged. The production stays out of its own way, letting every beat land with purpose. There's just enough theatre to the delivery to give it personality, but it never tips into caricature. It stays real, and that’s why it works. And the final line — “Wise guys don’t give a…” — is the perfect closer. Implied swearing done right. It lands with a grin, not a groan.
'Wise Guys' is smart, well-crafted, and undeniably catchy. It’s the kind of track that draws you in with its humour, then leaves you thinking about what’s behind it.
