Singer/songwriter Halsey's new album Manic is not to be overlooked. A pop masterpiece. Within this album she uses compelling lyrics to express her drama in a lyrically fluid way which flaunts her songwriting capabilities. The album was released on January 17, 2020 and is available to stream/download and buy on all music platforms NOW.
Halsey has won many awards for her music, and she recently won the award for 'Favourite Pop/Rock Song' at the American Music Awards for a track called 'Without Me'. This song was released through Capitol Records on October 4, 2018 as the lead single from Halsey’s third studio album, Manic.
Having had finished recording the album in 2018-2019, Halsey held back on the release of the album. She released 'Without Me' teasing fans in 2018 and then went quiet again until she brought out 'Graveyard' on September 25, 2019, 'Clementine', on her birthday, September 29, 2019 and announced a double release with 'Finally // beautiful stranger' and 'Suga's Interlude' on December 3, 2019. Then, 'You Should Be Sad' was released just before the album, on January 8, 2020.
'Without Me' went on to spend 29 weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, making it the third longest-running top ten song by a female artist, and it became her third song to spend over a year on the Billboard Hot 100 - she is the only female artist in history to achieve this.
Manic has debuted in the top 10 of several countries since it's been out, including the UK, US, Australia, and New Zealand amongst other countries. So, what's all the fuss about?
'Ashley' is the opener and is Halsey's real name, instantly making the track a bit more personal - almost like a diary. Having used her real name for the song title, expresses something deeper. Is she going to let us know about the real Ashley, and not just the Halsey we see and hear of? With it's crackly radio intro it sounds as though you're about to tune into Ashley's life...
The 16-track album has many standouts for a variety of reasons, however one of the album favorites has to be, 'Finally// beautiful stranger'. A beautiful country melody about ex boyfriend YUNGBLUD, The inspiration was built on Halsey writing in her living room with a dire need to write a first dance wedding song, as she nostalgically reminisced back on the first time they both met.
"Oh, we're dancing in my living room, and up come my fists, and I say I'm only playing, but the truth is this, I've never seen a mouth that I would kill to kiss."
There are three songs within the album, 'Forever... (is a long time)' , 'Dominic's Interlude' and 'I HATE EVERYBODY' that are supposed to be listened to in succession. Within this sequence she is self sabotaging the love that she is falling into. 'Forever...(is a long time)' is about her realising that she is falling in love, the opening line being "I spent a long time watering a plant made out of plastic." 'Dominic's Interlude' has a dream-like vision to it, and Dominic Fike's contribution to the song brings in a reassurance to Halsey's emotional turmoil. 'I HATE EVERYBODY' is where the self-doubt and self sabotaging comes in. Halsey feels as though she doesn't deserve to be loved, but tries to distract herself from her own crushing thoughts, "I'm my own biggest enemy, yeah, all my empathy's a disaster."
Halsey says, "The interludes represent different relationships in my life: Dom represents brotherly love and Alanis represents sexual and professional empowerment." Halsey is bisexual, and Alanis is a role model of Halsey's which is why she has chosen her to feature on the album, on 'Alanis' Interlude'. The track is about falling in love with a woman and all of their escapades, whilst it also expresses that she loves whomever she loves, indifferent of gender.
"And my girl, she always wore a skirt in the classroom, eating my dessert in the bathroom. Can't get caught, so we stiller than a statue."
'929' is the song title, and the time and date Halsey was born. '929' is where she reflects back on her life and realises she can't remember half of it. She explains how you shouldn't meet your heroes because they're all fucking weirdos, and don't let men manipulate you into you having sex with them. The song is about everything she has realised and done up to the age of 25. Forgetting the amount of people she's had in her bed, picking out clumps from her hair in the shower, and quitting smoking, you know... the usual.
'More' is about Halsey's struggles with reproductive health and her wanting to have her eggs frozen, and finding out the news that its looking more likely she will be able to have children. It's a really personal and inspiring track. As she expresses in depth how she has never wanted anything more (than motherhood), she perfects the track even more by adding in the sound of a sonogram at the end, so it's like you're hearing the sounds from inside of the womb.
The album is about all of the manic episodes within Halsey's life. The good and the bad, the ugly, but nonetheless, the manic.There's hope, love, loss, faith and admiration all expressed within Manic, through Halsey's incredible pop songwriting skills. This album really shows a sense of vulnerability, and versatility... her life expressed in different ways, with different emotions and different songs. You really do go through a whirlwind of emotions whilst listening to the whole story that is being portrayed via the album.
You don't come across many pop artists nowadays that are skilled songwriters and can communicate the story they're trying to portray throughout their pop music. Halsey is one of few pop artists that can actually do that. Every track is to be listened to on this album, a real strong album to start a new decade.
Oh... and '3am' - a country pop BOP. Just listen to it.
9/10
