When the clock struck midnight on Oct. 25, I put on my headphones and listened to Halsey’s newest album from start to finish. “The Great Impersonator” is Halsey’s fifth album. I have been a fan of the singer’s music since her EP, “Room 93,” which came out in 2015. Every album explores new topics, from the dystopian teenage angst in “Badlands” to the more emotional, darker side during “The Great Impersonator.” This time around, the music focuses on Halsey’s struggles with chronic illness, the idea of legacy, and the singer’s sense of self. The newest album has 18 songs with a runtime of 66 minutes. Each song is inspired by different artists, such as Dolly Parton, Britney Spears, Stevie Nicks, Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple, and more.
My favorite songs were “Darwinism”, “Panic Attack”, and “Arsonist”. I love the piano on “Darwinism”. The song has an eerie feeling to it. It is also inspired by David Bowie. The lyrics talk about feeling like everyone has their own person except for them. “Panic Attack” was a breath of fresh air from the sadder songs on the album. It made me feel like dancing, and it reminded me a bit of the ‘70s, which makes sense since she was impersonating Stevie Nicks. I liked how she sang about not knowing whether the way she felt was love or a panic attack. It made me think of how people say they feel butterflies in their stomach when they’re in love, but it can also feel similar to anxiety for some people. I love the crackling fire noises in the background of “Arsonist,” a song inspired by Fiona Apple. It reminds me of a toxic relationship where someone is blaming you for everything that goes wrong just because they can. I liked the line where they said, “Somebody will love me for the way that I’m designed.” It proves that eventually, you’ll find your person, which branches off from the feelings of being different and unloved that Halsey had in “Darwinism.” Overall, those were my favorite songs.
One connecting piece between different parts of the album was “The Letter to God” series. I liked seeing how their prayers to God changed over time. It was a clever way to tie different parts of the album together. In the 1974 version, Halsey talked about praying to be sick like a boy she knew because his parents loved and cherished him- like how she wanted to be loved- because they almost lost him. The song takes inspiration from Cher. “Letter to God (1983)” was unique. This version was inspired by Bruce Springsteen. It sounded like they were on a stage singing at a concert. This time, the lyrics changed to Halsey being worried about her wish to be sick that she made when she was a kid. This is because things are starting to go well in her life, so she doesn’t want to get hurt or worry about dying. The final version is 1998. Halsey impersonates Aaliyah. She talks about her three-year-old in this iteration. She sings about being scared to leave her loved ones behind, especially her son. I also thought the voiceover at the beginning of the song was wholesome and cute. Ender, Halsey’s son, said his favorite singer was his mom. Overall, I liked how the different versions each reflected the music at the time periods they were set in. However I wasn’t the biggest fan of these songs.
Another song on the album is called “Ego”. It was one of the singles on the album, so it came out before the release date. Originally, I didn’t like it that much, but after listening to it more, it’s better than I initially thought. It is based on Dolores O’Riordan’s music. The concept of killing your ego, becoming more humble, and living a life without the negative traits associated with having a high ego is the focal point of the song. It reminds me of someone becoming okay with failure and growing as a person. Overall, I thought it was a solid song, just not my favorite. Finally, I’m going to talk about the titular song. “The Great Impersonator” perfectly sums up the album. This song is inspired by Björk. It touches on her sense of identity, how she redesigns herself in different circumstances and pretends to be someone she’s not. It also talks about ideas of legacy and death in lines like “hope they spell my name right in the paper” and “does the story die with its narrator?” “The Great Impersonator” is a fitting way to close the album.
I did not cover every song on the album, only a handful, but I think Halsey’s newest album has a bit of something for everyone. From songs reminiscent of the ‘70s to now, alternative rock to folk songs, and themes of mortality to the downsides of fame. As much as I enjoyed listening to the album, I have to mention that some of the songs can be depressing. If you’re not in a good mental headspace, I would avoid listening to the whole thing because it’s a very raw and emotional album. It talks about life, death, love, illness, and everything in between. That being said, I think “The Great Impersonator” is a good album. It’s clear that Halsey wanted to be true to herself and everything she has gone through, and I admire that. Also, the concept of paying homage to artists from the past is intriguing, and it was fun to see how similar some of the songs sounded. I’m curious to see how my perspective of the album changes over time.