Troye Sivan is finally back in the pop culture scene! It’s been three years since he released Something to Give Each Other in October 2023, captivating us with some serious hits like “Rush,” “Got Me Started,” and “One of Your Girls.” After headlining the SWEAT Tour with Charli xcx in 2024, Sivan has since kept to himself.
However, in August 2026, Sivan took to Instagram, posting a mysterious video of someone putting up a poster that read “She’s the Best” and others with his face on them. Fans in the comments were already anticipating what it could mean, discussing the endless possibilities in the comments. Not long after, he teased the “She’s the Best” music video with a 13-second clip.
Once he dropped the song and music video, many others and I picked up on a complete style change in his music. He went from upbeat and electronic to this very mundane, slow-paced song.
People immediately took to TikTok, complaining about how he’s “whispering” and “talking,” with some even comparing it to slam poetry. Others believe he’s “reheating Charli xcx’s nachos,” trying to mimic her style in her recent album, Music, Fashion, Film. However, the meaning behind this song is very important.
“She’s the best”
In the caption of a post officially commemorating the song’s release, Sivan explains this song’s meaning and the imagery in the music video. He pays homage to influential women in his life and honors the “divine feminine” in all of them.
It’s so sweet and something we don’t see every day in pop culture. Many songs about women are degrading and overtly sexual, but Sivan has taken the time to really highlight female beauty and creativity in his field.
This song isn’t a catchy hit to add to your playlist, but a creative risk Sivan took to express his appreciation. Modern music has become less about being an art form and more about being at the top of the charts. However, in this song, he focuses on expressing an important message. In his words, “She’s the Best” is a love letter to all the impactful women in his life.
It’s also important to point out all the pop culture icons throughout this video, like actress Nicole Kidman, Sasha Colby from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Sivan’s beloved sister Sage Sivan. I love the shift from his last album being mostly male-centered to this new album featuring women on the album cover and title track.
“Party”
Just when fans had enough time to listen to “She’s the Best” a few times and get a feel for it, Sivan fed us once again with another music video and song. This next song, “Party,” has a very similar style to the electric, dance-pop songs from his previous album. It’s quite repetitive, but I could definitely see it being a hit at any queer nightclub.
This music video took us all on an adventure to medieval times and has a nostalgic backtrack sampled from Madonna’s iconic song, “Music,” from the early 2000s. I’m obsessed with the medieval setting and, of course, Sivan’s classic music video choreography. I’m also getting serious Saltburn vibes with the costumes and playfulness of it all.
Many were quick to point out the casting of Sir Ian McKellen in this music video, an iconic English Actor and prominent activist for LGBTQ+ rights. This was honestly such a power move. I believe music and media are political, and I love how, so far, this album has themes of female empowerment hand in hand with queer and transgender liberation.
Fan Reactions
As always, people on social media made their opinions clear about these new releases, and the consensus is complicated. Some fans (like myself) are loving these new songs and music videos. TikTok edits have already sprung up with people making compilations to “She’s the Best” with their own favorite women in their lives. Others have learned the “Party” music video choreography and accompanied the song with their clubbing videos.
On the other hand, some have taken to the internet to bash Sivan’s work, stating that his new music is lazy, meaningless, or sloppy. People are criticizing the repetitiveness of “Party”’s lyrics and the mumble-rap tone of “She’s the Best,” not taking into account the meaning behind it. I can agree that these songs are different than his old style, but change doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
BRAT summer is long gone, but Sivan is certainly bringing back the nostalgic optimism of that era with these new songs. I can’t wait to see where he goes with this new chapter!
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