The music industry is in a stuck-on-repeat, continually producing and promoting the same songs over and over and over again cycle, as if venturing into different territory would send the whole world into cataclysmic disrepair. And we, the listeners, fiddle between radio stations, promising ourselves that if we hear that one song just one more time we’ll toss our sound systems out the window. But then we land on something, something new and different. Something waiting to be explored like the craters of the moon. So we buckle up and blast off, our thirst for something extraordinary quenched.
Halsey’s (birth name Ashley Frangipane) debut album, Badlands, is a lot like that. Her synth alt-pop/rock style is a much needed oasis after months alone in the Jason Derulo & Co. Desert. The subtle (and occasionally not so subtle) feminist undertones of songs like “Castle” are a nice change from songs that blatantly objectify women. She also delves into other taboo topics like living with mental illness and the much feared beast that is female sexuality. Her music doesn’t shy from the hard stuff and, in fact, seems to glow so brightly because it addresses said issues. She writes from a place of youthful wisdom, her voice perfectly encapsulating a generation of underdogs set on changing the world that’s been placed in their hands.
As with any album, there are particular songs that really make it stand out, whether that be through lyrics, music, message, or all three. If you’re looking to test the waters before committing to diving in, below is a list of what I consider to be the best tracks on the album. So pop your headphones in and get to listening.
1. Castle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rfSHisyHdc
With lines like “Sick of all these people talking, sick of all this noise/Tired of all these cameras flashing, sick of being poised” and “There’s an old man sitting on the throne/Saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut,” it’s hard to deny that Halsey is commenting on the patriarchal institutions of female submission, noting that if women want to break down these walls that stand between themselves and equality, they can’t be intimidated by the doubters talking or the man (a placeholder for the patriarchy) on the throne. She’s coming for the crown and nothing’s going to stop her from getting it.
2. New Americana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-eYbUVZedY
Despite what some may think, this song is not actually about getting high on legal marijuana. It’s about the diversification of Generation Y (hence “New Americana”). The first verse begins by detailing a strong, self-made, independent young woman. The second verse delves into homosexuality and the freedom to love whomever you please. Even the chorus’s contrast between “being raised on Biggie and Nirvana,” highlights the diversity that our generation has grown up being exposed to.
3. Drive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oI-BsWbIg4
This song is a beautiful interpretation of the beginning stages of a relationship. It describes the ambiguity that occurs when the lines are blurred between two people who have feelings for each other. However, it also emphasizes the beauty of ambiguity, dismissing our constant need to always label everything. Sometimes just enjoying someone’s company can be enough. It also showcases Halsey’s ability to be malleable as a musician.
4. Colors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNt28Tx-cw0
Colors is another track that delves into the darker aspects of our generation. The lyrics tell the story of a girl who is in love with a boy who has gotten used to loving drugs instead of people. The song hints at substance abuse and drug addiction as his way of dealing with a mother who suffers from depression and a home life that is less than ideal. She also uses this song to comment on how being in love with someone who has self-destructive tendencies can begin to wear on you as well. This is, in my opinion, the best song (lyrically) on the entire album.
5. Control
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so8V5dAli-Q
The final song on my list is another song with dark subject matter. Halsey has stated that this song is a musical representation of what it’s like to live with bipolar disorder. The lyrics hint at this throughout the song, particularly with the lines “Goddamn right you should be scared of me/Who is in control?”, “I couldn’t stand the person inside of me,” and “I’ve grown familiar with the demons in my head/They beg me to write them so they’ll never die when I’m dead.” These lyrics emphasize the significance of mental illness on a person’s life, how it can make one feel out of control, and how it can become all consuming.
Much of Halsey’s brilliance comes from her willingness to use music as a mode of social commentary. She makes each lyric count, each song a method of bringing to light all of these issues we have become too politically correct to discuss. Her music has social significance, something many records have failed to do for some time. So if you’re looking for an atmospheric alt-pop/rock album that will restore your faith in the power of music, Halsey’s Badlands might be the record for you.