It’s no secret to country music fans, or lovers of pink, that it’s a Megan Moroney spring. This February, the “Georgia Girl” traded in her trademark royal blue for 15 new songs dressed in pink and her signature southern twang. Her third studio album, Cloud 9, has steadily worked its way into my rotation, the true stamp of approval from a girl with a playlist for every mood.
Moroney seems to speak “college girl,” employing her witty self-awareness to explore love, friendship, and the ever-so-common experience of getting left on read. If you need a game plan for your next listen, here’s my honest, yet begrudging (because each song holds a place in my heart) ranking of Cloud 9.
- “Waiting on the Rain”
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In “Waiting on the Rain,” Moroney knows the good old days are over while she’s still in them. A cynical Moroney is “[waiting] for the good to go bad like it always does,” highlighting the heartbreaking tension of being in a relationship with someone you know isn’t the one.
Number 15 on the album and in my ranking, this song’s beautiful and raw, finding Moroney’s voice crooning alongside violins; it just doesn’t quite beat the album’s other ballads for me.
- “I Only Miss You”
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Ed Sheeran makes his surprisingly seamless transition into country music in verses of liquid-courage-induced longing with Moroney. The duo “only miss [each other] when [they’re] drinking,” a cycle that happens all too often for them these days.
Moroney’s aching rasp is sweetly complemented by Sheeran’s smooth cadence as they decide to give love a second chance and “see if over’s really over.”
- “Table for Two”
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The answer to that “is over ever really over” question? No. The singer daydreams of a candlelit reunion with her ex, making calling him even more tempting. She “kind of still” loves him and has “nothing to lose,” relatable to the YOLO-abiding girls out there.
- “Convincing”
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On “Convincing,” Moroney lives out her rom-com fantasy, with a moonlit dance on the beach and an impromptu Etta James ballad. The singer and her man may not be in love yet, but they sure are convincing in a song that feels a bit generic but is still charming.
- “Change of Heart”
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On this upbeat track, Moroney airs out her ever-changing feelings about her ex. She proves gaslighting is a universal experience, because maybe it’s her fault he got cozy with other girls.
Every time she’s over the relationship, she winds up at the beginning, reflected as smooth verses give way to electric guitar and drum-filled choruses. The song is fun, innovative, and may just leave you deciding to ditch your own “zero out of 10” for good.
- “Bells & Whistles”
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Moroney and Kacey Musgraves spin the classic “bells and whistles” idiom to show why it didn’t work out with their exes.
If these men want someone “sweet” and “simple” (or putting up with things she shouldn’t have to), they won’t find it in Moroney and Musgraves. They unashamedly claim their identity, all frills included.
- “Beautiful Things”
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To anyone who’s ever found out about a missing invite through social media, this one’s for you. “Beautiful Things” is a song of sweet reassurance dedicated to her niece, offering an uplifting reminder in times of self-doubt: “the world is hard on beautiful things.”
- “Medicine”
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In “Medicine,” Moroney tells her man it takes two to tango; she, too, can silence her phone, flirt with a new prospect, and apologize with a bouquet of flowers when it all comes crashing down. This honky-tonk anthem lends itself to line dancing and anchors Cloud 9 in the country genre.
- “Who Hurt You?”
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On one of the album’s more charged moments, Moroney sings to an ex who sold her on a dreamy love story, only to leave and reappear with a new (younger) girl. The plot thickens, with the song’s Alabama and “manufactured smile” mention leaving fans speculating that this track is about rumored fling and country compatriot Riley Green.
Whoever he is, he flipped a switch from “hometown happy hours” and “hand-delivered flowers” to heartbreak, making for an angsty listen and cathartic sing-along.
- “6 Months Later”
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In an ode to male predictability, what doesn’t kill you won’t just make you stronger — it’ll also dial you up six months later. Moroney retells the story of an ex who “put a hole in [her] heart” and hit her up half a year later for a second chance.
News flash: Moroney doesn’t hand those out haphazardly. This song provides all the summer vibes in one charmingly sarcastic punch, making for an upbeat listen amidst the album’s slower moments.
- “Cloud 9”
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Moroney rides a high from a relationship that leaves her content with rowdy neighbors, rush hour traffic, and even Pepsi products because “nothing else matters.”
Her sweet melody over a calming guitar creates a relaxing listen for summertime drives or beach naps, and her wordplay suggests that this love left her even higher than cloud 9, a charming love story that stands out among Moroney’s (rightful) jibes to ex-lovers.
- “Wish I Didn’t”
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“Wish I Didn’t” highlights the tongue-in-cheek attitude that defines Moroney’s songwriting. Moroney offers a stern forewarning to her partner to stay in his place — or she may write a song about him.
The smooth verses give way to an upbeat chorus that leaves listeners dancing in their seats and marveling at Moroney’s impressive resolve; she’s falling, but he better not make her regret it.
- “Stupid”
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“Stupid” is sheer fun, encapsulating love in the Snapchat era. More than a few listeners may be familiar with flaky responses blamed on a dead phone or the shower.
Moroney pokes fun at herself while speaking to the all-too-common unbelievability of male behavior. Her grammatically challenged man must be missing, penning love letters, or picking flowers, because there’s no way he’d ghost her.
- “Liars & Tigers & Bears”
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Moving away from love and heartbreak, Moroney comments on the unfair expectations faced by women both in the public eye and by girls everywhere listening in their cars, headphones, and speakers.
Carnivorous animals aren’t the only things they have to be afraid of; there are “snakes in the grass,” gossipers abound, and people waiting for a chance to “take your place in line.”
I especially resonate with Moroney’s sarcastic command to “work till it kills you, but don’t actually die,” making this track a cathartic listen as a card-carrying workaholic.
- “Wedding Dress”
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Track number 9 takes the (wedding) cake for me. Social media snippets left me eagerly awaiting this song for months, with Cloud 9’s release effectively becoming “Wedding Dress” day.
Moroney sings to the one that got away, whose memory visits her in bars, on birthdays, and during sleepless nights. What’s keeping her up at night? The sneaky feeling that he might creep into her mind when she’s wearing white (think: Belly Conklin and Conrad Fisher). This song is heartbreaking and keeps me coming back every time.
Give Cloud 9 a listen and see how your ranking compares to mine!
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