Summer begins in nearly two months, giving only a matter of weeks to determine what the official song of the summer may be. With artists such as Ed Sheeran and Miley Cyrus releasing new singles rapidly with some hope of it going viral for the season, the general public can anticipate many releases within the coming weeks. While the topics of romance or partying are often themes in mainstream music, the band HAIM is putting out music from a different perspective.
The sister-trio band HAIM — composed of Danielle, Este and Alana Haim — just released music for the first time since their third studio album “Woman in Music Pt. III” in 2021. “Relationships” was released on March 12, promoted as a “‘single girl anthem’ going into ‘single girl summer.’”
With a music video featuring popular actor Drew Starkey, the song’s lyrics explore complexities within a relationship. Lead singer Danielle questions why she is in a specific relationship and goes on to express how she cannot stand them. On Friday, the sisters released a new song to accompany an independent summer, titled, “Everybody’s trying to figure me out.”
This second single, featuring slow drums and complimentary acoustic guitar, was created after Danielle experienced a panic attack after their last tour had ended. In an Instagram post announcing the song, the singer went on to reveal, “I wrote this in a way to believe in myself again and quit being scared to do what I want. I hope this finds anyone who needs it.”
The honest lyrics reflect upon her anxiety, with a chorus further emphasizing paranoia: “I feel like I might live inside of everyone’s thoughts / I wish I could slow the tape down to the point where everything stops.”
The repetitive bridge and outro section accentuate this emotion for the audience. Danielle repeats, “You think you’re gonna die, but you’re not gonna die,” as the instrumental continues.
Eventually, the lyric “Everybody’s tryna figure me out” is added in, causing these phrases to go back and forth until the song ends. This song contributes to the mood they are heading towards: an honest, reflective and independent summer.
As summer approaches and new music is released, many individuals may gravitate towards mainstream music or songs currently viral. However, listening to relatable music with vulnerable lyrics creates a greater connection with the piece and artist, truly letting it define one’s season and making it a song of the summer.
4/5 stars
rross1@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @haimtheband, Instagram
