Halsey, ‘Ego’ – Single Review ★★★★☆

Halsey returns with new single “Ego”. The track is to be on the new album “The Great Impersonator” which is due to be released on the 25th of October. First impressions are that it is a highly catchy song with an emotionally powerful narrative.

Halsey Battles Lupus

The release follows news that the singer had struggled badly while battling lupus. Moreover, the singer revealed that she was unrecognisable and that she did not enjoy looking in the mirror at all. Could this track be influenced by that? It appears so! In the lyrics, Halsey speaks about speaking to her Mother on FaceTime with a false smile. She also speaks about feeling so low and drinking so much that she could not walk straight as well as wanting to let go of her ego.

Trademark Vocals

The track starts with an acoustic guitar rhythm alongside harmonies. Halsey soon emerges with her trademark vocal style and the song grips me straight away. But, in the chorus, it becomes somewhat predictable in my opinion. It has a pop-rock vibe as the track progresses which is great to hear. However, the vocal hooks sound like I have heard them somewhere before, they follow a very similar pattern to other artists in this space.

The Message

Towards the end of the track, Halsey reiterates that nothing is how it seems. She mentions that she appears happy on the front but that is far from the truth when you dig deeper. The stop-starts with music in the latter parts of the track help emphasise the message and the structural changes are refreshing.

However, is it groundbreaking material? Not for me, it is an extension to what I have come to expect from Halsey but it does not push out the box too much in terms of innovation.

Listen

You can take a listen to “Ego” here.

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Becky Anderson

Journalist at Contact Me

Becky, a passionate music enthusiast, embarked on her journey into music journalism in 2018. Beyond her love for melodies and rhythms, Becky finds solace in the written word, often immersing herself in the pages of books. Yet, her heart truly sings when she's with her close-knit circle of friends, sharing laughter and creating lasting memories. In her articles, Becky's devotion to music shines through, as she introduces readers to fresh, soul-stirring sounds while adding her unique voice to the ever-evolving world of music journalism.

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