TRACK BY TRACK: Halsey's 'Manic'

The wait is finally over!

Halsey’s new album Manic is out, and let me tell you, it’s even better that what we were expecting. With a new style and a great deal of confidence, Halsey’s comeback hasn’t left anyone indifferent.

Each song has its own themes, message, and rhythm, which is why we had to comment every single one of them! Luckily, Halsey has been posting in her official Twitter account some fun facts behind her lyrics, so our very biased opinion will be combined with exclusive details about her creative process!

Are you ready? Let’s jump into it!

1. "Ashley"

Halsey’s birth name is the title of her first song, and we can see it’s all about identity. She seems trapped in a character created by her that prevents her from changing. As she opens up about her struggle to let go off it, she also refers to the loneliness that comes as a result.

Kate Winslet’s quote at the end comes from the iconic movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, where she plays the role of a woman who has been idealized by the person she loves. Honestly, I think it completes the song without feeling out of place, and it’s very cool to see Halsey play around with different content in her new music!

Favorite lyric: "Apart from my beating heart / It's a muscle but it's still not strong enough / To carry the weight of the choices I've made..."

2. "clementine"

The child-like lyrics of “clementine” left me with a nostalgic feeling, and the music video captured it perfectly. Far from being one of Halsey’s intense songs, this one is emotional while remaining serene and peaceful. She recently revealed that the last verse of the song was originally a small poem that she wrote last year, and that later on it became “clementine”. Is there anything this girl can’t do?!

The song was released on Halsey’s birthday, which probably isn’t a coincidence! Also, her brother made an appearance in the video, where both of them danced and wandered around an aquarium together. If you haven’t checked it out yet, what are you waiting for?

Favorite lyric: "I don't need anyone / I just need everyone and then some..."

3. "Graveyard"

“Graveyard” was one of the first songs that we got to hear from the new album back in October. Still, it might be one of my favorites! Halsey talks about the experience of not putting yourself first in a relationship. Going too far for someone that doesn’t see it or deserve it is a familiar story for all of us, and she beautifully expresses the emptiness that this can leave behind.

Halsey also explained in a clip for Amazon Music how the rhythm simulates the song of a rising heartbeat. At first I couldn’t hear it… and now I literally can’t unhear it.

Favorite lyric: "Oh, it's funny how / The warning signs can feel / Like they're butterflies..."

4. "You should be sad"

Wow. I don’t know what I love more, the music or the lyrics. One thing is for sure: she isn’t holding back. Halsey calls out a special person in her life saying that he isn’t as cool as he thinks he is. The country vibes and the strength of her voice as she scolds him make the song very different to what we had previously heard, and yet we love it!

The fans quickly noticed that there are many hidden references in her music video to other artists, including Lady Gaga, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, and Christina Aguilera. The reason? Halsey wanted to include nods to her “badass idols”. Had you noticed them? Because I was totally oblivious.

Favorite lyric: "'Cause you can't love nothing unless there's something in it for you..."

5. "Forever… (is a long time)"

Halsey  begins her song questioning the time she spent settling for less. Her words match perfectly with the melancholic melody of the piano, which Halsey has confirmed is her own. Apparently, she used the piano from her living room to record the solo, which I think gives a very intimate and honest touch.

On her Twitter account, Halsey also revealed that the name of the song reflects the journey of falling in love and progressively ruining everything through your own paranoia and insecurities. In fact, that’s why the music modulates from major to minor. This only goes to show the care and thoroughness that she placed into every single song!

Favorite lyric: "'Cause I could never hold a perfect thing / And not demolish it..."

6. "Dominic’s interlude"

Honestly, this one – even though it’s cool -- didn’t hit me as much as the others. It feels like a little pause from the rest of the songs, although I think the concept of adding brief interludes is very original. I also found interesting how the verse “Talk to your man, tell him he got bad news coming” from “Forever…(is a long time)” was repeated here.

Halsey said that she loved Dominic Pike’s music back in the summer, probably hinting the future collab with the rapper and singer. However, I wasn’t expecting it!

Favorite lyric: "And if you're looking for signs then / You should know there's power in the words you're thinking..."

7. "I HATE EVERYBODY"

I feel like “I HATE EVERYBODY” is one of the catchiest songs on Manic – I literally can’t get it out of my head! The beautiful contrast in the chorus portrays very well the desire of being alone but needing the company. Halsey also plays with the idea of loving others because you can’t love yourself, and how that can lead to toxic tendencies or traits.

She also commented a fun fact about the song: the title in capital letters shows the intensity of the emotion that’s being portrayed. So, while in “clementine” she feels small, “I HATE EVERYBODY” is an exclamation and a passionate shout!

Favorite lyric: "Just hate everybody / Well then why can't I go home without somebody?"

8. "3am"

Who hasn’t experienced the feeling of wanting to talk regardless of who is listening to you? Halsey explores this sensation in “3am” as she tells of her struggle with after-partying insecurities. But there’s something that you might not know -- she actually wrote the song at 3am when she came home after a night out! As she puts it herself: “I was dying to talk to literally ANYONE so I wouldn’t have to sit with my own thoughts.”

The result? A relatable, heart-breaking song that might be the fans’ favourite right now.

At the end, we can hear a fragment of a voicemail from John Mayer. The reason behind this is that Halsey wanted to introduce the next song, “Without me”, with the very first person who predicted its commercial success!

Favorite lyric: "Someone, please come and flirt with me / I really need a mirror that'll come along and tell me that I'm fine..."

9. "Without me"

The “Without me” music video was posted a year ago, so this song isn’t as hyped right now as it was back then. Yet I can’t help to compare it to “You should be sad”, since they both talk about helping someone who doesn’t deserve it. However, the melody and the video show us a very different Halsey: one who’s still sad and not so regretful.

Halsey confessed that she cried making many of her songs, and “Without me” was definitely one of them, along with others such as “clementine” and “929”.

Favorite lyric: "Put you right back on your feet / Just so you could take advantage of me..."

10. "Finally // Beautiful Stranger"

I think “Finally // Beautiful Stranger” was the perfect opportunity for Halsey to remind us about the smokey and exceptional voice that she has. The guitar accompanies her beautifully, and the lyrics’ hopeful message makes the song truly special.

The music video has left the fans with many theories about its meaning. Most of them think it shows the contrast from Halsey (her artsy persona) and Ashley (her vulnerable self), but others believe that it’s referring to how the same memory feels when you are in a manic or depressive state. Since Halsey has been very open about her bipolarity and directly referred to it in the title of the album, I personally think this could be very much the case. What are your thoughts?

Favorite lyric: "Used to think that loving meant a painful chase / But you're right here now and I think you'll stay..."

11. "Alanis’ interlude"

Okay, we are already in the second interlude! For me, the drums and the chaotic lyrics were more powerful and visual in this one, and I totally loved the result!

Halsey described writing with Alanis Morissette as “scary and overwhelming but also super amazing.” Why? Because Halsey has admired her since she was very young! Also, Alanis was pregnant when they were making the song, which made the process very unbelievable for Halsey -- she got to see not only the artist but also what an amazing mom Alanis is!

Favorite lyric: "Can't get caught so we stiller than a statue / Bad news, think I'll probably die before I have you..."

12. "killing boys"

OMG this is my favourite so far! I’ve fallen in love with the drums and the badass lyrics. As Halsey tells her (almost) revenge story, we can feel her change her mind and letting the rage go, finally realizing she doesn’t need to feel this way anymore.

The conversation from the beginning is a fragment from the movie Jennifer’s Body starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. Possessed by an evil force, a popular cheerleader starts to murder boys and feed on them, and it’s up to her best friend to stop her. The dialogue is fun and goes very well with the song, so this one is a 10/10 for me!

I only need to know one thing: Halsey, have you keyed a Ferrari before?

Favorite lyric: "Climb up to the window and I'm breaking the glass / Then I stop 'cause I don't wanna Uma Thurman your ass..."

13. "SUGA’s interlude"

As you probably know, some months ago Halsey and BTS did “Boy with luv”, and both fandoms were thrilled. I was very glad to see that she had decided to do another collab, although this time with only one member of the boy band, SUGA, and I couldn’t wait to check it out!

My final opinion: even though I needed to check the lyrics to fully appreciate it, I think the song was very sincere and authentic. You can easily tell that both artists have gotten through some common life experiences, because SUGA’s part fits perfectly with the theme and style of the album. I also love the echoes and natural sounds in the background! They create a very vibrant atmosphere, making the song more lively and expressive.

Favorite lyric: "네가 바란 별들은 어둠 속에서만 / 뜬다는 걸 절대 잊지 마" ["But never forget the stars you hope for only appear in the dark"]

14. "More"

Sharing your thoughts and feelings as openly as Halsey does can be tough. On her Twitter account, she revealed that “More” was one of the songs that she was most scared of releasing. But all the same, the closeness and soulful chorus really moved us – she conveyed her emotions so perfectly that some have described this song as the best one on the album!

However, the lyrics might be even more personal than we thought. Many of her fans believe that the song speaks about Halsey’s experience with miscarriages. According to her, “It’s a love song, but not to a romantic partner. To someone in the universe who doesn’t exist yet. But will one day.” And honestly, listening to the song while knowing this only makes us realize what a powerful, talented, and brave woman Halsey truly is.

Favorite lyric: "There's no hope in store / But somehow I just want you more..."

15. "Still learning"

Halsey described “Still learning” as one of her gut-spiller songs, and we have to agree! We see a more fragile side of Halsey as the lyrics encourage us to keep on trying to be a better person instead of just stop caring.

Personally, I love the message! I also think it really sums up the whole spirit of the album: I’m not perfect, but my mistakes won’t prevent me from finding the happiness I know I deserve.

Favorite lyric: "I know that I've done some wrong / But I'm trying to make it right..."

16. "929"

Aaand we’re at the end! It’s so great to finish with a song as hopeful as this one! I just loved to see that Halsey’s journey finishes with a positive vibe and looking towards the future.

I honestly died at the clip of her realising she hadn’t been born at 9:29. When I first heard it, I remember thinking, “No way!” It’s awesome to see her so natural and relaxed, and I think it’s a beautiful way to finish the album. We love to hear how far she has come, and we are ready to listen to Manic on repeat for the rest of the month (and beyond)!

Favorite lyric: "That I wasn't in love then and I'm still not now / And I'm so happy I figured that out..."