Life Support by Madison Beer
Overall, Madison Beer’s “Life Support” is sonically visual with a playful and dark creative direction. The lyricism drags inspiration from movies of fantasy and science fiction which allows listeners to feel as though they are the badass main character in these stories and songs. The album in its entirety is all about Beer unleashing her authenticity through her lived experiences, distinguishing the album as a true concept. Life Support debuted with 5 million Spotify streams in its first day, marking the biggest female debut in a 24 hour period thus far in 2021. The production styles within the record are evidently relentless, establishing Beer’s raw feelings and enabling fans to truly relate.
Follow The White Rabbit
Reviewed by Gloria Jozwicki
Tying together the films “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Matrix”, Madison Beer makes “Follow The White Rabbit”. This song is about having a strong attraction towards someone and feeling hot and sexy while at it. The lyrics don’t follow a direct storyline, but with any listener’s creativity many conclusions can be drawn. Towards the end of the song, there is a dramatic outro with violin and progression in volume that adds to the eerier theme of the album. This track is a key player in the album’s spirit of fantasy and lust.
Madison states “I watched ‘The Matrix’ for, like, the ninety-seven thousandth time and at the beginning of the movie, it says ‘Wake up, Neo, follow the white rabbit’. I’m pretty sure [that’s it and] if that’s slightly off, I apologize. But, I don’t know. I’ve always just love that and it’s also kind of like an ‘Alice In Wonderland’ tie-in and I’ve always just been connected to both of those movies in a weird way so that’s what it inspired it and then we just kinda had fun with the lyrics and we honestly just, like, rift on it. It wasn’t really anything story-wise, like, specific. It was more like… because the lyrics are ‘Devil in a dress, I'ma love you like I do’ and it’s just, I don’t know, being hot and feeling sexy and like I don’t know. The lyrics are pretty random, but they’re fun.”
Stay Numb And Carry On
Reviewed by Gloria Jozwicki
The track “Stay Numb And Carry On” is a take on the popular slogan “Keep Calm And Carry On.” The title and message in the song tells that sometimes people tend to cope with mental health struggles by ignoring them instead of coping with them head on. Madison Beer decides to show the more realer side of her emotions with this track as it strays away from feeling empowering like the messages in other the songs in the album portray.
The song begins with what sounds like a voice recording replayed and chopped up to be edited backwards and is followed by the repetition of the title of the song being sung. Oftentimes in horror films, sounds played in reverse invoke a heightened and alert effect on viewers. The reversed audio in the first few seconds of the song invokes these same feelings but adds a more playful taste to it, adding to themes of darkness and fun. This intro following the reverse audio of pop electronica with harmonies and echoes is a great opener and transition to the next verse. The song’s melody channels Melanie Martinez tracks off of Cry Baby. As the melody and chimes are higher tones, there is a contrast in the bass as it is deeper which gives the song a lot more depth. “Stay Numb And Carry On” is a vulnerable and honest track allowing listeners to have a deeper connection to the album.
“Blue”
Reviewed by Julia Kosinski
With the release of the album, “Blue” topped the Spotify New Music Friday charts. The composition relies on wobbly outlining gadgets, shoehorning a fragile account about covering up and mending into shortsighted mottos: hence the dense color descriptions amid “Blue.” The track encompasses the inevitable breakup between Beer and an unknown ex-lover. Arguably the most telling lines of the song
“But I know when to run, run, run
I know when to run, run, run
I know when to run, run, run
When my makeup does, when my makeup does”
Speaking to the fact that when her tears become an overpowering force in the relationship, it warrants her to question whether or not it is meant to be and the right thing for her in the moment in time. Even so, the song grapples with the toxicity of her past, yet maintains a cool demeanor in doing so.
Selfish
Reviewed by Jamie Kreinces
The standout single was released on Valentine’s Day 2020 just weeks after the release of the extremely fun and cleverly written “Good In Goodbye”. The track “Selfish” finds Madison reminiscing about a toxic relationship she admits at the time was inescapable. Throughout the track, she hints at some of the situations she found herself in during her relationship, including spending New Year’s Eve by herself. She continues to detail the events surrounding her past relationship admitting they spent most of their time in and out of nightclubs.
“Shouldn’t love you, but I couldn’t help it
Had a feeling that you never felt it
I always knew that you were too damn selfish.”
Beer’s vulnerability and honest lyrics perfectly complement the cinematic strings, keyboards, and Beer’s beautifully harmonized vocals. In terms of the production, Beer co-produced the track with frequent collaborator Leroy Clamplitt AKA Big Taste.
The candid and relatable feelings Beer is expressing throughout the track confirms the fact that she is an artist intensely in touch with her feelings and highly skilled at communicating her emotions to her fans. Selfish surpassed one million streams on Spotify within the first two days of its release highlighting the strength and consistency of Beer’s artistic development.
Sour Times
Reviewed by Jamie Kreinces
The track directly following “Selfish” reveals the inspiration that Beer draws from Australian multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker AKA Tame Impala. In an interview with the Zach Sang Show, Beer said the track is not aimed at any one person but is instead, “an overarching, thematic song which is my take in lyrical way on, kind of, an evolved version of “Home With You”. The track mentioned above was featured on her 2018 EP As She Pleases where she talks on the experience of being objectified by men looking to fulfill their own desires at the expense of her respect.
“I don’t know what song of mine you heard that made you think
I’d want to spend the night with you”
In the second verse, Beer mentions a post-breakup scenario where a boy is trying to take advantage of her since she is now single and going through an emotionally difficult time.
“It’s crazy that you’d be down to be a fucking rebound, no
Ain’t even in my right mind, and you think that’s a green light
And that just doesn’t seem right, no”
Baby
Reviewed by Julia Kosinski
Released as Beer’s third single of the studio album ‘Life Support’, you ought to know that she's “the best you've ever had.” Beers greatest hit up until this point, "Baby," is made up of an evident layer of harps, along with a squirming layer of synth-smeared vocals. Intimacy is the overriding feeling throughout the track with multiple sensual references. The fun, yet sexy chorus inspires listeners to repeat the play of the track countless times. Even so, the exotic verses of the melody is a greeting for Madison's darling to, indeed, be with her this evening and offer all the feelings she is experiencing at the present time.
“Not to worry, these are emotions of sexual fire;
“How much longer I gotta wait for this?
I can see my body on your lips.” ”
The music video reiterates the sensuality of the track showing Madison in some seriously scandalous clothing. The music video was quick to reach 2 million YouTube views and transcended 1 million Spotify streams. In the verses of the tune, Madison Beer's plot is that for what reason is her person not here with her? Until she comes to the realization that she is all he needs and he is all she needs. There is no remedy for this ailment with the exception of some genuine proactive tasks. She makes it known that this track is for all the lovers out there and certainly gets her point across.
Beer’s debut record is a breath of fresh air and signals a cultural reset in the pop music sphere. The elegant vocals and dynamic productions across the album is a huge step forward for Beer artistically and commercially.
Go listen to “Life Support” by Madison Beer on all platforms
