“So, about last night.” The year was 2022, and the date was July 15th. It was a day Mabel fans had been waiting for since the official announcement of her second album, About Last Night… She announced its release via Instagram on May 27, 2022 and two years later, tons of her fans, whether old or new, still have it on repeat. We can attest to it! The album About Last Night… details her experiences during a night out, and you’ll feel like you’re really there with Mabel as she tells the story.
If you want to know About Last Night… Mabel will tell you. Of course, we’ll be helping along the way as we recap each track!
‘About Last Night (Intro)’
First up on the album is an interlude of Mabel harmonizing before saying “so, about last night” as a way to officially introduce the album. It’s from that line that we know that she’s about to tell us a story and take us on a journey.
“Animal’
You know she don't play nice, she got an appetite
She comes alive at night, she got a hazel eye
The songs on Mabel’s album officially begin with ‘Animal,’ in which she speaks about having animal-like qualities. It’s all about having a sense of independence and not being afraid of anything. At first listen, Mabel uses the pronoun “she,” which might cause listeners to think she’s talking about someone else. However, as the song progresses, we realize that the woman Mabel is talking about is herself. If you were to ask us, this was the perfect way to set the tone for what’s to come with the rest of the album.
‘Let Them Know’
Oh, baby, let them know
'Cause they can run they mouth
But I'ma stand and pose for you
If you’re looking for a song on Mabel’s album that will make you feel like you’re that person, look no further. ‘Let Them Know’ is THAT song. The song is all about having confidence in yourself and everything you do. It’s about not taking sh*t from anyone. It’s about having fun and not worrying about what someone says or thinks.
If there’s one thing that’s noticeable about the song, it’s that she wanted to give her flowers to gay culture with its elements of house music and disco. Within the video, we find Mabel also giving flowers where they’re due, as she can be seen voguing in the video. While the song has genres such as dance-pop, disco, and house music, we can’t forget to mention that another genre that’s cohesive throughout the song is dancehall.
‘Shy’
I'm being straight up, ain't got no time for pretense
I want you, so that's my right to defend
Did anyone ask for some old-school R&B?
As the fourth track on About Last Night…, ‘Shy’ gives us all the old-school R&B feels. It’s a dance track, but a dance track that has nostalgia behind it. Mabel sings a tale of wanting a guy like he wants her. However, the guy in the song doesn’t speak his mind. Although Mabel could go up to him and tell her how she feels, she wants him to make a move before he misses his chance.
While it could come across as if she thinks men should always make the first move, we think it’s anything but. We think this is simply Mabel’s way of telling a love interest that, while they might be shy, there’s no need or reason to be shy around her.
‘Definition’
Look no further, I'm the definition of legendary, extraordinary
Check your dictionary, you'll see me
'Cause I'm the definition of a boss
Waiting for the guy in ‘Shy’ to make a move? She’s over it.
Mabel proves in ‘Definition’ that she’s not only worth approaching, but also not afraid of being the one who approaches someone first. In the song, while Mabel finds herself singing about making a move, she also empowers herself in the process. She wants to show and let the guy that she has her eyes on know she’s the type of woman he should have in her life.
We can’t help but agree with her more there.
‘Good Luck’ (with Jax Jones & Galantis)
Try to upgrade you, he must be out his mind
He can play his games, but that don't make him wise
'Cause a woman like you, he never could replace
Someone trying to move on or think they found someone better than Mabel? Think again.
‘Good Luck’ is a breakup track and a fun one at that. While Mabel could’ve sung about being broken-hearted or made a low-tempo song, she decided to keep the uptempo and danceable songs going. Mabel makes it clear that she doesn’t have time for someone who wants to waste her time, and listeners shouldn’t either. While she could be petty about it, she wishes the guy she’s speaking to good luck with his search to find someone new, even though he won’t find someone even half as good as Mabel herself.
‘Take Your Name (Interlude)’
What a shame, baby
I was ready to take your name
Forgive me for being so sure
The second interlude and seventh track on the album are a follow-up to ‘Good Luck‘. In the interlude, Mabel tells her now-ex how she got carried away while they were together. While he was doing her wrong, she was seeing a future with him.
We think that this guy she’s talking about fumbled the bag badly.
‘Let Love Go’ (Feat. Lil Tecca)
So I need to let love go
'Cause it ain't giving me what I deserve
It’s okay to let love go, and Mabel lets it be known on the eighth single of About Last Night… with some help from Lil Tecca. The track is heavily influenced by disco music throughout the song. In the song, Mabel talks about how, after all the time and energy she put into someone who wasn’t right for her, she knows it’s time that she moves on. The song is all about reclaiming who you are and finding love within yourself without anyone else’s help.
‘Overthinking’ (With 24kGoldn)
I can't feel those butterflies (Butterflies)
I fade away
I'm overthinkin', I think I'm overthinkin'
I'm overthinkin', I think I'm overthinkin'
We all have moments where we tend to overthink. Mabel is no different.
‘Overthinking’ was released as her third single from the album, and she enlisted in 24kGoldn to be on the track. Based on the title of the song, you might think the song is about “overthinking,” and you’re right. Mabel finds herself overthinking about the night prior and how she’s feeling about it. While she’s ‘overthinking’, she isn’t the only one, as 24kGoldn is doing so himself. However, while Mabel’s talking about some guy, we think his part of the song is from the guy Mabel’s singing about’s perspective.
We would like to note that this is an important part of the song where we think 24KGoldn is making a nod to the song ‘Crying On The Dance Floor:’
Cryin' in a club, tears upon the dance floor
‘Crying On The Dance Floor’
Yeah, I'll get on your level, rearrange your schedule
Show you that you're special when you forget
Have you ever had a moment where you’re dancing one moment and crying the next? We hope not. However, if you’ve had that moment before or if you find yourself having it in the future, this song is for you. ‘Crying On The Dance Floor’ is about a situation that someone else experienced while at the club. The song tells a story about how Mabel’s seen someone ‘Crying On The Dance Floor’ and wanted to be the person to uplift them and change their night around by any means. She wants this person to know their worth and not forget it.
It’s a song that’s needed. Everyone needs at least one person in their life who will be there for them when they’re not at their best, especially in social settings. Even if it’s a stranger!
‘I Love Your Girl’
I keep on watching you kiss her, thought it was you I was missing
But now I've realized, I think I love your girl
We will admit that this song took us by surprise. We knew that the album would be a journey, but we didn’t see this as part of it. Are we mad about it? Not in the slightest. If you were to ask, this is one of our top favorite songs from About Last Night…! The eleventh track on the album is about how, instead of continuing to care about the guy who’s been on her mind and who she’s trying to see, she finds herself wanting to be with his girlfriend instead. It’s the perfect twist if you ask us.
‘When The Party’s Over’
When the party's over, it's quarter to four
I took off my heels 'cause I can't dance anymore
A night out has to come to an end at some point. ‘When The Party’s Over’ is about just that – a night at the club being over. It’s been a long night for Mabel. It’s late or rather early in the morning depending on how you see things. In the lyrics, she goes from being unsure of what to do next but ultimately finds herself home although not ready to face being inside yet.
‘LOL’
Since you left, feels so right
Oh, no, no, no, never back in my life
Do you have an ex that keeps trying to win you over? If the answer is yes, this is the perfect song to play for them or send them the lyrics to. This song is all about an ex from Mabel’s past who can’t seem to leave her alone. While he’s trying to hit her up and know her moves, she’s not trying to hear them, and all she can think about saying is ‘LOL’ to anything he has to say or do. It’s the perfect response to someone that you’ve moved on from. It’s a great way for Mabel to wrap up her second album!
‘I Wish’ (Joel Corry Feat. Mabel)
'Cause when I look back at us
I know we almost had it all
But the time wasn't right
‘I Wish’ is one of the two songs off Mabel’s album, About Last Night…, by another artist that features Mabel. The song is by Joel Corry and fits with the theme of the album. It’s not a breakup song or a follow-up song to the previous ‘LOL.’ The lyrics find Mabel singing about someone she messed up things with. We don’t know how she messed things up, but what we do know is that while she did, she wished that she could have this person a part of her life again. While she knows it might not happen, she’s not trying to focus too much on that part.
Deal Or No Deal (A1 x J1 & Mabel)
I don't need miracles, don't need you to spit lyrical
I just want physical from ya, uh
The last track on the album, ‘Deal or No Deal,’ isn’t technically a feature. What it is is a collaboration between A1 x J1 and Mabel. The song starts with lyrics from Mabel’s song ‘Finders Keepers,’ which are “Put your arms all around it; take it now that you’ve found it; it doesn’t need to be a secret; take it or leave it.” The song itself finds A1 x J1 curious to know if things are serious between them and the person they’re with. Whereas Mabel thinks talk is cheap and wants more than just talk.
And that’s it About Last Night… It was quite a journey from beginning to end, right? We would have to say so. Mabel knew what she was doing when she made this album!
We hope that if you haven’t done so yet, that you check out the album. If you’ve already had a listen, what’s your favorite song off the record? Let us know in the comments below or by contacting us on our socials via Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
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