If there’s one thing that shouldn’t come as a surprise, it’s that we here at The Honey POP are huge fans of Madison Beer. It’s been two years since Silence Between Songs, and we now have her fourth album, titled locket. We would be lying if we were to say we haven’t had it in rotation every chance we could get. The album’s such a ‘healthy habit’ of ours that we had to give the album the deep dive it deserves.
Tracklist:
- ‘locket theme’
- ‘listen baby’
- ‘angel wings’
- ‘for the night’
- ‘bad enough’
- ‘healthy habit’
- ‘you’re still everything’
- ‘bittersweet’
- ‘complexity’
- ‘make you mine’
- ‘nothing at all’
‘locket theme’
“I’ve been searching, but the answer’s right in front of me (Of me)
My protection’s so divine and now I see (I see)”
If you’ve ever brought or been given a locket, then you know how meaningful they can be. Madison Beer starts her album with a dreamy introduction titled ‘locket theme.’ The song embraces healing, growth, and heartache. ‘locket theme’ is about her carrying everything she had with someone in a small necklace, or rather, a locket.
It’s been a while, and she’s questioning things about the other person since the two went their separate ways. The ethereal, floaty song is a beautiful start to the album and captures the essence of what the album will be.
A playlist about letting go or healing would suit this song well.
‘yes baby’
“Come and say it another time
Yes, baby, yes, yes, baby, yes, yes (Ah)”
Ever had a crush you felt interwined with and wanted to be with them more than anything? That’s where ‘yes baby’ comes in. ‘yes baby’ song channels flirtation, desire, and attraction. The transition between ‘locket theme’ and this song is smooth and chef’s kiss. One would easily think it’s two songs rolled into one if they’re not paying attention. The energetic and velvety track finds Madison with someone she’s grown attracted to and considers a crush. She’s feeling flirty and wants to have some fun with the other person.
She feels the desire to have them as close to her as possible. She describes it as dangerous. It’s not in a bad sense, but in a good way. It’s a fun song that makes a good follow-up to ‘locket theme’ to take us through our journey officially.
A playlist about chemistry or confidence would suit this song well.
‘angel wings’
“When I talk about you, I’ll say, “Rest in peace”
I know that it’s sad, it’s such a tragedy, tragedy
Dead to me”
Getting hurt by someone you’re with isn’t something that anyone wants to deal with. It can be even worse when you’re in the public eye. ‘angel wings’ is the perfect song to play when all you want to do is try to ignore the fact that a certain person exists. The song takes us through betrayal, healing, and the emotional sense of grief. Madison finds herself getting hurt by the person she’s with.
She knows others will ask about the person. Instead of telling them that she was done wrong, she would rather tell people that they’ve grown angel wings. There’s no need to make a scene about it; she sees no reason to talk badly about them and is taking the high road on her own terms. ‘angel wings’ is beautifully made. It’s haunting yet gentle in nature.
The switch between beats in parts one and two of the song is the icing on the cake. It starts with a soft instrumental pop-R&B beat, before the volume turns up and we hear a melody from Madison. During part two of the song and its outro, the beat becomes heavier.
We can’t help but think about how ‘angel wings’ could be the younger sibling to Madison’s As She Pleases song ‘Dead,’ if it were to have a follow-up song.
A playlist about heartache or letting go would suit this song well.
‘for the night’
“You can take advantage of my weakness (You can take advantage)
At least for the night, for the night”
Trying to heal or bounce back when you’re feeling down can sometimes be hard for some, regardless of the why. Some want to be alone while others want someone else’s company. Not wanting to feel anything can be a common reaction. Madison is feeling several of these things on the Bossa Nova-infused track for the night.’ The song takes us through the themes of desire, intimacy, and loneliness. ‘for the night’ finds her being alone with her thoughts and feelings.
While she could easily find something to do or lie around, she wants to get over what she’s going through. Better yet, she wants the company of someone else. Stealing the person’s time isn’t on her agenda, however. She wants them around at least until the morning comes. Sure, she’s depending on them to help her out, but sometimes having another person around is ten times better than being alone with your thoughts.
A playlist about coping mechanisms or vulnerability would suit this song well.
‘bad enough’
“My friends all say my standards are too low
But it’s not bad enough to let my baby go”
Are you someone who enjoys the thought and feeling of being in a relationship? Have you been in a relationship and knew you should let go, but something stopped you from doing so? Leaving can be hard when a person doesn’t want to be alone, regardless of underlying feelings or the situation they’re in. This is Madison’s case in ‘bad enough.’ In the song, she explores dependency, self-awareness, and self-blame. She’s in a relationship but wants and needs to get out of it. Both she and her friends see it.
Instead of listening to her friends or herself, she’s listening to the part of her who’s scared to be alone. It’s a bad habit of hers. During the bridge, she wishes things could be different and even apologizes for the state of her relationship. She’s taking accountability for her part, and that’s a big move. It’s a beautiful ballad wrapped in a confession.
A playlist about relationship conflict or the fear of being alone would suit this song well.
‘healthy habit’
“Harmless inspiration (Let a girl live)
It’s not a healthy habit (I could spare a few)”
Have you ever seen your ex as a bad habit? If so, how hard was it to break them? Madison Beer’s ‘healthy habit,’ the sixth song on locket, has her reminiscing about the habit she can’t shake. The song explores unhealthy habits, nostalgic romance, and longing. Madison knows she’s supposed to have moved on from her ex, but is having an internal battle. She thinks about him even when she’s spending time with other guys.
Madison acknowledges the problem, yet doesn’t think it’s one. She thinks of going back. ‘healthy habit’ is a laid-back, relatable track, as it’s common not to see the problem with one’s bad habits. The singer’s airy voice and the background’s soft melody help build the song’s vibe, giving it a soft, intimate feeling.
A playlist about bad habits or loss would suit this song well.
‘you’re still everything’
“And I’m not perfect, but I’ve never stopped loving you (So)
How am I nothing to you, while you’re still everything to me? (Mm)”
Being in love with someone and having those feelings not be reciprocated is one of the worst feelings in the world. It’s not something we would want anyone to go through. Madison’s ‘you’re still everything’ gives us a taste of what it’s like. The song explores themes of heartache, unrequited love, and longing. The singer finds herself still loving and wanting to be around someone who doesn’t feel the same about her.
She tried when it came to them, but she can only do so much and knows that. It’s painful for her. All she can wonder is why is it that she holds a lot of love for them, but the feeling isn’t mutual? The song’s melody and beat help listeners grasp how painful things are for Madison.
A playlist about loneliness or vulnerability would suit this song well.
‘bittersweet’
“Now that it’s over, you’ll blame it all on me
I know I should be bitter, but baby
Right now I’m bittersweet”
Sometimes the end of a relationship can be sweet, and sometimes it can be bittersweet. ‘bittersweet’ is about the latter. The reflective song takes us through heartbreak, letting go, and growth. Madison reflects on her past relationship. She wanted nothing more than for it to work out, but that wasn’t the case. While she could waste her time being angry, she’s not. It’s more so her feeling bittersweet.
She realizes that she’s better off without them and their toxic behavior. It’s a lesson learned for her. She’s letting go and feeling empowered in doing so. The song blends synth-pop and alt-pop elements to create something beautiful behind the lyrics. ‘bittersweet,’ itself, makes a great, honest, and empowering breakup song.
A playlist about independence or empowerment would suit this song well.
‘complexity’
“I look in the mirror and don’t see what you see (See)
Wish I could forget what you said to me”
People can be complex, but relationships aren’t different. In ‘complexity,’ Madison details both. The song explores themes of self-love, reflection, and boundaries. Madison acknowledges the insecurities that make her a complex person. She finds acceptance in the way she is. During the pre-chorus and chorus of the song, she flips the switch on the other person and their self-worth.
She questions, “But how can I expect you to love me. When you don’t even love yourself?” It’s a valid question. She knows if the other person doesn’t love or want the best for themselves, that she’ll be getting nothing but empty hope. The beat of ‘complexity’ gives off a video game vibe, which makes us feel as if we’re in the middle of our favorite games.
A playlist about relationships and self-acceptance would be well-suited for this song.
‘make you mine’
“Now I got you up, would you look at us?
Fantasy to life, and I’m screamin’, screamin”
Having a crush can be a beautiful feeling. You want to be near them and even daydream about them. They can make you wish you were in another place. ‘make you mine’ transports us into such a place, a fantasy world. The song explores themes of infatuation, escapism, and desire. Madison Beer finds herself infatuated with her crush and escapes to a daydream-like place.
She wants them all to herself. Madison longs to have them close to her. She’ll do whatever it takes even if it’s simply having them part of her dream world. ‘make you mine’ is a song that makes you feel as if you’re in the middle of a dancefloor alone with it’s dreamy, yet energetic beat.
A playlist about fantasies or attraction would suit this song well.
‘nothing at all’
“The higher you rise, the further that you fall
And soon, you’re left with nothin’ at all”
Vulnerability looks good on everyone. Madison’s been vulnerable throughout the album, although ‘nothing at all’ hits the hardest. The song channels themes of doubt, honesty, and fear. She acknowledges the fears she has within herself. She knows happiness and dreams can’t last forever, and accepts that it’ll never be the case, no matter how bad she might want it to be.
The song doesn’t rely on a beat. Instead, it relies on a piano and Madison’s vocals to carry the song. ‘nothing at all’ ties the album together for a perfect end. The song is relatable to anyone with a sensitive soul or to those who are exhausted by the outcomes of everything life throws their way.
Maybe we’re being a bit biased here, but Madison Beer did that with her newest album locket. We’ve been Madison Beer fans for a long time, and with each new album, we can hear the growth in her and her music. locket took us on a beautiful and ‘bittersweet’ journey of heartache, healing, growth, and vulnerability. How can one not have the album on repeat?
If you’ve listened to locket, what are your favorite songs from it? What are your favorite lyrics? We would love to know! Feel free to let us know in the comments below. Alternatively, catch us on our socials via Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MADISON BEER:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
