Charlie Puth, I Warned Myself | Track Review

Grammy-nominated pop artist Charlie Puth returns with his first solo single of 2019, “I Warned Myself” where clearly, ‘he should’ve known better.’  

“I’m only one call away / I’ll be there to save the day / Superman got nothing on me / I’m only one call away.” Ugh… “One Call Away” and its parent album, Nine Track Mind (2016) wasn’t one of the finer moments by Grammy-nominated pop musician Charlie Puth.  The thing is, Puth is quite the gifted musician, possessing perfect pitch, but his debut album was the exemplification of vanilla.  In my opinion, his sophomore album, Voicenotes (2018), was an improvement, if still leaving ample room for growth.  Returning in 2019, Puth releases a new single, “I Warned Myself,” which definitely contrasts some of his previous work.

“I warned myself that I shouldn’t play with fire
But I can tell that I’ll do it one more time
Don’t trust myself, no good for my health
You messed with my heart, now you’re the reason why.” 

“I Warned Myself” commences with the chorus, which definitely catches the listener’s attention and sets the tone.  The record is in a minor key, and there’s an enigmatic vibe that makes it quite alluring.  This enigma is a pro for Charlie Puth, who is often pegged to be a bit sensitive as well as ‘vanilla’ you might say.  He’s still sensitive, but there’s something more here compared to, say, “One Call Away.”  Puth co-produces alongside Benny Blanco, keeping things simple, but adding lushness with warm background vocals. Besides his lovely backing vocals, in regard to lead vocals, he sings quite beautifully. The premise of the song is Puth enters into a relationship with someone who’s deceptive and he knows he shouldn’t have partaken in the first place –  he should’ve known better.

Final Thoughts 

Will “I Warned Myself” change any lives? Nah, but Charlie Puth seems to be avoiding the trap that he fell into on his debut album.  It’s well-performed and well-sung, with simple, but effective lyrics that convey his point.

Charlie Puth • I Warned Myself  [Single] • Artist Partner Group • Release: 8.21.19

Photo Credit: Artist Partner Group