Charlie Puth, Mother | Track Review 🎵

Grammy-nominated pop singer/songwriter/producer Charlie Puth proves that he’s ‘not that innocent’ on his latest, totally infectious bop, “Mother.”  

“The moment she walks out that door / I’m not pretending anymore…” Very interesting Charlie Puth, very interesting.  It seems, at least to an extent, that the Grammy-nominated pop star who co-wrote the thoughtful “See You Again” and also delivered the cringe-worthy “One Call Away” is stepping up his game on single, “Mother.” Obviously, the person walking out the door is his girlfriend’s mother, who he has to ‘pretend’ to be an upstanding, well-rounded suitor to her daughter.  

“Mother” is stronger than much of the past music that Charlie Puth has released.  There’s still schmaltz,  but at least he’s not referencing superheroes (I can’t let go of the “Superman got nothing on me” lyric, I know).  The production is sound and well-rounded, if relatively simple with its energetic, rhythmic synths and anchoring, minimalist beat.  Vocally, Puth sounds much stronger than he has in the past, still giving off boyish, youthful vibes, but delivering a more potent falsetto as well as more oomph and punch in general.  Much like his better material from Voicenotes (“Attention” comes to mind), “Mother” is quite catchy.  

On the first verse, Charlie Puth speaks from the perspective of the mother, who characterizes him as “such a nice boy, so well-mannered /… so much better than the last one you brought around.” On the second verse, meanwhile, Puth makes it clear ‘he’s not that innocent,’ singing, “More than a friend zone (More than a friend zone) / We’ve been hiding since the time they forgot to knock.” Of course, the centerpiece is that infectious, playful, schmaltzy chorus:  

“If your mother knew all of the things that we do 
If your mother knew all the things we do 
If your mother knew, she'd keep me so far from you 
If your mother knew all the things we do.” 

Final Thoughts

Since Nine Track Mind, Charlie Puth has been trying to rebound hard, understandably so. Voicenotes showed some progression, and so far, singles “I Warned Myself” and “Mother” have been winners.  Hopefully, his third studio album finds Puth taking his biggest step yet, delivering the best pop of his career.  “Mother” is a bop.   

Charlie Puth • Mother [Single] • Artist Partner Group • Release: 9.13.19 

Photo Credit: Artist Partner Group