Halsey, Nightmare | Track Review

Alternative pop standout Halsey delivers a ‘nightmare’ scenario for women on “Nightmare,” eventually turning the tables and being ‘completely aware.’ 

Halsey seems to be kicking off her third studio album with a bang.  After earning a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Without Me”, she’s back with quite the “Nightmare” of a single. The intro of “Nightmare” begins spiritually, featuring a familiar, childhood prayer (“Now I lay me down to sleep…”).  The production has an air of mysteriousness from the start, but it isn’t until Halsey ‘comes in like a wrecking ball’ on the chorus that the tone of the record is set.

The chorus is chocked-full of energy, contrasting the calm of the intro:

“I, I keep a record of the wreckage in my life

I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind

They talk shit, but I love it every time

And I realize.”

After hearing the chorus, a couple of times as the song progresses, it certainly ‘catches on’ more.  Clearly, Halsey has women in mind, evidenced by the tone of the verses (“I’ve trusted lies and trusted men” or “Lettin’ a man tell me what I should do with my bed”) and specifically the pre-chorus, first introduced following the first verse:

“‘Come on, little lady, give us a smile’

No, I ain’t got nothin’ to smile about

I got no one to smile for, I waited a while for

A moment to say I don’t owe you a goddamn thing.”

Interestingly, the use of goddamn at the end of the pre-chorus leading into the chorus is quite a stark contrast to the aforementioned prayer.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Halsey makes her point ‘loud and clear’ on “Nightmare.”  Interestingly, if she (and women in general) were the victims of the nightmare for much of the song, the tables are flipped on the bridge.  There, the empowered women become “a real nightmare, completely aware.”  While one can nitpick about certain aspects of “Nightmare,” the messaging is on-point, period.

Halsey • Nightmare [Single] • Capitol • Release: 5.17.19

Photo Credit: Capitol