Jeremy Zucker, not ur friend | Track Review 🎵

After releasing “Always, I’ll Care,” New Jersey pop artist Jeremy Zucker drops a second noteworthy pop single with “not ur friend.”

Have I mentioned that there’s something incredibly ‘sweet’ when listening to New Jersey-bred pop musician Jeremy Zucker? Why yes, I have – on his previous single, “Always, I’ll Care”. The short, but sweet “Always, I’ll Care” is set to appear on Zucker’s 2020 debut album.  So is his second single of the year, “not ur friend.” According to Zucker, per The Prelude Press, “not ur friend” is “…really just a fun, matter of fact song about cutting a toxic person out of your life.”

The ‘matter of fact’ part of “not ur friend” shows up explicitly on the chorus, the centerpiece of course:

“Hang up if you ever think of calling
Me up, not afraid to say it, darling
Sorry, I’m not sorry if it hurts
I don’t mean to make it worse
I’ve decided that I’m not your fucking friend.”

Man, does the f-bomb have some power or what! While that’s not the only moment where Jeremy Zucker has the potty mouth, he’s honest about his feelings.  After encouraging his ex to celebrate her birthday, he asserts, “I’ll be / On my way to distant shores / If you weren’t so insecure / You’d learn to close each open door for me…” His honesty continues on the second verse and pre-chorus (“Darling, watch me disappear / Ignorance is bliss, I hear, and / I have always been sincere to you”), ultimately continuing to build up to the fact that he’s “NOT YOUR FUCKING FRIEND.”

Final Thoughts 

The mood and the lyrics really carry “not ur friend.” That said, Jeremy Zucker sings quite well, and it’s nice to hear some bite from him on the blunt, titular lyric.  Furthermore, the production is a selling point.  Zucker doesn’t go ‘hog wild’ or anything (save for a more dynamic ending, it’s characteristic of the songs he’s released previously) but it’s highly effective, placing most of the emphasis on his voice.  Is “not ur friend” relatable? You bet it is!

Jeremy Zucker • “not ur friend” – Single • Republic • Release: 2.28.20

Photo Credit: Republic