Madison Beer, bittersweet | Song Review

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Gen-Z pop singer/songwriter Madison Beer compellingly shares her bittersweetness on her single, “bittersweet.”

[nx_pullquote]“Now, I’m choosing me / It wasn’t so easy / God forbid forever on my knees.”[/nx_pullquote] Madison Beer compellingly shares her bittersweetness on her single, “bittersweet”. Beer penned “bittersweet” with One Love, Madi Yanofsky, and Jon Robert Hall.  Beer produced the track with One Love.  One of the most striking sounds from “bittersweet” is the warm, rhythmic, arpeggiated synth lines.  They recur throughout the song and also set the tone before Beer sings.  Madison keeps things cool, calm, collected, and smooth.  Her singing is effortless.  Beginning with the first verse, the melody is tuneful. Lyrically, matters of the heart are full force from the jump: “Can’t believe it ends this way / Though you’d always stay / Now I gotta wonder what I’ve changed.” Word.  Following the pre-chorus, where Beer questions his feelings towards her, the chorus has more bite:

“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

I’m getting over what you put me through

And I’d say I’m done crying, but baby

I don’t lie like you do.”

Madison doesn’t over-sing, even with more oomph during the chorus. Still, she shows her vulnerability – authentic emotions. The second verse features those arpeggiated cool synths accompanied by a subtle groove.  This differentiation from the first verse is a welcome contrast.  Beyond the chorus and post-chorus (“You do, you do / Right now, I’m bittersweet”), the bridge is beautiful. Madison expands her vocals more, though she brings it back down by the end (“I lay awake thinkin’, ‘How did I let you go?’ / Gettin’ away unscathed for so damn long”). Madison Beer closes this enjoyable, rebounding from heartbreak song superbly with sweet vocal harmonies during the final chorus, and tasteful vocal ad-libs. “Bittersweet” = pretty sweet!

[usr 3.5]