Meghan Trainor, Mother | Track Review

Grammy-winning pop singer Meghan Trainor informs us all, “I am your mother” on “Mother,” a single from the deluxe version of Takin’ It Back.

“Iam your mother… / You listen to me.” Oh my, Meghan Trainor! The Grammy-winning pop star released the deluxe edition of her fourth studio album, Takin’ It Back, in 2023 (the original album was released in October 2022).  Prior to the arrival of the deluxe, one of the biggest talking points was “Mother”, and for good reason! “Mother” is… something, that’s for sure! In the intro, prior to Meghan asserting she’s a mother, the assertion is made, via a TikTok vid sample, “The fact that Meghan Trainor is literally mother right now.” Woo!

An entire essay could be written on this two-and-a-half minute record.  Mother itself is used literally and as a queer term . As far as the literal meaning, Trainor is a mom, and interestingly, “Mother” samples a lullaby: “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes.  This sample gives “Mother” a retro-pop sensibility which is idiomatic of her work throughout her career.  Besides the retro-pop vibes, there are also modern pop vibes as well ( Justin Trainor and Gian Stone produce).  Naturally, the record is incredibly gimmicky, particularly when Trainor quotes “Mr. Sandman” with the repetitive “bum-bum-bum(s).”  It is worth noting, Trainor is calling some men, who act anti-feminist and ‘mansplain’ as bums.  Her man, of course, is no bum, as Trainor asserts, “Y’all need a masterclass from my man / Learn how to satisfy like he can.” Wow! Although “Mother” is corny (understatement) and a wee tough to take seriously, she serves up some relevant points and no shortage of confidence.

Final Thoughts

So, what does one make of “Mother”? It is interesting to the n^th degree. Is it a pop bop? Depends on who you ask.  Personally, it’s A LOT. Is that necessarily a bad thing? Of course not.  If you’re a hardcore Meghan fan, you’re onboard – she is mother, after all.  If not, well… we’ll leave it at that.

via GIPHY

Meghan Trainor • Takin’ It Back • Epic • 3.10.23

[: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Epic; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]