Myylo, Sad Boys | Track Review 🎵

Talented LGBTQ pop singer/songwriter Myylo highlights the often-neglected topic of male sadness on his thoughtful, must-hear single, “Sad Boys.” 

“Hug all the sad boys / Chilling in their Gucci sweaters / Shrug off the sad boy / You won’t feel this way forever.” Personally, I am a fan of meaningful music that transcends beyond the superficial and permeates deeper.  Myylo is a pop artist that superbly balances releasing ‘bops,’ but also goes beyond the fun and infectiousness into a more personal, relatable realm.  Having followed this awesome LGBT musician throughout 2019, he continues to impress me with his musicianship, as well as his activism through his music. Once more, he strikes gold with his succinct single, “Sad Boys,” tackling bullying, depression, and issues of masculinity with boys.

“Sad Boys” can be described as a lo-fi exploration of the way that masculinity allows or doesn’t allow men to deal with sadness. Compared to some of Myylo’s previous singles, “Sad Boys” is more low-key when it comes to sound, with more emphasis on the lyrical content, mood, and theme.  That’s a pro, because Myylo has so much to say, beginning with the chromosomal reference of the first verse, to expressing sadness as men, something society so often frowns upon:

“But all my friends never get to say
We’re blue with grief
We’re thinking deep thoughts
We’re thinking deep thoughts like you woulda woulda not
Believe oo-ee believe me.”

Myylo offers solutions as well as more of the mindset on the second verse (or section if you will) of “Sad Boys.” “Buy big balloons / And say you’re sorry,” he sings, continuing, “Dance around his room and throw a pity party / One friend’s enough / To ease the hurt.” Here, the pop singer seems to mention about the importance of support for males going through a variety of issues that cause depression.  Adding to the characterization of “Sad Boys,” it’s also a counterpoint to dads who tell their kids to “man up” and a culture that frequently proclaims that “crying is for girls.”  Myylo offer some specific insight about the single, which makes the messaging even more potent:

“I remember being in literal shambles over getting bullied as a kid. Intuitively, I pushed those feelings down or hid my tears and never told my parents about what I was going through. Looking back, I think that was a gut response to all the ways society teaches boys not to feel. ‘Sad Boys’ is me trying to carve out a little space for boys to be sad or cry if they need to. Tears are tight. Emotions are lit. And, guess what, boys need to make space for themselves to feel them.”

Final Thoughts 

“Sad Boys” is deep, period.  This is a must-hear single that does a superb job of tackling a topic that seems to be ‘swept under the rug’ and it shouldn’t be.  Society as whole truly needs to progress, particularly when it comes to masculinity.  Why should boys be forced to suffer emotionally, and not be able to express their fears, concerns, and what’s eating at them on the inside? Particularly with bullying with guys, whether related to sexual orientation, or other factors, why should that have to be repressed because of society’s views of masculinity? Myylo provides ‘food for thought’ for the world, and we all seriously need to devour it.

Myylo • Sad Boys • Release: 9.20.19

Photo Credit: Myylo