Have you ever thought something was effortless? Maybe it was a piece of art somebody drew or painted, maybe it was someone singing a solo at a choir concert, or maybe it was a video someone edited that looks amazing. You know that it took them ages to master what they do, but you still can't quite fathom how easy it looks. It may elicit jealousy, but, really, you're more amazed than envious because OMG THEY'RE SO AMAZING!
That was my reaction when I first caught wind of Birdy at 14. A girl who went to my junior high (and who also goes to my high school) sang her rendition of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love" at the talent show my 8th grade year while two dancers accompanied it, and I was blown away by it all. I had to find the original source, and when I did, I couldn't believe it. Birdy had first recorded that cover when she was only 14? She played piano on most of her material? She wrote her own songs, one that was even featured on The Hunger Games soundtrack? I had found my dream artist right here!
Later that spring I got the treat to listening to her second release and debut album of all original songs (aside from "Skinny Love" and another cover, "People Help the People", because if you didn't buy the first album, look, bonus goodies!), Fire Within, on iTunes Radio's First Play (back when that still existed), a week before it was supposed to be released in the US. I was blown away by the way she wrote love songs and by her absolutely beautiful voice that was delicate and strong. There were sad pieces, there were happy ones, and some not even focused on couples but rather on family and friends, and it pretty much made me happy for a while and inspired my songwriting. Of course, revisiting it later raised my appreciation for it, but I kept Birdy in the back of my mind to turn to whenever I needed to play Pandora. Her appearances in The Fault in Our Stars movie were met with praise by me in the meantime.
However, that all changed when, just as 2015 ended, a new single announcement came that I wasn't expecting. "Keeping Your Head Up" was officially released on the first day of the new year, and I was completely floored. Sure, the production was more pop-flavored and packed to the brim with explosive percussion, but it was still Birdy. Her voice had matured and was more powerful than ever, the piano came back with a vengeance, and there was something more distinctly uplifting with the lyrics that I had never heard before. It was a taste of what was to come, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen.
Fast forward a couple weeks later and we had an album announcement, two months later there was a sampler on Apple Music at the end of spring break (which I still think was the work of God itself), and a week later, the album was here and I listened to it all gleefully. Now that it's been out for half a year already, articulating my thoughts instead of earlier (whoops), what did I think of Beautiful Lies? Was it the worst of a deceitful lie, or was it straightforward and actually beautiful?
I regret waiting to talk about this album for six months, but I think that amount of time to process just what I feel about this album. Words at first couldn't describe how much this record meant to be or just how simply beautiful it is. There are no lies to be found here in terms of that title and the songs. Every track is honest and smartly written with descriptive lyrics, Birdy's vocals are simply indescribable, and there's a wonderful blend of rich piano, drums, guitars, and lush arrangements to satisfy someone looking for more contemplative music. In other words, Birdy's Beautiful Lies is a return to form in the way only she can do best: love songs with more sophistication, more fragility, but, ultimately, with more emotion that just makes every little phrase she creates even starker and with much more impact than the last. It's an absolutely stunning album that not only shows her growth as an artist, but also just how great of one she is.
This album has Birdy perfectly hitting her stride. Fire Within bounced between many different styles: the simple yet intricate piano ballads like her covers with "Shine", "No Angel", and even the US mix for "All You Never Say", the propulsive pop that ran through both "Light Me Up" and "Words as Weapons"'s single versions (which, along with AYNS, we had on the US edition), and even sweeter and tender songs courtesy of acoustic guitar, like "Maybe" and "All About You". All of these songs were patented Birdy, no doubt about it, but there was definitely a crossroads on which path Birdy could take. On her third album, surprisingly, both paths converge to create a cohesive sound. Sure, each song is a little different, and some have the explosive percussion of modern pop, but there's a nice balance here where Birdy shows her comfort and strength in: sensitive tracks that focus on the relationships we have with ourselves, other people, and the things surrounding us.
Beautiful Lies opens with a train whistle before leading into the Asian-inspired "Growing Pains", a graceful track that heartrendingly describes the perils of growing up. Birdy sings in a higher register than usual in the verses, a chilling falsetto that recalls the chirp of a bird, The chorus has different lines of her vocals mingling together amidst piano and assorted percussion (which is added to by some glittering thing in the second), and the whole instrumental is definitely more mysterious and dipping into alternative territory. The lyrics, as per usual from the 20-year-old (who I'm pretty sure was 18 and 19 while recording this album), are stellar. There's a lot of descriptive imagery that evokes a lot of pictures to flicker in one's mind ('Trying to change your mind is like the weather', 'I'll pick up the pieces and we'll rearrange', 'Familiar faces turning into stone', etc.), and I think everyone could interpret things a little differently. For me, this track is about a relationship on the verge of falling out. Time has passed for both parties, and it seems one is sure that they don't love the other the way they did at the start. Now it's up to them whether to 'follow fate' and 'find the strength to stand alone'. It's definitely a relatable scenario of how sometimes the best things lose steam over time.
"Shadow" is up next, and it's easily one of my favorites from the album. It's one of the simplest lyrically, but it also has the most haunting and purest melody ever that it also made me cry on first listen. The song describes a relationship where one person latches on to the other and vows to be with them wherever they go, a delicate obsession that's shown through Birdy's haunting vocals and the churning bongo (I believe) percussion that couples alongside a fragile piano line, strings, and a little bass. But the real highlight comes in Birdy's performance, particularly right after the bridge. She showcases her higher register in that section as she sings the chorus, and the effect it has over a listener may cause tears to spring into the eyes. It's that powerful and affecting, and it's easily one of the best vocal bits on this album solely because it showcases this powerful singer/songwriter at her absolute highest pitch and also her most vulnerable.
That was my reaction when I first caught wind of Birdy at 14. A girl who went to my junior high (and who also goes to my high school) sang her rendition of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love" at the talent show my 8th grade year while two dancers accompanied it, and I was blown away by it all. I had to find the original source, and when I did, I couldn't believe it. Birdy had first recorded that cover when she was only 14? She played piano on most of her material? She wrote her own songs, one that was even featured on The Hunger Games soundtrack? I had found my dream artist right here!
Later that spring I got the treat to listening to her second release and debut album of all original songs (aside from "Skinny Love" and another cover, "People Help the People", because if you didn't buy the first album, look, bonus goodies!), Fire Within, on iTunes Radio's First Play (back when that still existed), a week before it was supposed to be released in the US. I was blown away by the way she wrote love songs and by her absolutely beautiful voice that was delicate and strong. There were sad pieces, there were happy ones, and some not even focused on couples but rather on family and friends, and it pretty much made me happy for a while and inspired my songwriting. Of course, revisiting it later raised my appreciation for it, but I kept Birdy in the back of my mind to turn to whenever I needed to play Pandora. Her appearances in The Fault in Our Stars movie were met with praise by me in the meantime.
However, that all changed when, just as 2015 ended, a new single announcement came that I wasn't expecting. "Keeping Your Head Up" was officially released on the first day of the new year, and I was completely floored. Sure, the production was more pop-flavored and packed to the brim with explosive percussion, but it was still Birdy. Her voice had matured and was more powerful than ever, the piano came back with a vengeance, and there was something more distinctly uplifting with the lyrics that I had never heard before. It was a taste of what was to come, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen.
Fast forward a couple weeks later and we had an album announcement, two months later there was a sampler on Apple Music at the end of spring break (which I still think was the work of God itself), and a week later, the album was here and I listened to it all gleefully. Now that it's been out for half a year already, articulating my thoughts instead of earlier (whoops), what did I think of Beautiful Lies? Was it the worst of a deceitful lie, or was it straightforward and actually beautiful?
I regret waiting to talk about this album for six months, but I think that amount of time to process just what I feel about this album. Words at first couldn't describe how much this record meant to be or just how simply beautiful it is. There are no lies to be found here in terms of that title and the songs. Every track is honest and smartly written with descriptive lyrics, Birdy's vocals are simply indescribable, and there's a wonderful blend of rich piano, drums, guitars, and lush arrangements to satisfy someone looking for more contemplative music. In other words, Birdy's Beautiful Lies is a return to form in the way only she can do best: love songs with more sophistication, more fragility, but, ultimately, with more emotion that just makes every little phrase she creates even starker and with much more impact than the last. It's an absolutely stunning album that not only shows her growth as an artist, but also just how great of one she is.
This album has Birdy perfectly hitting her stride. Fire Within bounced between many different styles: the simple yet intricate piano ballads like her covers with "Shine", "No Angel", and even the US mix for "All You Never Say", the propulsive pop that ran through both "Light Me Up" and "Words as Weapons"'s single versions (which, along with AYNS, we had on the US edition), and even sweeter and tender songs courtesy of acoustic guitar, like "Maybe" and "All About You". All of these songs were patented Birdy, no doubt about it, but there was definitely a crossroads on which path Birdy could take. On her third album, surprisingly, both paths converge to create a cohesive sound. Sure, each song is a little different, and some have the explosive percussion of modern pop, but there's a nice balance here where Birdy shows her comfort and strength in: sensitive tracks that focus on the relationships we have with ourselves, other people, and the things surrounding us.
Beautiful Lies opens with a train whistle before leading into the Asian-inspired "Growing Pains", a graceful track that heartrendingly describes the perils of growing up. Birdy sings in a higher register than usual in the verses, a chilling falsetto that recalls the chirp of a bird, The chorus has different lines of her vocals mingling together amidst piano and assorted percussion (which is added to by some glittering thing in the second), and the whole instrumental is definitely more mysterious and dipping into alternative territory. The lyrics, as per usual from the 20-year-old (who I'm pretty sure was 18 and 19 while recording this album), are stellar. There's a lot of descriptive imagery that evokes a lot of pictures to flicker in one's mind ('Trying to change your mind is like the weather', 'I'll pick up the pieces and we'll rearrange', 'Familiar faces turning into stone', etc.), and I think everyone could interpret things a little differently. For me, this track is about a relationship on the verge of falling out. Time has passed for both parties, and it seems one is sure that they don't love the other the way they did at the start. Now it's up to them whether to 'follow fate' and 'find the strength to stand alone'. It's definitely a relatable scenario of how sometimes the best things lose steam over time.
"Shadow" is up next, and it's easily one of my favorites from the album. It's one of the simplest lyrically, but it also has the most haunting and purest melody ever that it also made me cry on first listen. The song describes a relationship where one person latches on to the other and vows to be with them wherever they go, a delicate obsession that's shown through Birdy's haunting vocals and the churning bongo (I believe) percussion that couples alongside a fragile piano line, strings, and a little bass. But the real highlight comes in Birdy's performance, particularly right after the bridge. She showcases her higher register in that section as she sings the chorus, and the effect it has over a listener may cause tears to spring into the eyes. It's that powerful and affecting, and it's easily one of the best vocal bits on this album solely because it showcases this powerful singer/songwriter at her absolute highest pitch and also her most vulnerable.
When I first heard this lead single, I was absolutely astounded. As a fan of Birdy for two years, I hadn't anticipated something quite like this from her ever. "Keeping Your Head Up" is probably the happiest song Birdy has ever written and performed period, and there's not even a hint of melancholy or sadness in it. Instead, it's a breathtaking and jubilant revival that reassures a partner that no matter what happens, they'll be able to rely on their significant other to give them strength whenever they need it most. It's powerful and absolutely breathtaking, and the instrumental also does wonders to help the glorious euphoria of the track. Although only starting with a synth and a piano, the main chorus hits with a powerful drum line that cushions the rest of the instrumental until you feel like you're floating above the ground and about to ascend to a higher place. The feeling is intoxicating, and I still feel that surge in my chest no matter how many times I listen to this. It's a beautiful song and one that will be remembered for the rest of Birdy's career.
We return to sadder and simpler times with "Deep End," an emotional ballad that deals with a couple stuck in a lull. Nothing has the magic quite like it used to, and although there's contemplation of not really knowing how much this means now, Birdy is willing to pretend that everything's fine in order to make everything better, even if the matter 'is out of [their] hands'. It could potentially 'work out in the end'. Once again, Birdy's knack for intricate and simplistic detail shines through the lyrics and her singing, one that shows maturity beyond her years. The piano that is later accompanied by drums perfectly compliments her lyrics of craving and wanting more, trying to help, and hopeless frustration. It's a glimpse into a sad and fractured world that, much like the reflection in a still pool of water, can be ruptured with a single fall into it.
Our next song, "Wild Horses", was the third song released from the album and second official single, preceded by the title track off of Beautiful Lies. Much like "Keeping Your Head Up," this goes in a much more modern pop direction in terms of its production, but there's also something else that's different: the resilient strength that's as thick as leather that shields these lyrics from the pain of a dysfunctional relationship. Birdy has said that "Wild Horses" was inspired off of a friend who was in a tough spot, and you can hear the tender respect in the words that she sings. However, I have a feeling this was also touched and made into a story for anyone needing the power to move on from something that may be comforting but will only create pain if it continues. It's stunning (along with that mermaid music video) and the lyrics perfectly capture those moments inside the madness (one of my favorites: 'And the phone calls that would last all night, they were lifeboats to me') but also the need to move on and follow the heart that wants to be free. The instrumental, although busy, is also beautiful. The usual piano is there, but the percussion pounds across the song like the hooves of horses running in a field, and it's both graceful and frantic in that vow in the chorus.
I will survive and be the one who's stronger
I will not beg you to stay
I will move on and you should know I mean it
Wild horses run in me
Overall, this is absolutely everything I ever wanted.
The sixth track is perhaps my favorite from this album, a non-complex (in terms of lyrics, that is) but still wistful song that is one of two tracks Birdy has sole writing credits on on this album. "Lost It All" starts out with an elaborate piano arrangement and an unassuming tone, chronicling the tentative start to a relationship (maybe told from the love interest?) that ultimately spirals down. There seems to be false promises and people being taken advantage of, and although all of the narrator's love seems to be given, 'it's still not enough'. When the soft drums and strings are added to the main driving force of the piano, the tone of the song changes and immediately becomes more and more bittersweet and just plain heartbreaking. As the track fades out with a defeated but triumphant outro, one can only hope ties will be cut and wings will be able to flap free. It's the reverse situation of "Wild Horses," but the tables will keep on turning for the rest of this album.
Things take a slightly darker but more figurative turn with "Silhouette," the seventh song, an absolute powerhouse. It's another completely different side of Birdy that I haven't heard before, but it mostly comes in terms of the instrumentation, which takes a surprisingly Gothic but still uplifting tone even it kind of makes you want to dig out a jacket. The piano creates the atmosphere first before mingling with background vocals and a synth. By the time the chorus is reached, the piano speeds up a bit and is joined with some percussion and a guitar later on, and it adds to the almost winter-like environment of the track. Meanwhile, the lyrics aren't as cold as the instrumental. Rather, it focuses on the aftermath of a breakup that has torn a hole in the narrator's heart, However, rather than give up, Birdy creates a protagonist that may be wearied but wants to be strong. After all, after what she's just been through, she might be able to survive and be able to let '[her] regrets...sink like shipwrecks through oceans dark'. The message is powerful and points out how miserable former flames can be in wanting to see their exes 'on [their] knees,' but there's also the undercurrent of hope that, maybe, 'broken wings will soar'.
Opening with vocal samples, snaps, and a light guitar, "Lifted" is a jaunty tune that feels like it has a little trickle of Asian and tropical influences. It's another happy song that shows appreciation toward a lover and how they've made someone a better person through their guidance. However, there's more than just that. In the bridge, Birdy says that if her lover falls into the same place of darkness she did, she'll help them just as much as they helped her. I feel like this could also be interpreted as the lover themselves saying this to our narrator, but at the same time, the former view gives the plea in the chorus that much more power knowing that it may be coming from the other. It's that idea of equality and reciprocation that I think really sells this for me. Although the lover is treated as a miracle, I believe the both of them view each other as equals in this relationship no matter if it's romantic or not. Meanwhile, the production gives this song a bit of a dance hall vibe. The funky guitar groove with what sounds like a tambourine calls up the image of this playing in a chilled-out club where most people are relaxing on couches. However, there's one person still spinning around and wanting to dance, and I think that feeling really matches what this track's trying to create.
It's time for another heartbreaking ballad, this one easily more haunting than the last. "Take My Heart" is the second and last solely Birdy written song, and to say that it's amazing would be an understatement. I think this is another favorite of mine just based on the atmosphere alone. This is a crank above "Silhouette" in that we go from chilly to downright haunting. From the background vocals that vary throughout to the plucking of strings in the first part that lead to climatic single piano notes/chords accompanied by ringing percussion, it all blends together to create a distraught and emotional picture that affected me a lot on first listen. However, in my eyes, the lyrics and delivery are what really sell this track for me. Here we have a relationship that has left the protagonist in pieces, but they're unable to leave. They keep on falling for the same 'love lies' and are giving themselves up to ultimately end up in even more heartbreak ('Hold me in the dark, shelter as you take my heart'). The chorus is in both past and present tense, recalling things that have happened before and will inevitably happen again. It's a truly disarming and enchanting track that ultimately makes a listener tear up. I have no doubt that people who have experienced this kind of love will relate to it, even after the last note fades.
"Hear You Calling", the tenth song on Beautiful Lies, is definitely the most graceful track on the album. There's a very choppy groove to it at the start, but it ultimately comes together with a fun and sparkling piano line, rattling drums and percussion, and even a sprinkling of some pitched background vocals to add a bit of a hop to the track. However, this track is ultimately about longing for someone you love who can't be with you. The lyrics paint a very vivid picture of what's going on through several methods (comparison: 'Oh, my beautiful summer, how the winter makes me wonder where you've gone,' stating the facts: 'Memories lies. There's no such thing as a perfect life'), and there's even a mention of letting a relationship die without exactly remembering why. Despite all of these things, the narrator is still hearing the voice of a lover while they're 'stuck in [a] lonely town,' and all they want is to be back with that significant other. One could associate this with Birdy moving to London to live by herself away from her family this past year, and I think that would be fair. For me, though, "Hear You Calling" is rooted in that loneliness you feel when you're separated from someone you love or once loved, and how really only being with that someone can cure that sadness, if only for a short while.
This is the third track Birdy as written that has the phrase 'word' or 'words' in the title. We had "Without a Word" from her debut (the only original song on that album), "Words as Weapons" from Fire Within, and now we have "Words". When I first heard this track on the album sampler, I was immediately intrigued by the sound of it, so I was very much anticipating this. However, when I first heard it, I was completely blown away. There's some fantastic lyrical interplay between the verses ('All the things you say to me, I can't forget them,' 'All the things you hide from me, I accept them,' 'You know the things you said to me. Do you regret them?'), and the situation painted here is a complicated one. While the relationship here seems to be falling apart, the two lovers need each other underneath all this brewing need for separation. However, what remains evident is that one is pushing the other to be responsible and take action 'so [they] can just forget [them]' because the narrator says '[they] have no words to say.' It definitely paints that struggle to rely on someone when clearly they're not doing anything about the present situation. Meanwhile, the production straddles the line between stripped back and modern pop, The piano remains the common element holding everything together, but once the percussion gently kicks in in the second chorus and Birdy's voice becomes increasingly more desperate over it, the song reaches its climax. After that first listen, I was about to cry, and there's no exaggeration when I say that Birdy, alongside with her co-writers, can write some incredibly good gut-wrenching songs.
"Save Yourself", the twelfth track, is a little bit quieter than the past couple of songs, but it's also just as powerful. The piano line here is delicate in the intro but eventually joins the syncopated percussion and background vocals in perfect balance. The highest part of this song hits after the second chorus, where Birdy's calls join a high-pitched synth and drums to reach emotional pathos. Meanwhile, Birdy sings about a destructive relationship that 'shouldn't cost a thing' but still requires 'paying for everything', although we as a listener can only wonder what the currency is. Happiness? Sanity? Respect? Love? The chorus hits the hardest, showing what the two lovers have become ('Empty hearts that spare no one'). Birdy is left to tell her lover to 'save [themselves]' and get out while they still can in order to 'kill the love that's dying'. It might not be immediately one of the most gripping tracks on Beautiful Lies this late in, but there's ultimately something powerful rolling under the elegance and quiet persuasiveness.
I think some hope is in order, and on our second to last track, Birdy delivers it with "Unbroken". While the verses deal with maintaining bravery, the actual gist of the song is something much deeper in the hook.
Many moons will light our way
As sure as night will follow day
And everything you once loved remains
Unbroken
Unbroken
Even when you try to keep everything inside yourself, breaking down is inevitable, especially as stated in the pre-chorus. The stress of life without comfort or reassurance by the people we hold dear, especially if we have moved away, can be incredibly hard to bear. However, these four lines are a reassurance to remember that even in the darkest of times, the faith of those we love will follow us and '[remain] unbroken' as we continue to live our lives, even when we 'leave the past behind us'. The instrumental, to compliment these deep words, is incredibly simplistic. Although it's mostly piano, some acoustic guitar strums, and the gentle low notes of strings, it still resonates incredibly well and allows Birdy to state her case without having to overexert anywhere else.
Our last song is the title track of Beautiful Lies that came out a month before the album in the last breaths of winter. Again, piano and strings dominate this track instrumentally, but the lyrics once again cut to the very core of every single human's biggest fear at some point: moving on. As Birdy states, 'The world's so fast that nothing lasts. Let's save it while we can', one always wants to cling onto the days when they were younger and carefree, but that unfortunately can't work the way it used to. No matter how much we 'want to be forever like smoke in the air, float like a feather going nowhere', growing older has stopped us from recapturing that childlike joy. However, the best we can do is pretend and stay in the past even though all we want to do is move on. After all, weren't those days when we were young the best thing to ever happen to us? It's an absolutely heartbreaking message that shows that last desperate cling onto the past, and even despite the song being under three minutes, you will remember the way Birdy's voice soared on that last chorus like a bird taking flight and the way a quiet near-whisper finishes off the album.
Case in point, this record is an absolutely incredible one. I've listened to this so many times that it's hard to remember, and this has probably even topped the replays of Foxes' All I Need (although nothing will beat the replays of "Cruel," current number on iTunes: 36 with more to come), and even though that album was amazing for its exploration of a break-up in many stages, sometimes in simplistic detail, Beautiful Lies has a lot more subject matter to deal with. There are bad relationships, good relationships, and, ultimately, there are the pains, trials, and liberations of growing up and experiencing life. It's cohesive and strong, and it easily shows that Birdy has hit her stride. I can't wait to see where she goes next.
The album is currently available from Atlantic Records here in the US both in physical and digital editions, and you can also stream it on Spotify if you're not looking to buy it. If you listen to it, I hope you'll enjoy it just as much as I did. Until next time!
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