Eve Hutchinson
Benson Boone is the epitome of the rise of a Gen Z pop star.
The 23-year-old American singer-songwriter briefly competed in the 2021 edition of American Idol. He amassed over a million followers on TikTok before releasing his first single, and then shot to global fame with his hit single ‘Beautiful Things’, which has reached over 2 billion streams on Spotify. Boone is testing whether he can fill the gap left behind by the absence of pop boys like Harry Styles.
“He is already linking himself sonically and visually to major artists such as Queen and Bruce Springsteen.”
Since being catapulted to stardom, Boone has been exposed to harsh backlash. Boone’s signature backflips and sparkly sequin suits have been the subject of relentless internet hate. Boone even addressed this issue recently on his TikTok. He made a video telling critics to at least have a good reason for the influx of hate.
Following the mega success of ‘Beautiful Things’, Boone’s announcement of his second album American Heart was highly anticipated. The album cover depicts Boone shirtless carrying the American flag. This evocative image positions Boone’s album as exploring the cultural weight of American identity. While Boone’s music has a lot of heart, little of the album’s concept shines through in the music. Boone sticks to safe, reliably catchy pop that has little new to say about being an American man.
Tracks 1-3:
American Heart’s lead single and opening track ‘Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else’ is one of the strongest songs from the album. The song addresses a chance encounter with a former lover while moving forward with a new partner. Boone’s strong, emotionally charged vocals are paired with a nicely constructed storyline. The weakest part of the song is the abruptness of the ending. It could have been helped by the repetition of a chorus or another addition to bring the song to a close.
‘Mr Electric Blue’ is Boone’s first attempt to try and unite his visuals and tracklist. The song explores the American ideal of manhood embodied in his father. While catchy, we encounter a polarising feature of Boone’s music: his soaring falsetto vocals. In this song, Boone’s high notes sound strained and forced, taking away from the emotional delivery of the lyrics. The vague lyrics “He’s a man’s man/ a good hard-working American” say little about the subject matter at heart.
“Again, the core American concept is only superficially interrogated and the album is left on an unfinished, dissatisfying note.”
‘Man In Me’ is a return to romantic matters. Boone begs for time away from his ex-lover to heal after a difficult break-up. A lyric which stood out for me in this song is “You really make me bleed/ blood on these ivory keys” which succinctly and powerfully represents the pain and agony Boone’s ex has inflicted on him.
Tracks 4-10:
‘Mystical Magical’ was the second single from American Heart to be released. It was immediately divisive. Listening within the context of the album, I appreciated the fun, light-hearted nature of the lyrics but still found “moonbeam ice cream” to be too nonsensical to deliver meaning. The flirtatious declaration of desire is found again in tracks ‘I Wanna Be The One You Call’ and ‘Wanted Man’. These songs are punchy yet bland and generic.
‘Momma Song’ is a slower, sweet piano ballad which shares Boone’s deep love for his mother. The sentimentality of the track detracts from the authenticity of the vocal delivery, making it seem slightly contrived.
“Boone’s high notes sound strained and forced, taking away from the emotional delivery of the lyrics.”
Boone’s last chance to connect with Americana comes with the closing track ‘Young American Heart’. Boone reminisces about a carefree youth spent with his childhood best friend. Again, the core American concept is only superficially interrogated and the album is left on an unfinished, dissatisfying note.
Final Verdict
Boone is an emerging artist with big ambitions. He is already linking himself sonically and visually to major artists such as Queen and Bruce Springsteen. He can create catchy, memorable lyrics and is a strong vocalist with an impressive range. What Boone struggles with is consistent delivery. There are a few songs on this album that are memorable. As Boone gains experience and confidence, he will gain the skills needed to pull off a complete, cohesive package.
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Featured image courtesy of NRK P3 on Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
