On October 25, pop sensation Halsey unveiled her fifth studio album, “The Great Impersonator,” making it available across all major streaming platforms. Credit: Samantha Harden | Arts & Life Editor
“The Great Impersonator,” the latest album from pop artist Halsey, delves into profound and often difficult themes including mortality, suicide, chronic illness, and past abuses. This poignant exploration is woven throughout the album, offering listeners an intimate experience.
With expansive lyrics paired with exceptional production quality, “The Great Impersonator” is poised to be celebrated as one of Halsey’s most significant works, perhaps even topping all her previous releases.
While many albums might falter under the weight of overly verbose lyrics, the richness and breadth of “The Great Impersonator,” which comprises 18 tracks and exceeds an hour in runtime, only serves to deepen its impact, inviting listeners into the raw emotional world of Halsey’s inner struggles.
The marketing strategy for “The Great Impersonator” played a crucial role in its initial reception among fans. Leading up to the album’s release, Halsey utilized social media platforms to share a series of captivating photographs where she impersonated an array of iconic artists who have influenced her creatively.
The artists she embodied included legendary figures such as Dolly Parton, Kate Bush, Cher, David Bowie, and Bruce Springsteen, showcasing her broad musical inspiration and artistry. This clever alignment with the album’s theme of impersonation sparked intrigue and anticipation among her fanbase.
In some instances, artists prioritize marketing to the detriment of their album’s substance. However, Halsey has cleverly balanced a playful promotional campaign with deeply emotional and poignant content in “The Great Impersonator.”
Audiences were taken aback by the album’s emotionally charged nature, especially given the lighthearted tone of its marketing. Halsey candidly confronts her lifelong battle with self-image, revealing the underlying emotional complexities associated with the desire to fit in while feeling different.
The album commences with “Only Girl in LA,” featuring melancholic acoustic guitar arrangements that set a somber tone. Halsey’s hauntingly beautiful vocals quickly signal to listeners that “The Great Impersonator” offers a reflective rather than uplifting experience.
Heavy lyrics such as, “I wake up every day in some new kind of suffering; I’ve never known a day of peace,” underscore the album’s thematic exploration of personal imposture and Halsey’s self-doubt, acting as a powerful introduction.
Transitioning from self-reflection, the third track, “Dog Days,” takes listeners deeper into darker territories. The song confronts themes of suicidal ideation and profound feelings of unworthiness, exhibiting Halsey’s vulnerability with haunting background vocals and chilling acoustic melodies.
Throughout the album, Halsey expresses pervasive fears around love and acceptance, poignantly repeating a heartfelt lyric across various tracks: “Please God, I wanna be loved. I don’t wanna be somebody that they wanna get rid of.” This longing reverberates through “Letter to God (1974),” “Letter to God (1983),” and “Letter to God (1998),” highlighting the emotional consistency of her message.
The 11th track, “Darwinism,” further amplifies these sentiments with powerful imagery, where Halsey reflects on her sense of belonging with the lines, “There’s lots of fish out in the pond… But if I’m made for land and not the sea at all. Could I crawl and find some kind Neanderthal.”
Halsey’s journey is also marked by her battle with chronic illness, having been diagnosed with lupus and a rare T-cell Lymphoproliferative Disorder. This personal struggle imbues her work with authenticity, as she articulates fears regarding her health, singing, “Please God, I don’t wanna be sick,” in “Letter to God (1983)”, and grappling with mortality throughout the album.
Among the variety of challenging subjects addressed, Halsey’s reflections on childhood abuse stand out as particularly haunting. In “Hurt Feelings,” she shares poignant insights into her past, stating, “It’s strange now that he’s grey and getting older by the day and my eyes tell me that he’s harmless despite what my heart has to say,” weaving her painful experiences into her artistic narrative.
This raw emotional honesty lays the groundwork for “The Great Impersonator,” illuminating the roots of Halsey’s struggles with self-worth and her inclination to mirror others as a protective mechanism against the insecurities born from her past traumas.
Closing the album, the title track encapsulates Halsey’s journey, poignantly reflecting her quest for genuine self-acceptance with the refrain, “In here lies the great impersonator,” thus offering a beautifully introspective conclusion.
With its evocative production, striking lyrics, and deep emotional resonance, “The Great Impersonator” solidifies its place as one of the defining albums of 2024 and a significant milestone in Halsey’s rich musical journey.
Rating: 4.5/5