I am a huge Halsey fangirl, so I was seriously anticipating the release of her new song.
Halsey’s new track titled Nightmare, released Thursday night alongside a music video to accompany it.
Check it out below.
I have to say that I’ve watched this video several times since it debuted. Halsey is known for delivering powerful messages. Her music videos demand your full attention. This song and video is a female empowerment anthem I didn’t know I needed. In this current political climate when women’s rights are literally being hijacked, Halsey’s song provides the perfect outlet to scream out our frustrations.
With lyrics like; “I waited a while for a moment to say I don’t owe you a goddamn thing,”
“I’ve been polite, but won’t be caught dead lettin’ a man tell me what I should do in my bed,”
And my favorite “I’m tired and angry, but somebody should be,” I plan on singing/screaming this out all weekend long.
Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, the woman behind Ariana Grandes music video for Thank U next, Nightmare is visually stunning. It’s gritty, and raw with the right amount of softness. There were also quite a few messages that I caught while watching.
Being Female Can Feel like a Crime
The video opens with Halsey and a few women standing in a police lineup. I took this to mean that it feels like it’s a crime to be a woman. Everything women do is policed. I thought this was a great way to showcase that.
We Are More Than Homemakers/Housewives
Early in the video, Halsey decked out like a pinup girl in a leopard print outfit and red wig, stands “happily” with a vacuum cleaner like a doting housewife. Later as the video goes on, we see her again in the same outfit only this time she’s holding a sign that reads “You smile asshole.” I mean the message couldn’t be clearer than that. We aren’t just here to clean house and play wifey all day.
Times Up
I know we have heard this message a million times but that’s because men still aren’t getting it. Halsey clad in lingerie surrounded by women, is reading a newspaper with the headline that reads “It’s our turn” I don’t think that needs any further explanation.
We Fight Back
There are a few shots of girls fighting each other as well as some shots of Halsey leading a women’s march. Both shots signified to me that women are not afraid to fight for what they believe in no matter the cost.
Our Vaginas Don’t Belong to Anyone But Us
Halsey grabbing herself signifies that we as women do not belong to anyone but ourselves and what we do with our own bodies is our business.
We Need to Pave the Way for Younger Girls
Halsey is standing in front of a school bus with some young girls, and they are all dressed up in school uniforms. I saw this to say we as women need to be leaders for the girls who are following behind us. There is a scene towards the end of the video when she lets the girls run free. This signifies that girls should not be afraid to go after what they want.
Halsey’s Third Album is Coming Soon
Ok, this last one is for me, I admit it. Halsey always plants Easter eggs in her music videos and this one is no different. In the opening scene, while Halsey’s mugshot is being taken, she’s holding a placard. It has the letters H3 and the number 10-2019. Halsey and her fans, have been referring to her third album as H3 therefore, H3 signifies her third album is coming. The numbers 10-2019, could be indicative of her album release date. In previous interviews she has said her third album will be out this year. It looks like October may very well be the month it arrives.
While there were some powerful messages, we also got a few celebrity cameos throughout. Cara Delevingne, Suki Waterhouse, Ryan Destiny, and Blondie’s Debby Harry all made an appearance.
What are your thoughts on Halsey’s new track and the music video?