She debuted second on the 200 Billboard chart and sold 97,000 copies within the first week of the release of her album “Badlands” in 2015. After teasing us with the release of “Now or Never” — her new album’s lead single, along with two more promotional songs “Eyes Closed,” on May 4, and “Strangers,” on May 26, Halsey finally released her second album “hopeless fountain kingdom” on June 2nd, 2017.
A new concept album, hopeless fountain kingdom features artists Quavo, Cashmere Cat, and Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui. The Alternative/Indie album is certain to captivate anybody who gives it a try. A word of advice: listen to it in order.
The opening track, “The Prologue” is an excerpt from Shakespeare’s Tragedy of “Romeo And Juliet,” specifically the famous prologue to the play.
Two households, both alike in dignity. In fair Verona, where we lay our scene/ Two star-crossed lovers take their life
Halsey’s entire album recounts the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet in a 21st Century way. The album discusses topics such as same-sex love, breakups, sexual liberation, and mostly modern romance, through music.
The first song released, “Now or Never,” gives off a pop vibe (which did come as a surprise to a lot of Halsey fans). However, if you listen really closely to the lyrics “Never pick up, never call me/ Now I gotta draw a line. Baby I done, done enough talking. Need to know that you’re mine,” Halsey insists on being loved right, and that she doesn’t deserve to be dragged along by people who don’t care about her.
The seventh song on her album, “Sorry” is definitely my personal favourite. The lyrics to the song (”‘Cause I can sometimes treat the people / That I love like jewelry. ‘Cause I can change my mind each day. I didn’t mean to try you on / So I’m sorry to my unknown lover. Sorry that I can’t believe that anybody ever really, starts to fall in love with me/ Someone will love you. But someone isn’t me” ) are well thought through and hit you right in the heart. It’s one of the most beautiful songs on the entire album.
“Devil In Me” recounts how when trying to speak her mind, Halsey gets shut down for “screaming too loud”. She desperately tries to be at the same level as her partner, but ultimately starts to lose herself (“ I won’t take anyone down if I cry tonight. But I still let everyone down when I change in size. And I went tumbling down trying to reach your high. But I scream too loud if I speak my mind”). At the end of the song Halsey decides to “wake up” the devil in her and chooses to refuse to let her partner destroy her.
hopeless fountain kingdom is definitely worth the listen. Not only are all the songs catchy, but they all relay a message to the listener if you listen closely to the lyrics.