"Not Strong Enough" by boygenius // Song Review

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"Not Strong Enough" by the indie rock supergroup boygenius is an honest and reflective exploration of mental health and self-identity. The group, consisting of singer-songwriters Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, crafted such a cleverly written and emotionally intense listening experience with their debut album, aptly titled the record, in 2023. 

I love all three of them individually as artists and songwriters, but there is always something so special about the magic they create when they come together as a collective. "Not Strong Enough" is one of the best song they have released yet and represents the artistic identity of boygenius so perfectly. It truly feels like the heart of the record.

I immediately connected so much to the message of it ever since the first listen. From being caught up in "spinning out about things that haven't happened" and all of the inner complexities that make us who we are - it shares such a moving and profound message. Throughout so much of this album it feels like they are trying to make sense of themselves and why they are the way they are. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Phoebe talked about the feelings that inspired this song, "Being like, 'I'm not strong enough to show up for you.' ... Self-hatred is a god complex sometimes, where you think you're the most fucked-up person who's ever lived. Straight up, you're not. And it can make people behave really selfishly, and I love each of our interpretations of that concept." 

"Black hole opened in the kitchen, every clock's a different time," Phoebe sings in the opening verse. "It would only take the energy to fix it, I don't know why I am".

Throughout the record, each member shines in their unique artistic style, taking the lead on tracks that feel closest to their distinct individual voices. However, "Not Strong Enough" stands out as a moment that showcases their collective identity and the power they have when they come together. The album's vivid storytelling and emotionally intense lyrics are a testament to their authenticity as artists.

The climax of the song comes with the repetition of the phrase "always an angel, never a god". There are so many layers to that lyric with the dichotomy and complexity that is within us all. The build up to the final verse is so moving and one of the best moments of the entire album. It's such a simple lyric, but at the same time has so much depth that invites countless interpretations for listeners to connect it to their own lives.

Lucy also opened up about the meaning behind this song in the group's Genius commentary, "As it was shaping up, I think that the song was looking like it was just going to only be about having a little bit of mental illness. Just being like, I don't know, like, I'm frustrated that my brain works how it does. So, I was like, 'Okay, yeah, what's gonna be more expected of us than us writing about hating our own brains?' And then, I think it got more special to me when the element, like, Phoebe has expressed it as self-hatred plus having a God complex – like, sometimes, you feel like you're the best thing ever - and both of these states can be happening at the same time."

"Not Strong Enough" was one of the last songs written for their debut, born from the idea of creating a radio-friendly track. Phoebe shared with Variety, "'Strong Enough was the one we finished last, and I was like, 'Let's each write and sing a verse, because this could be the single.' A lot of stuff that would feel contrived, solo, doesn't feel contrived with these guys, because it's just all in the spirit of fun and being together."

The song's success and impact speaks for itself. It earned boygenius their first two Grammy Awards in 2024 for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance, while the record also won for Best Alternative Album. These accolades are well-deserved, marking a massive breakthrough for the group. All of the music they make together is a beautiful celebration of their friendship and their artistic journeys so far. 


Thanks for reading! Be sure to check out my reviews of the record by boygenius, as well as their EP the rest and more of my favorite songs + albums of 2023. Many more are linked below and coming soon! Read more of my song of the week series here. ☆

-Melissa ♡



all photo credit to owners: Interscope Records, boygenius, Matt Grubb and Harrison Whitford



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