"July" by Noah Cyrus // Song Review

-
Released as the lead single from Noah Cyrus' 2020 EP THE END OF EVERYTHING, "July" is a beautiful and deeply reflective ballad that blends folk and country influences into something intimate and timeless. It's nostalgic tone radiates a warmth that so perfectly captures the feeling of summer. 

Written at a songwriting camp in Bali in July 2019 alongside collaborators PJ Harding and Michael Sonier, the song's inspiration stemmed from a significant breakup she had gone through exactly one year prior. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Noah said, "I was thinking about a relationship I was in for a few years that ended on the Fourth of July. That's kind of what had been on my mind the past couple of days and once we started the words just flowed." 

In "July", Noah looks back on the cyclical nature of that relationship a year in hindsight, now being able to see all that she was able to overcome. "You know I, I'm afraid of change, guess that's why we stay the same", she sings. This song is a poignant reminder of the importance of change, even when it can feel impossible in the moment. 


In another interview with Genius, Noah broke down the meaning of the song for her, "I think despite all the shit that we went through, the reason why I couldn't move on was, again, brings me back to the fear of change and being comfortable. In my case with this person, there was no way of telling my heart or my brain, stop. Until—I call it the switch, the light switch—until the light switch goes boop and the lights are off. There's one day when, with all people, you lose your shit and you're done, and the switch goes off and you're fine leaving that person. But until it does, you're not gonna be done." 

Those specific sentiments linger throughout the track, threading vulnerability into every lyric. "So tell me to leave, I'll pack my bags, get on the road, find someone that loves you better than I do, darling, I know," she sings in the chorus. It's a heartbreaking acknowledgment of knowing she deserves more, but feels trapped and is still struggling to let go. 

Noah echoed that same vulnerability in her interview with Rolling Stone, adding, "It's probably the most revealing I've been with any of my songs. It's a beautifully sad thing to see that so many people connect and relate to this song."


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

"party 4 u" by Charli xcx // Song Review

-
Image
"party 4 u" by Charli xcx is a euphoric anthem of unrequited love, a song full of glittering synths and raw emotion. She sings about throwing an entire party with the hopes that just the one person she wants to see the most will be there - a very Gatsby theme that she translated so well into this song. It is featured on her 2020 album how i'm feeling now , which was largely created in isolation and released in the thick of the pandemic in May of that year. She worked with her frequent collaborator, A.G. Cook , on this song and the rest of the album. By the time the pandemic started, they only had about half of the album finished, so they decided to go with a DIY approach while finishing the rest of how i'm feeling now .  "party 4 u" had a much longer history by that point though, as Charli said in an interview with Apple Music. "This is the oldest song on the album. For myself and A. G., this song has so much life and story," Charli said. "We...
Read more

The Best Songs of June 2025 // New Music Friday!

-
Image
"David" by Lorde A day as special as this only comes around once every four years! Lorde finally released her long-awaited fourth album,  Virgin ,   and it's everything I hoped it would be and more. It offers a glimpse into her mind in the most unfiltered, raw way. There are so many songs that I love and feel so connected to, but I was truly speechless after hearing the closing track "David" for the first time. There is something so haunting and cathartic about this song, it is such a powerful way to close this incredible record.  Check out my full review of Virgin by Lorde! "Times Like These" by Addison Rae "Times Like These" is one of the many standout tracks off of Addison's self-titled album , which is overall such a confident and clear debut from one of pop's most exciting new artists. This is one of the most vulnerable and heartbreakingly honest moments of the album, which feels so representative of the greater storyline of Addi...
Read more

"Spring Into Summer" by Lizzy McAlpine // Song Review

-
Image
Lizzy McAlpine 's "Spring Into Summer" is a beautifully written reflection on the cyclical nature of relationships, using the changing seasons as a powerful metaphor for love, regret, and personal growth. The song captures both the melancholy act of letting go and the hope that comes with stepping into a new season of life, embracing change despite knowing that the cycle will inevitably continue. It signals change after the darkness of winter, carrying a sense of warmth and renewal as summer approaches. At the same time, it carries this anticipation that the fall will eventually come again. As always, Lizzy's intimate storytelling shines through in the lyricism, beautifully depicting the emotional transitions that this song represents. "Spring into summer, and the winter's gone, I try to hold on to it, but the current's too strong, somebody finds me in the state I am, love you like I mean it when I know I can't," she sings in the opening lines. I...
Read more

"Wait a Minute!" by Willow // Song Review

-
Image
"Wait A Minute!" by Willow is such a captivating and introspective song, one that continues to stand out as a highlight from her early work. This song effortlessly blends experimental neo-funk sounds with emotional complexity. Wanting to stop and reflect for a moment amidst a chaotic situation, "Wait A Minute!" gives honest insight into her thoughts on growing up, falling in love and exploring her spirituality. The ethereal and atmospheric production, paired with her engaging vocal delivery really makes this song so memorable. "Hold on, wait a minute, feel my heart's intention, oh," she sings in the chorus, "Hold on, wait a minute, I left my consciousness in the sixth dimension, left my soul in his vision, let's go get it, oh, oh".  This song was featured as the thirteenth track on her 2015 debut album  Ardipithecus, but it didn't start gaining traction until around 2019 as one of the first notable songs to go viral on TikTok, which a...
Read more

Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers // 5 Year Anniversary Album Review

-
Image
Punisher , Phoebe Bridgers ' 2020 sophomore album, is a stunning example of lyrical precision and expansive, atmospheric world-building. It offers a deeply moving, hyper-specific glimpse into her mind, one that explores the emotional push and pull of wanting to escape the life she leads while also longing to remain in the comfort of familiarity. Each song is personal, intimate, and rich in specificity.  With this record, she solidified her space as one of the most important storytellers of this generation. Phoebe's songwriting is uniquely specific in the way that it is conversational and diaristic, while also being able to capture the universal moments and emotions that are often impossible to articulate in such an impactful way.  Punisher  is filled with some of my favorite lyrics ever written - "I wish I wrote it, but I didn't, so I learn the words" is very much the feeling I have every single time I hear this album. Each song on this album has so many really po...
Read more