On Nov. 10, 2023, PinkPantheress released her latest album “Heaven Knows.” It’s her second album, released two years after her hit debut “to hell with it.” “Heaven Knows,” is a 13-song album that serves as an amazing addition to her discography. The album is unique while still sticking to her usual style of heartbroken bedroom pop.
After “Boy’s a Liar Pt.2” went viral on TikTok, PinkPantheress was pushed into the limelight. Since then, she’s worked with famous artists such as Lil Uzi Vert, WILLOW, Skrillex and countless others, even featuring on the Barbie soundtrack. With her rapid success, PinkPantheress is bound to be one of the most iconic artists of Gen Z.
“Heaven Knows” is a beautiful album, expressing themes of loneliness and heartbreak with each track. Many of her lyrics speak on these topics quite clearly, almost always about her devotion and love for her partner. These themes are clear in songs like “Mosquito,” “Internet Baby” and “Capable of Love.” Her music is a somber spin on love music, singing almost solely about the toxic parts of relationships.
As mentioned earlier, in the song “Mosquito,” she sings about her constant want to be with this person, worries about annoying them, and how her only fear is to be taken from them. She admits in the lyrics, “You’re the only thing that I own,” implying an unhealthy need and dependence on this relationship. It expresses an almost parasitic need, referenced in the name of the track, “Mosquito.”
In another song, “Internet Baby,” she speaks about ignoring red flags and flaws because of how the need to be with someone can be so blinding. Lyrics like, “You’re a needy guy, but I guess I kind of like that,” show an unsure feeling, masking her doubts by saying she likes his flaws. “My SDs, USBs, you want all of those. And now you want to borrow my clothes,” She says, depicting her partner as shady. They’re only ever shown as wanting to take, not a single lyric shows them wanting to give back to her. Only by the end of the song, does she realize how toxic they are, saying, “I am not your internet baby.” This lyric reveals how she’s no longer into them, rejecting the idea that she is their baby. While the specific person she speaks about isn’t told in her songs she still gets the idea across, making it more relatable to her audience as they can project it onto their own experiences.
These topics are what make her so popular. Even though her music focuses so much on romance, her songs are still appealing to those who aren’t dating. Love songs are everywhere, but constantly hearing about perfect relationships makes it a little monotonous. Focusing on the negative aspects of relationships is more distinct and makes PinkPantheress stand out amongst a sea of homogenous music. The ideas presented in her music mentioned earlier are more realistic, like ignoring red flags and being overly attached.
The quality improvement is clear from her previous album. “Heaven Knows” has a more refined and mature sound than her earlier work. Each song is incredibly catchy and produced beautifully. In comparison, “to hell with it” is good but more amateurish in its production.
To someone who hasn’t heard her music before, it’s worth giving “Heaven Knows” a listen. Each track is great, and more than worth the short thirty-four minutes it lasts. Whether you’re a fan of hers or not, this album is a great pick.
