REVIEW: The Beautifully Moving and Insanely Catchy EP of Piper Connolly’s ‘she’s too much!’
WRITTEN BY JULES
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Beautiful Life
Holy moly. Within the first couple of seconds of this song, I felt the immediate urge to grab a hairbrush and jump on my bed. The quick and incredible beat of the drums and bass doing a pop dance together before being joined by keys that bring you back in time to the 80s is transcendent.
It immediately hooks you in with the incredible and sassy voice of Piper Connolly. The first line. “Hey now Cupid…” immediately has me hooked into the plot of the song.
The chorus and background vocals of “Beautiful Life” will be stuck in your head forever and have you tapping your feet wherever you go. I truly believe it is impossible to listen to this song without any sort of movement.
Bubblegum with Razorblades
The track title alone has me sitting up in my seat. As someone who has dealt with a toxic breakup recently, this song made me feel like Connolly stole my diary. Or that she somehow crawled into my mind and figured out how to word my feelings during a toxic breakup.
One of the first lines is, “Got the last word, congratulations,” if that doesn’t hook you in alone. Then the beginning beat of the solo electric guitar definitely will. It perfectly scratched the itch in my brain that kept me locked into the song.
The chorus is such a beautiful way of expressing the feeling of finally standing up to a toxic person in your life. Especially because it's not gender- or relationship status-specific. It can really be a catchy blanket of comfort for anyone who has ever had to initiate a breakup with a toxic person in their life.
As if it couldn’t get more relatable. The end bridge represents the thought process of seeing that person in public post-breakup. The line, “Wonder if you’re proud somehow. I bet you tell them all that I was cruel,” pulls at your heartstrings in such a delicate and beautiful way.
The end resolution of the song leaves you with such a content and satisfying feeling of knowing that life keeps moving forward whether that person is in your life or not. Everything will be okay.
Better Than This
Have you ever had someone in your life who was so kind and “perfect” to the point where you start questioning their relationship with you? “Better Than This” perfectly sums up those feelings of questioning and dread when you're in that situation.
The very first line is, “You can find someone who doesn’t leave dishes in the sink for days.” A perfect example of when you start feeling those moments of insecurity around that person. When you start picking through your habits and quirks with a fine-tooth comb and come up with a mental list of reasons they should leave.
The chorus almost makes you want to cry for the singer hearing her list of reasons why the person shouldn’t be with her. Especially when you, as the listener, have been in that situation before. Once you come out of it, you almost want to hug your past self because the list of reasons to deter someone can also be the reasons someone loves you even more.
The beautiful softness and slowness of the last bridge brings you to the close of all of these deep feelings and moments through the track. Almost like the end of a spin-the-wheel game as the ticks start to slow and stop. For the last line, she says, “and you’re still here and it changes everything,” showing at the end of the day that person sees something in you even if you don’t.
Joyride
The first couple of seconds of the track have me bopping my head immediately. The steady solo beat of the kick drum has me already seeing crowds of fans clapping in unison. Any song that already has me picturing the live performance will always be in my top playlists.
The “You’re like a sports car, there’s no consequence” chorus immediately puts you in a “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” mentality. Sometimes the adrenaline rush of a person can be so intoxicating. This song perfectly encapsulates that feeling.
Body Bag
I will forever be a sucker for a bass solo. On top of that, the first line being “Played the part from the start. Let me set the scene...” I already have my popcorn and Red Bull in hand.
Have you ever felt true betrayal and you can literally feel the steam coming out of your ears while at the same time your brain is already making the grocery list of payback? Yup, me too. Once again, Connolly does an incredible job of creating a beat and lyrics to that exact same feeling.
The lyricism of using a murder scene to describe the process of betrayal is incredible.
“Call me best to my face, then you murder me / Put a knife to my back such a tragedy.”
If you have ever been betrayed by anyone in your life and then had them trying to paint you out as the bad guy. You will eat this song up. My favorite part of the song is the recurring line of “Break me down but I’ll come back / Can’t put me in a body bag.” When I personally dealt with a betrayal like this, the first thing I wanted to do was disappear from the situation. Then you realize that is exactly what that person wants.
This song is a punky and badass way of showing the listener to always be louder when someone is trying to silence you. The electric guitar solo in the middle of the song feels like the screaming of frustration.
Unapologetic
“Unapologetic” is such a beautiful closing song to this incredible EP. When I picture listening to this song, it’s in the car with my best friend, going down the coast with the windows down.
The beginning acoustic guitar in the beginning had me thinking this was going to be a more sad, emotional song. However, when I heard the first chorus, I realized this is a transformation song. The beautiful lyrics and chorus give you the feeling of the weight being pulled off of your shoulders.
“No, I'm not sorry, I’m unapologetic / I won’t change it, don’t regret it / So keep it copacetic…” Showing how, at the end of the day, you will always be your biggest cheerleader. If someone doesn’t get that, then they aren’t meant to be in your life, and that’s okay.
