LAUGHING THROUGH THE PAIN: DAISY THE GREAT RELEASES NEW ANTHEMIC SINGLE
Songs that explore self-empowerment, self-deprecation and criticism of beauty standards are nothing new in the music scene. But, Daisy the Great’s new track “Ballerina” — released on March 5 — takes a different approach to this idea, one that sonically and lyrically leaves you captivated, motivated and wondering: Why are they laughing in each chorus?
NYC duo Daisy the Great — made of singer-songwriters Mina Walker and Kelly Dugan — formed in 2016 and have been a driving force in music ever since. With two albums and three EPs under their belt, including their viral song “Record Player,” the indie pop band have defied genre norms and have created a name for themselves, one that is ever-evolving in our rapidly changing music scene.
“Ballerina” is the first single off their highly anticipated album “The Rubber Teeth Talk,” out June 27. The duo has teased this track for a while, playing it live at their shows for the past few years.
Taking a spin in the pop-punk, pop-rock direction, “Ballerina” explores beauty standards set by social media, using a ballerina as the ideal model. Walker and Dugan sing about the unrealistic nature of wishing for a new body, questioning why they stay up at night upset about the way they look when they can’t help it.
“I'll never have any fun if all I do is sit and whine / About everything she's got / She's not me so it's a waste of time,” the duo sings in the first verse.
Photo: Daisy the Great “Ballerina” album cover | Graphic by Haley Petrone (Crave Music Magazine)
Sonically, the track catches listeners’ attention immediately. The song starts off slow with melancholy vocals, and quickly transforms into an anthemic rock hit you subconsciously start head-banging to.
Each verse, chorus and bridge offer you a new listening experience, switching constantly between high and low energy, similar to the way one deals with body image issues. Certain instruments seemingly being played out of tune help tie into the song’s theme of imperfection. The heavy, punk-rock drums, guitar solos and witty vocals blend together to create a song that you never quite know where it’s going next. The bridge even features what sounds like a music box winding up, playing deeper into the theme of being a perfect ballerina.
The stand-out part of the track are the sarcastic laughs in the chorus. Walker and Dugan’s catchy “ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha” represent a goal of sorts — a carefree, optimistic way of living.
“Everyone's in a bed of roses singing ‘ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha, ha’ / Every day, I get a little closer to the ‘ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha’,” the duo sings in the chorus. The “bed of roses” expression refers to being in a place of acceptance, ease and peace, a life that Walker and Dugan are singing about wanting to achieve. This song serves as a peace-offering to themselves, or a way of convincing themselves that they don’t need to “sit and whine” about the way they look, and are slowly approaching a carefree and worry-free life that they believe everyone else is already in.
The music video, directed by Zach Tavel, moves their theme and message along visually, portraying the duo simultaneously as humans with machine parts and as perfect, flying ballerinas.
This track is another example of how Daisy the Great is carving their way into greatness and is here to stay. Their upcoming album will more than likely combine even more aspects of rock, pop, punk, theatrics, visuals and more to create a record you can’t miss.
“Ballerina” is spinning around now wherever you listen to music. Make sure to presave “The Rubber Teeth Talk” now and grab tickets to their upcoming Ballerina tour.
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