(Image via Rate Your Music) 

Staff Editor: Aidan Danforth

Email: adanforth@umassd.edu

Known for her powerful lyricism and incredible songwriting skills, Madison Beer returns to the pop world with two new singles: “yes baby,” released on September 19th, and “bittersweet,” released on October 10th. 

The success of her 2024 single “Make You Mine,” with its catchy lyrics along with her second album “Silence Between Songs,” has had fans patiently waiting for her next masterpiece. And it’s very safe to say that these songs have done far more than succeed those expectations. 

Both of these singles have a different theme, tone, and meaning while keeping with Beer’s emotional and catchy lyrics fans are familiar with. 

yes baby 

If you wish for a song with a catchy beat that is fun and flirty, “yes baby” will definitely satisfy those desires. This almost three minute track incorporates all those themes with its lyrics along with a music video. 

The music video features her walking on a treadmill in high heels, which then cuts to her dancing with other people in a dancing studio. It keeps transitioning between her at a home gym and the dance studio with other dancers as she sings lyrics that will latch onto your ears. 

There’s even background vocals with her uttering “yes baby” as she sings while doing acrobatics and looking at herself in the mirror. The video ends with her outside in a dark grassy area as water sprays until that last note plays. 

The song’s music video kind of has a darker theme, similarly to “Make You Mine,” which features a parody of Jennifer’s Body, a horror movie starring Megan Fox. 

Madison herself even describes this song in a similar way to “Make You Mine” and “15 Minutes.” 

It’s a fun song that fully displays Beer’s commitment to making fun and incredible tracks as she continues with her growing musical career.

Even after one listen, “yes baby” is almost a guarantee that any fan will go back and listen to it over and over again. The darker tone and theming is a nice change of pace from a typical pop song while still incorporating things that makes pop music super addicting. 

“bittersweet” 

Instead of the fun and energetic feel featured in “yes baby,” “bittersweet” takes an emotional shift to a song about the end of a breakup. A breakup that someone is having issues processing, which is apparent in the lyrics. 

The lyrics are super powerful. It’s so easy to feel this song—upon that first note, you can just picture what is going on. Listen, and you can feel the struggle that is happening through the breakup she’s describing. 

It also has a more happy feel while dealing with the heartbreak. The first half is more slow and heartbreaking while the second half is more upbeat and energetic. This is the type of complexity that people typically feel when they come out of a difficult relationship. 

Despite both parts representing the duality of feelings, it keeps that consistent emotion theme throughout the song. And though there’s no music video, the image of Madison standing as she adjusts her hair with both hands is visually appealing that adds so much to the song. 

Who is this song about? Nick Austin? A different relationship? It may just be a hypothetical relationship that has nothing to do with the artist. Although, it wouldn’t be surprising if it is one of her personal relationships because she’s used her personal experience in many of her past songs.

“Bittersweet” is a song someone can resonate with, cry to, and even get up and dance to with its complex themes that make it such a powerful song that represents Beer’s incredible lyricism. It’s another of her songs that is also so addicting because of its feeling as well as Madison’s beautiful voice.  

How does she do it? Both these songs have such different themes and feels, yet they both equally present who Madison Beer is. An incredibly gifted artist with an amazing voice with a creative ability to make new and original songs that are both fun and emotional shown through lyrics, visuals, and melodies. 

With what these songs have already presented, fans should be excited for her upcoming third album that will hopefully be announced soon. People have been anticipating it ever since the success of “Silence Between Songs,” which has a great mix of energetic and emotional songs with a theme reminiscent of pop star Lana Del Rey. 

It often takes time for a pop star to find their identity for what makes them stand out. Well, Madison Beer has certainly found hers as she expresses with her newer hits. “yes baby” and “bittersweet” are two tracks that you will listen to once and then instantly hit the replay button.