Troye Sivan Is The Pop Star That Society Thinks Harry Styles Is | Something To Give Each Other Review
This is not a drag on Harry. Let me explain!
I have been putting off writing this letter because it has been hard to put into words how I feel about this album. Troye’s third studio album Something To Give Each Other has completely taken over my life. I was expecting to like it but I was not expecting it to hit me this hard. I think going track by track is the best way to articulate my feelings. Luckily this is a perfect 10 song album so this wont be too hard. I will explain more about what I mean by Troye being the pop star that society thinks Harry Styles is later in the letter. Here is another reminder to comment on my letters! I love hearing what y’all think and it really feels like I am talking to myself sometimes lol. Also I know in my last letter I said this was a fall album but honestly I think it is a year round album. It is going to hit so hard in the summer.
Rush
This is a classic club banger. An incredible album opener. I hope he opens the tour with this. Zane Lowe said in his interview with Troye that he wanted an extended instrumental of Rush to play at the beginning of the tour. That is such a good idea. I should just play as the dancers are coming out and setting up the world. Then Troye walks out and finally starts singing the song. One of my favorite parts is the voice distortion in the chorus. Ultimately this is a love letter to the white gay experience and I think that’s beautiful. I am often annoyed by white gays as a concept but this makes me like them a little more. I wish the extended mix in the video was the studio version. I love the motif of him saying the album title at the end of a lot of songs on the album. If you know me you know I have a fascination with Germany so I was happy to learn that the video was filmed in Berlin. If my trip to Berlin is anything like this video y’all wont be able to tell me shit!
What Time Is It Where You Are?
This song smacked me in the fact the first time I heard it. The soft intro into the hard piano was chefs kiss. We need more piano based songs. The kids are losing recipes! "International through line straight to my heart. This beat is making me move. But God I wish it was you" is one of my favorite lyrics of all time now. Because that is so real. The real question is who is saying “Troye baby” at the beginning of the song. Love that the song is about long distance innocent longing. He said that someone he was talking to asked him “what time is it where you are?” Troye thought it was cute because that person could have just looked it up (lol) but they instead wanted to make conversation.
One Of Your Girls
The is one of the best songs of the year. “Look at you. Horticulture Iconography, standing right in front of me.” Likeeee????? Idk I love this song so much. The new trade national anthem. Troye really did this for the trade girls! Shout out to Ross Lynch hive. He has always been fine but I’m glad they gays are finally catching up. I found out that he broke up with his ex girlfriend Jaz1 so i’m sad. If he’s gay, slay. If he’s bi, i’m free Saturday. I just know Troye had Aquaria scared with his drag!
In my Room
I loveeeeee this song. The Spanish words are so sexy. I have never heard of Guitarricadelafuente but they ate this. Very much “daydreaming with my chin in the palms in my hands” coated. Maybe its because the song is called In My Room but when I think of this song I think of Bedroom Pop.
Still Got It
This song is soooooo real. A very relatable feeling of seeing someone you were with and they still look the same and still make you feel the same way. Did Jacob2 touch him in the back seat on the party bus on tenth street? Messssyyyy This song and “Cant Go Back, Baby” are what make this album is a fall album for me. This song is so sad. The ending of this song is what made me feel like Harry Styles was gonna be mad lol. I love this song but if I had to pick a least favorite I would pick this one. I think it may be the least interesting sonically but at the same time very revealing lyric wise so “least favorite” isn’t really saying much when I love all the songs.
Cant Go Back, Baby
This is my favorite song on the album. I love the raw honesty of this song. Having such a public breakup and then being able to write a song about it is so impressive. This song is so heartbreaking. I know this feeling too well of wanting to be with someone who you know isn’t good for you. Just wanting to go back how it was. "I wish you weren’t dead to me, so much to miss in you" oof. " And it breaks my heart to say I cant wait to live without you" you better write Troye!!!!!!!!!! This song samples Jessica Pratt’s song Back Baby. I had been suggested to listen to her but now I am going to get into her because I love her voice on this song. Truly just a great song.
Got Me Started
First off anyone who doesn’t like the sample on this song needs to know that Bag Riders denied hundreds of artists for years from using the Shooting Stars sample but only gave it to Troye for this song. He thinks its because he’s Australian. Personally, I think the sample was a very smart move. It really drives home the feeling of being emotionally stagnant and then suddenly feeling like you’ve been brought to life. This song is a certified pop classic to me. I think its honestly his best song to date. I like that this song is after “Cant Go Back, Baby”. He is saying goodbye to an old love and saying hello to a new one. Personally, I think this is Troye's big one. If people don’t get it now, I am confident that they will over time.
Silly
Firstly I need Charli on the remix. My favorite part is when he whispers "i’m so silly like that…" after the second chorus. The bass line in this song!!! The synths!!! You better eat!! This is may the most interesting song sonically after Got me Started. I Love the vocoder that he used. An ode to the silly girls. This is the Gemini anthem to me. Troye is a Gemini if you did not know. I am a Gemini rising so you either get it or you don’t.
Honey
This song feels like riding through a city with the windows down to arrive at a club about to dance the night away (no Dua) with you rest friends. "I see sex in every city, every town," same! Only icons have songs about Honey (Mariah & Robyn). The fact that he says “turn my bussy out” and it’s not cringe like this man is an icon im sorry.
How To Stay With You
This is another Harry Styles esque song. A great album closer that leaves you content but also wanting more. The saxophone at the end is so soothing. I can see him releasing a deluxe. I hope he does. However, I would be a little annoyed because I already ordered the CD lol.
Overall
Troye Sivan is the Pop star that everyone3 thinks Harry Styles is. Harry Styles' entire stich is that he is the ambassador for ambiguity. Troye is the exact opposite. He is a gay man singing about his gay life unapologetically. These are songs are personal to Troye but can be universal for so many people. The reason why I even bring up Harry in comparison to Troye is because when I got to “Still Got It” I thought to myself "Oh this sounds like a Harry Styles song." Then I thought "Harry should be scared!" If you were to describe what Harry Styles' music sounds like you to someone who has never heard it would think it sounds like Troye's music. Their voices also sound similar at different points of the album. If you are looking for someone gay who makes pop music very well and you are annoyed with Harry Styles, Troye is your guy. There should be as much fan fare for Troye, an actual gay man, as Harry a presumably queer man.
I know comparing artists now always gets met with “why do you have to put them against each other” blah blah blah. While I do think that take is necessary sometimes, I also think that comparison isn’t always inherently bad. As someone who stans Harry Styles and has spent so much money and time dedicated to stanning him4 I feel like I should be able to give an opinion about him that can be valid without making a diss at him. Also the comparison in their voices really may just come down to the fact that Harry is British and Troye is Australian and sometimes people from those places sound similar! Also I am allowed to diss Harry if I want to after he canceled his show in Chicago after I flew all the way over there to see him! Harry and I have an understanding and that is my husband and baby daddy so please do not think I am actually coming for my man.
If you know me you know I love a perfect 10 song album and this one is no different. As soon as you finish this album you want to immediately play it again and those are the best types of Pop albums. One that keeps you wanting more and more. The album's title being kind of a producer tag throughout the album is such a fun part of this album. It really makes it a cohesive listening experience.
The worlds and scenes that Troye creates with these songs are my favorite parts. You can tell that all of them were written with different places and people in mind. All of them are about different people but Troye is the through line between all these vignettes of his love life. As someone who has been paying attention to Troye since his YouTube days I am so proud of him and all he has accomplished. I think this a career defining album. I hope this is going to be an album that he is remembered for or at the very least signifies a turning point in his career. I hope that despite him debuting at #20 on the billboard 200 that people come to realize over time how great this album is. I think people will still be talking about this album in years to come. If you don't believe that Troye is a main Pop girl now idk what else you need to see. He is a triple threat.5 With him finally adding dancing to his skill set he has cemented himself as a force to be reckoned with and I for one cannot wait for his future as a main Pop Girl.
Who is the main character in the new The Boys spin off Gen V and she is eating!!!
His very fine ex BF. I get it Troye if he was my Ex I also would be emotionally stunted for years.
Everyone being used very generally here. Mostly for the people who think that Harry is a beacon for Queer Pride and Queer representation. Harry can identify or not Identify however he wants but until we see him sucking some dick I would cool it with the Gay Icon sentiments.
5 years of stanning One Direction, Multiple Harry Styles concerts, Cds, Vinyls, Poster on my wall like please.
Even though we all should collectively forget The Idol, he did give a really good performance.