Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey waved her magic wand and revealed “Bewitched,” her second studio album at the stroke of midnight on Sept. 8. Described by Laufey as a “love album,” the serotonin-infused 14-song tracklist can melt the hearts of even the coldest cynics among us.
Experiencing the album’s full orchestral glory is akin to walking on a cloud. From the poignant pieces exploring unrequited feelings to the bubbly tunes detailing a newfound relationship, “Bewitched” covers the full spectrum of romance in an exceedingly masterful way.
Breaking Spotify’s record for the all time most streamed debut for a jazz album, with over 5.7 million streams, according to Spotify, it is hard to select just four standout tracks.
“From The Start”
Sparking its own TikTok trend, the album’s lead single has quickly taken on a life of its own. Very ABBA-esque in style (the upbeat production combined with the melancholy lyricism), “From The Start” is the perfect song to visualize one’s aspiring rom-com dreams.
Lyrics such as “She’s so perfect, blah, blah, blah” were practically written for being belted out in one’s bedroom with the door closed, while lyrics such as “unrequited, terrifying love is driving me a bit insane” serve as an album-wide thesis. In a sea of ballads, it is always refreshing to hear a bit of scatting sprinkled in.
“Dreamer”
“Bewitched” opens with Laufey’s voice acapella. As the bouncy jazz beat kicks in, Laufey reveals her mantra — “no boy’s gonna kill the dreamer in me” — instantaneously setting the tone for the rest of the album. No matter who tries to break her heart, she will never let go of her fervent belief in love, a sentiment echoed on subsequent tracks.
“Second Best”
Unfortunately, listeners will soon realize how deep heartbreak can be through “Second Best,” a lullaby-esque ode to unrequited love cleverly placed as the second track on the album. No question about it, this song pierces listeners’ hearts through its heart wrenching lyricism and lilting melody.
Rather than attempting to explain the phenomenon through convoluted metaphors, Laufey takes a straightforward approach. “You were my everything, I was your second best” — there truly is no better way to articulate the all-too-familiar feeling of falling in love with someone whose heart belongs to someone else.
“Lovesick”
Sounding straight out of a film soundtrack, the sixth track on “Bewitched” is a standout on first listen and a relatively lighthearted glimpse into Laufey’s mind immediately after falling in love. Her initial disgust upon realizing the true extent of her feelings may seem humorous at first, but the lyrics quickly unveil her anxiety. The painful sentiment “I fear that I’ll love you so much you’ll slip away” is likely to ring true for anyone who has fallen deeply and truly in love at some point in their lives.
At its core, “Bewitched” is an album for the hopeless romantics. For the Parisian cafe addicts. For the jazz purists. For the Old Hollywood fanatics. Laufey knows her target audience and has bewitched them all.