SabrinaFan Ranks and Reviews Every Alessia Cara Song

[SabrinaFan]

30. "Seventeen"

Album: Know-It-All (2015)

“I'm a know it all, I don't know enough”

Although perhaps not quite as strong as some of her later work, this is still an excellent opening track to her debut album! In the song, Alessia recalls her father telling her how fast life goes, prompting her to reflect back on her life up until this point. She laments not cherishing the moments she had in childhood, but at the same time, also celebrates where she is at now. In the second verse, Alessia recalls her mother’s advice that despite how fast life can change, the most important thing is keeping a strong support network of people to ground you. The upbeat song is essentially an ode to change and appreciating every moment you have, which whilst a simple sentiment, is a very important message. I also really like the punchy production combined with her strong vocals.

[SabrinaFan]

29. "Comfortable"

Album: The Pains of Growing (2018)

“I used to be sad that the honeymoon's behind us, until I realized that it means we made it through”

This is a really different sound for Alessia! The jazzy, smooth R&B production stands out the most to me, and it sounds so good here. Lyrically, the song talks about getting past the honeymoon phase of a romantic relationship, expressing how the post-honeymoon phase is often when relationships become stagnant. Alessia calls upon her lover not to let the flame of their relationship burn out, because the post-honeymoon phase of the relationship is merely becoming fully comfortable around each other. She argues that accepting one another’s quirks and flaws is perhaps the most romantic thing of all, because it means truly knowing each other on a deep level. It’s not a commonly discussed trope within music, as love songs typically always talk about the smitten phase, where you’re fascinated and impressed with everything the person does. I love that Alessia made a song about ensuring a healthy, thriving relationship even when it’s no longer new and exciting, and I feel this is a really unique contribution to both her discography and the music industry in general.

[SabrinaFan]

28. "Nintendo Game"

Album: The Pains of Growing (2018)

“A battle with no objective, who will be the final one standing?”

This is a bop! The song has Alessia comparing an excessively dramatic, manipulative relationship to a video game. The “Nintendo game” gimmick works really well here. The production sounds like the background music of a classic arcade game, which compliments the video game comparisons Alessia makes throughout the song really well. The chorus feels almost anthemic in how forceful Alessia belts “push and shove, go ahead and take your aim!” I also like the clever writing in the second half of the chorus, where Alessia referencing that both parties need to grow up and stop playing games, because nobody wins. The video game metaphors are well incorporated into the lyrical structure, and never at any point feel too gimmicky. This is one of my favorites from her sophomore album.

[SabrinaFan]

Bonus #6: "Only You"

Eddie Benjamin / Alessia Cara

This is a beautiful track, and it may be my favorite collaboration Alessia has done. I loved “Weatherman” from Eddie Benjamin, and that’s the only song I’ve heard from him, but this song is just as incredible. Of the bonuses, other than 1-800, Alessia probably feels most in her element here. A common trend I’ve felt with the songs she’s featured on is that Alessia’s artistry doesn’t feel like it’s on full display - it feels like either a watered down or kinda forced in to fit the message of the song. For example, she fits on “WTGSD” in the sense her music talks about anxiety and depression, but the dark, sludgy “life is a black hole of emptiness” type depression represented in that song is a bit dark for Alessia’s typical style. With this, though, Alessia has great chemistry with Eddie and it doesn’t feel like her personality is being overshadowed, or changed to fit the tone of the featured artist.

[SabrinaFan]

27. "Clockwork"

Album: In the Meantime (2021)

“Tired of sittin', livin' with it 'til it drops”

The lyrics to this song are quite ambiguous, as Alessia doesn’t tell us what the “it” in “tired of sitting, living with it til it drops” is, except vague details in the first verse, which informs the listener that she is dealing with some kind of guilt and questioning of herself. She sings “Am I a fire or the lighter, am I full of it? Is it me or is it all of them?”, alluding to the fact that she’s pondering whether something is her own fault, or if she is right in her stubbornness. She laments that thinking about this issue drains her energy until there’s nothing left, and states she wishes that she didn’t feel so helpless. This is an interesting little uptempo R&B song, and while the lyrics are vague, they still certainly have appeal and relatability.

[SabrinaFan]

26. "Wherever I Live"

Album: The Pains of Growing (2018)

“And it's really something, to make homes of worn-out luggage”

Alessia has shared that the concept for this song was inspired by her touring days, where she learned to accept what it is regardless of her surroundings. This ode to independence encourages the listener to simply take in their surroundings and appreciate the moment for what it is. Alessia speaks to this through vividly painting a picture of a subpar hotel she stayed in on tour, but she expresses a sense of indifference to these less-than-ideal surroundings. She merely says that she is thankful for what she has, and has taught herself to be comfortable with what she has. The simple production is a bit lethargic, but overall it fits really well with the song’s message of appreciating the little things. Alessia’s vocals also feel more chill and relaxed than usual here, creating a very calm, peaceful vibe for the song, which I admire.

[MissAmericana]

Oct 22, 2023 13:53:30 GMT -5 SabrinaFan said:

Omg right?!? "Lie to Me" seems like a much more obvious single choice than "Sweet Dream" imo, and I think it would have performed really well for her on both Billboard and radio. "Bluebird" also would have been a great single choice, although I feel it would have struggled on radio (since pop radio seems oddly afraid of anything too slow, with rare exceptions). "Find My Boy" also would have worked well as a radio single IMO.

Could’ve sworn I replied to this LMAO, but for sure! “Find My Boy” is such a cute song and would’ve been a fun single for the summer. As much as I don’t mind “Sweet Dream”, it’s a wonder that she/her label ever thought radio or general audiences would be interested in it. Her material is stronger than it’s ever been, but her management has never been worse, and that’s so unfortunate.

I also think having three years between albums with very few songs in between really hurts her. Even as a fan, I occasionally forget about her for months at a time because there’s no new material.

[SabrinaFan]

25. "My Song"

Album: Know-It-All (2015)

“I'm human after all, I'm not your expectations”

This is the final deluxe track on Know-It-All, and it is easily my favorite of them. The song is a reflection on Alessia’s experience breaking into the music industry, as well as a confident statement of artistic sovereignty. Perhaps it works for some artists, but one of the saddest things to me about the music industry is how many labels will force artists to put on a persona that isn’t actually authentic to them for the purpose of fame. This song is essentially Alessia saying “no” to the fakeness of being somebody who she’s not for fame, perhaps best articulated in the chorus where she confidently declares she is human, and that she is going to spend her life writing what is most meaningful to her.

She specifically calls out tropes that are commonly toxic to artists, including “good girls don’t make history.” I completely agree with Alessia that this is a really terrible sentiment that the music industry has upheld. So many artists are told that they have to be edgier, more dramatic, or sexier, and I think it’s awful that labels will force this upon artists even if it’s not meaningful to them. I also thought the different metaphors to elements and techniques of recording (reverbs, catchy hooks, autotune) were well-incorporated into the song.

The song is very empowering and has a lot of appeal even for those outside of the music industry, with lyrics that are general enough for anyone to relate to. The lyric “I'm human after all, I'm not your expectations” is perhaps the best example of how this song appeals to those outside of the music industry. When I was 19, the age that Alessia was when she recorded this, knowing that I didn’t have to live up to others’ expectations was a really hard lesson to learn, because I was always eager-to-please and felt like I somehow wasn’t enough as a person if I let somebody down. I really like how simply and empowering Alessia puts the sentiment, as learning that others’ expectations only have as much importance as you given them is such an essential life lesson.

I also really like the production and flow of the chorus here. Like a few other songs on Know-It-All, the production sounds very confident and almost triumphant, which gives the song a very empowering feel. This is a really strong track, and I honestly wouldn’t mind if it would have replaced “Stars” or “Stone” on the album.

[SabrinaFan]

Oct 29, 2023 15:58:24 GMT -5 MissAmericana said:

Oct 22, 2023 13:53:30 GMT -5 SabrinaFan said:

Omg right?!? "Lie to Me" seems like a much more obvious single choice than "Sweet Dream" imo, and I think it would have performed really well for her on both Billboard and radio. "Bluebird" also would have been a great single choice, although I feel it would have struggled on radio (since pop radio seems oddly afraid of anything too slow, with rare exceptions). "Find My Boy" also would have worked well as a radio single IMO.

Could’ve sworn I replied to this LMAO, but for sure! “Find My Boy” is such a cute song and would’ve been a fun single for the summer. As much as I don’t mind “Sweet Dream”, it’s a wonder that she/her label ever thought radio or general audiences would be interested in it. Her material is stronger than it’s ever been, but her management has never been worse, and that’s so unfortunate.

I also think having three years between albums with very few songs in between really hurts her. Even as a fan, I occasionally forget about her for months at a time because there’s no new material.

I completely agree with you about her management being poor, and the long gaps between albums definitely doesn't help her either. I think something like she did between Growing Pains and In the Meantime was a good balance, because she had the EP and did several collaborations in between. She's basically dropped off the face of the Earth after In the Meantime with no singles (other than a couple collabs early in the year plus the video for "You Let Me Down"), which has definitely hurt her career IMO. You know it's bad when an artist is having to post this on her social media lol.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwSaz4MOZ8y

[SabrinaFan]

Bonus #7: "I Choose"

From the Netflix film The Willoughbys

This is such an adorable little ballad that Alessia made for the animated Netflix film The Willoughbys in 2020. I have not seen the film, so I don’t know how well the song fits with the message. However, I feel it fits well within Alessia’s discography, and feels like a bit of a return to the sound from her debut album. Alessia sings about being stuck in her ways, until she met a person whom she fell in love with that caused her to make a change. Now, she confidently states that she feels like she belongs, and she is devoted wholeheartedly to this person. The lyric about “nobody having much figured out” stands out to me, because it is a life lesson that she talks about a lot in The Pains of Growing. It’s nice that she was able to work in a message that was meaningful to her, and include it in the song in a way that’s digestible to the younger audiences of this film. The triumphant-sounding production in the chorus and soft beat during the verses sounds great here, and makes this song a cute addition to her discography.

[SabrinaFan]

24. "Best Days"

Album: In the Meantime (2021)

“The hardest pill to swallow is the meantime”

Perhaps “Best Days” is one of the hard-hitting songs on the album, due to how raw and vulnerable it is. The lyrics are very specific and direct, and I like the detail of mentioning her 20s, as I think there is growing awareness that it is far more of a complex, confusing time than was once believed. Mentioning her 20s is an important detail, because I think it is very core to what Alessia is feeling here, even if the lyrics can appeal more broadly than that. In the song, Alessia laments the fear of not knowing if things will ever change. Again, this concept of “the meantime” and dualism comes up, where Alessia seems like she is uncertain if she actually wants things to change, because she’s kind of content with certain things now, but feels she could be happier. As somebody currently in their 20s, this is such a prevalent question, because you feel so inexperienced with life that there’s always that nagging doubt in the back of your mind of if you’re doing things right, are you really living your life to the fullest, do you even know what you’re doing, etc. The message of this song has been extremely relatable to me on a number of levels at various times in my life. I imagine it is to others as well, as all of us hit low points every now and then, or wonder if our life could somehow be better than it is now.

The second verse hits particularly hard, starting out strong with the lyric “If I would have known to feel the fire, I would have thrown my hands up higher.” Alessia is exploring the idea of regret here, wishing that she had been more in the moment to appreciate a time she now views with rose-colored glasses. This is something I relate to so much, as I can think of so many instances off the top of my head of being like “Why was I so anxious about this stupid thing that I didn’t fully enjoy this time?” This idea of not dwelling on regrets that I can’t change is something I’ve been getting better at recently, but it still really hits hard, because I remember how much I used to dwell on this question of “if only…” so much in certain difficult situations.

I love how the chorus starts off with questions of nagging doubt. It goes back to that question of “if only…” and “what if…” that can eat people alive if they let it. Perhaps Alessia’s phrasing of this question puts the concept at its most raw, as she questions if her best days are behind her. With her lyrics, Alessia poses a question that so many people ask themselves when they’re down: “will things ever get better?” She takes it further, asking if the best days are now going to be just the ones she survives, illustrating to the listener how utterly hopeless she feels.

“The hardest pill to swallow is the meantime” may be my favorite lyric in the entire song. I know this concept of the meantime fascinates Alessia, and here, “the meantime” seems to refer to the uncertainty of whether or not things will get better. What I love so much about this lyric is how much meaning is infused into it. Alessia’s admission that she is in “the meantime” confirms that she still has a sliver of hope that things will get better, but is at such a low point that she’s almost too scared to directly ask the question that is heavily implied throughout the chorus: “is hope worth having?” Alessia perfectly encapsulates this fearful feeling of wondering if things will get better during a bad time in this song, and does so in an incredible poetic, raw and relatable way.

[SabrinaFan]

23. "Drama Queen"

Album: In the Meantime (2021)

“I deserve an award for getting over you, call the Academy”

We stan a queen that knows her worth! In “Drama Queen,” Alessia laments about all the ways that her lover plays games with her heart, and calls them out for caring more about creating drama than their relationship. What is so attractive to me about this song is that Alessia shows us her self-worth on multiple levels - not only from calling out this toxic lover, but also through some casual sass (“I deserve an award for getting over you, call the Academy”) that playfully gives the ex a taste of their own medicine. There’s also layers where the listener gets to see her recognize she deserves better, as she acknowledges that she’s “watching the same show, but I already know the ending.” The confident, upbeat production combined with lyrics, such as “I need a knight in shining armor, not a drama queen,” allow the listener to recognize their own worth along with Alessia, as she realizes she deserves better than somebody who is more caught up in the drama than having the bravery to maturely approach the relationship.

[SabrinaFan]

Bonus #8: "Let Me Down Slowly"

Alec Benjamin / Alessia Cara

Alec and Alessia’s soft, gentle voices have great chemistry together here! I also think the melody in the chorus is pretty. I hadn’t listened to anything other than “Oh My God” from Alec Benjamin, but this was a nice listen. The song lyrically discusses exactly what the title says, requesting that a lover be gentle on you as they let you down, because them leaving will destroy you. The production is very somber feeling at first, but I liked how it picked up a bit in the chorus with the bass. Ultimately, it’s nothing I’d care to return to, but it’s cute for what it is.

[SabrinaFan]

22. "Four Pink Walls"

Album: Know-It-All (2015)
“I assumed there was only room for my dreams in my dreams, so I'd sleep and repeat 'til the moon went home”

I can't quite explain why I like this so much, because some of the songs below this are inarguably of much better quality than this. However, while I don't think Alessia is going to be the next Kendrick or anything lol, I find her rapping to be really fun, and the song has a cool atmosphere. Alessia raps about how she grew up living in her bubble, and never dreamed of becoming anything more than she was. The song evolves into an expression of her gratitude for how she rose to fame, and how humbled she is that everything aligned for her to achieve her dream of singing professionally. I really like the triumphant-feeling chorus, both in terms of the production and her vocals. The echo of her voice after each line sounds perfect. I’m not really sure how to explain why, it just sounds so good for some reason lol. The video for this is kinda weird, as it's basically just an amateur-quality home video of herself singing, but it doesn't factor into my opinion of the song. This is one of those songs that I enjoy for the production and uniqueness of it, even though lyrically she has far better.

[MissAmericana]

Oct 30, 2023 7:34:24 GMT -5 SabrinaFan said:

I completely agree with you about her management being poor, and the long gaps between albums definitely doesn't help her either. I think something like she did between Growing Pains and In the Meantime was a good balance, because she had the EP and did several collaborations in between. She's basically dropped off the face of the Earth after In the Meantime with no singles (other than a couple collabs early in the year plus the video for "You Let Me Down"), which has definitely hurt her career IMO. You know it's bad when an artist is having to post this on her social media lol.

Ouch. I guess she's a perfectionist, which is why she takes ages between albums, and her label doesn't know how to market her music so they end up fighting a losing battle. Commercially speaking, she sees decent success in her native Canada ("Sweet Dream" peaked at #53 and charted for 20 weeks) so I don't get why her label never put out a second radio single for In The Meantime there, they're squandering what success she does have. I get that they're shooting for worldwide success but that has to start somewhere, so why not Canada?

[SabrinaFan]

21. "My Kind"

Album: Growing Pains (2018)

“Do you remember all the cartoons at midnight, like the one about the crass-humoured French guy?”

I love the carefree, happy vibe of this song! The song has Alessia recalling her childhood, and how much she appreciates this frivolously spent time. She then turns to reflecting on a new relationship, admiring all they have built in just a few weeks. The production gives the song a very chill vibe, which feeds well into the message of the song: everything eventually turns out okay. Even though not all of the childhood events she referenced were positive, she still fondly remembers them, because all of these events made her who she is today. I love this song for how comforting and warm it feels.

[SabrinaFan]

20. "Sweet Dream"

Album: In the Meantime (2021)

“Life is not so bad when I'm sleeping”

Being too anxious to sleep is one of the worst feelings in the world. Alessia has been open about her struggles with insomnia before, and this song is a profession of the anxiety that keeps her awake at night. I love when artists take a specific concept that does not have a broad appeal, but write the song in a way that is general enough that it could have an appeal to others. (Em Beihold’s “Numb Little Bug” comes to mind, where Em talks about her numbness on anti-depressants, but makes it appealing to others with lyrics such as “Do you ever get a little bit tired of life?”) Here, Alessia talks about her insomnia but leans more heavily on generic details, such as “life is not so bad when I’m sleeping.” Through listing out all of the different reasons she hasn’t been able to sleep, it gives the song a broad appeal, as it provides room for the listener to relate to one of the reasons Alessia lists (i.e. a song is stuck in her head, she’s worrying again, reflecting too much of a bad aspect of the day, etc.). In an interview, she stated that the times she lists at the beginning of each verse were actual times she woke up, which I also think was a cool little detail. The catchy beat makes the song feel really fun and a bit tongue-in-cheek, and while it may not be the strongest choice of single from the album, there is some relatability to it.

[SabrinaFan]

19. "Here"

Album: Know-It-All (2015)

“And we'll discuss our big dreams, how we plan to take over the planet”

This is the song that kickstarted Alessia’s career, and is still a classic. The song is a wallflower anthem, where Alessia discusses being miserable at a party, questioning why she is even there. She expresses her disdain for the environment, discussing how she doesn’t understand the appeal of passing out drunk under clouds of weed, and longs to be back with her friends doing things that are actually meaningful. The dark, brooding production represents Alessia’s discomforted feeling really well, and creates a strong atmosphere. It is rare to have a song that questions the appeal of partying and binge drinking, but I feel Alessia does a great job here expressing that this type of environment is not enjoyable or “fun” to everyone despite society’s assertions that it should be.

[SabrinaFan]

18. "Ready"

Album: This Summer EP (2019)

“You're still only a boy who's scared of a good girl”

This is a fun little song, where Alessia questions why she cares so much about a lover who is leading her on. The writing of this song is really interesting, because it’s sort of a progression of Alessia realizing her worth, and the horns in the production fit really well here with her confidence. In the first verse, Alessia acknowledges that this lover is stringing her along with their chaotic presence, because they have personal things to work through. At the end of the first verse, Alessia questions why she is allowing this lover to bring her into their own issues. The chorus is then an explosion of confidence, where Alessia definitively asserts that if her lover has things to figure out, then they are not ready to be in a relationship. Alessia continues her self-questioning in the second verse, asking why she cares so much about this toxic person, and wishes to see inside her lover’s mind, to see if she’s taking up as much space in their mind as they are in hers.

An aspect of this song I also really enjoy is the hint of dualism in the chorus. As Alessia tells this lover that they’re not ready for her love, there’s a bit of kindness present as she tells them to “go steady on your heavy heart until you’re free, until you’re ready for me.” However, the sentiment also feels ever-so-slightly sassy and playful in how it’s expressed, as she’s essentially saying “if you’re not willing to put in the work, then maybe being in a relationship isn’t for you!” It’s just a cool little undertone that I’ve always appreciated in this one.

One cool thing I learned when reviewing the Genius lyrics is that the bridge of the song is actually sung by Alessia’s best friend, Liv, which is so cool! I had no idea she had any role in Alessia’s songs, and she fits in so well that I had always just assumed it was Alessia hitting a different vocal tone.

[SabrinaFan]

17. "Okay Okay"

Album: This Summer EP (2019)

“Turn pain into a paycheck”

This is such an interesting little song. Alessia starts off with an extremely meta approach, by singing lyrics that directly explain to the listener step-by-step about how her best friend, Liv, convinced her to write a self-empowerment song. Alessia expresses hesitation, which leads into the bridge, where Liv pushes back on this hesitation, prompting Alessia to commit to making the song. Alessia giving such a direct, explicit account of the song’s inspiration takes an extremely meta approach, and makes the song feel very fun and playful. She then proceeds to sing lyrics of self-empowerment in the chorus, thus achieving her goal.

What is fascinating though is that she shows the listener unstated self-confidence issues in the second verse and bridge, with lyrics such as “maybe if I write it down, I’ll make it real somehow” and “fake it until I make it.” I find it admirable that Alessia gave her own twist on a self-empowerment song, that also expresses the self-doubt and imposter syndrome she experiences when singing the lyrical bravado in the chorus. The multiple layers within the lyrics, where you can see beneath the confident front she puts forward in the chorus, is really neat and prevents the song from moving into the cringey territory that it could have. “Turn pain into a paycheck” is a particularly fun lyric to me, because it’s actually very true considering much of her discography talks about growing pains and relationships gone wrong lol.

Alessia and Liv have a YouTube channel together, in which they have a short video series where they try to find the best breakfast/coffee in Los Angeles. Having seen this whole YouTube series (which is very cute), this playful, tongue-in-cheek take on empowerment feels very authentic to their personalities. The layers of honesty and humility interwoven into Alessia’s confidence makes for a very down-to-Earth yet confident vibe, and I am totally here for it.

[SabrinaFan]

16. "Scars to Your Beautiful"

Album: Know-It-All (2015)

“You don’t have to change a thing, the world can change its heart”

Oof, this was so tough to put this here, because I consider it a classic. I really wanted it to be higher, but the top 15 is really stacked with great options. This is one of the strongest tracks off of her debut album, and I’m so happy it became as popular as it did. The track has very punchy production, and Alessia’s vocals sound angelic in the chorus. The song is a body positivity anthem about a girl who is consumed by the beauty ideals society has perpetuated. The lyrics express the sentiment of the pain this girl goes through trying to be beautiful in an extremely powerful way. Alessia excellently conveys the rawness of the attention this girl craves, with lyrics such as “She goes unnoticed, she knows no limits” making the listener understand how much this girl has worked up the idea of needing to be beautiful in her head; so much in fact that it is actually painful to her for somebody to not pay attention to her beauty, causing her to take even more drastic measures to be desired. She also heartbreakingly expresses that this girl is starving herself as a punishment because she doesn’t think she’s beautiful enough.

Another lyric in the first verse, “she prays to be sculpted by the sculptor,” is another amazing lyric for its multiple meanings. The lyric could refer to praying to God to make her beautiful, but I think it could also be a reference to how she desires to be a perfect embodiment of beauty norms, which society shapes. The latter of these, which is how I interpret it, is especially powerful and heartbreaking, because it causes the listener to grapple with the fact that these bodily ideals that she has so hopelessly devoted herself to achieving are all made up by society, and have no basis in reality. Beauty is subjective, and there is no inherent thing that makes anybody more beautiful than another person.

After sharing this girl’s story, Alessia shifts to more empowering lyrics in the chorus, assuring this girl that she doesn’t need to change anything about herself, and that it’s the world that needs to change toxic beauty standards. This song has such an important message, and the excellent storytelling in the song is perfectly complemented by Alessia’s empowerment in the chorus. This is such a classic in Alessia’s discography, and even if the lyricism may not be quite as strong and poetic as her later work, it has always been one of my favorites from her.

[SabrinaFan]

15. "Easier Said"

Album: The Pains of Growing (2018)

“So what if you're a bit bitter before you recharge? I mean, I spend my days complaining to a guitar”

The songwriting structure of this one is so much fun. The verses themselves go against the overall message of the song, as they represent the empty pleasantries that society often tells people who are sad. It isn’t until the pre-chorus and chorus that Alessia chimes in with her message, arguing against the voices of society in the verses. Alessia asserts that it is okay to be sad sometimes, and that healing should be taken at one’s own pace.

This is a concept Alessia had previously explored on “Not Today,” although unlike “Overdose” and “River of Tears” which sounded too similar to one another, I feel this one contributes a different enough perspective to the conversation that it doesn’t feel like a rehash. Although Alessia hasn’t confirmed it to my knowledge, this and “Not Today” feel like sister tracks to me. “Not Today” discusses realizing it’s okay to disregard your own expectations that you need to make progress towards being happy. “Easier Said” has a similar sentiment, but changes it up a bit to legitimize disregarding the expectations of others regarding sadness. I will admit not really relating to this a ton, but I love the interesting song structure.

I feel like this song is an excellent example of Alessia’s artistic image. Alessia positions herself as if she were a friend of the listener, lending a sympathetic ear and assuring the listener that their feelings are valid. Some of the lyrics in the chorus emphasize this through their use of poeticism, such as “healing and patience are lovers,” which attempts to comfort the listener by saying “it’s normal for healing to take time.” The production complements this message through its triumphant aura, which feels almost as if it is legitimizing the power in your choice to be sad if you need to be. Although she doesn’t always speak directly to the listener like she does in this song, many of her songs try to make the listener feel heard and understood, whether it be pushing back against societal stigma or being open about her own struggles with mental health

I also just have to add I love the highlighted lyric above, “So what if you’re a bit bitter before the recharge? I mean, I spend my days complaining to a guitar.” It is so cleverly tongue-in-cheek, while also following that same style of joking and opening up to the listener in a way that a friend would.

[SabrinaFan]

14. "Box in the Ocean"

Album: In the Meantime (2021)
“I might be too weak to fall in love, and I might be too much for everyone”

This is quite a strong opening track to In the Meantime and a great follow-up to the short “Unboxing Intro,” where Alessia is panicking and drowning in her own self-deprecating thoughts. This track has really nice duality with the intense emotions Alessia expresses in the intro. Similarly to the intro, the verses allow the listener to feel the nagging thoughts of self-deprecation begin to fester in her mind. However, instead of plunging into the mental chaos we saw her succumb to in the intro, Alessia acknowledges her feelings and makes a commitment never to let others see her “explosive emotions,” promising to put them in a box in the ocean.

I have opened up about it on this site a couple times, but I struggle with anxiety, so this song is extremely relatable to me, and was an instant favorite upon first listen. The verses are an excellent representation of how anxiety can make all your little insecurities begin to pile up, until you become overcome by your anxious thoughts. Perhaps what I love most about this song though is the chorus - Alessia does a great job exuding confidence in her vocals, as to be clear that putting her emotions in this ‘box in the ocean’ isn’t just her pretending her anxiety isn’t happening. Rather, she is making the conscious choice to recognize that these emotions are merely her anxiety getting the best of her, and she is choosing to let these harmful thoughts drift into the abyss. This song gives off an admirable vibe of confidence, which is well-complemented by the triumphant-sounding horns in the production. The production also has a fluidity to it that sounds excellent, as it goes back and forth between being a bit ominous, yet triumphant, which well expresses the struggles that Alessia is having while battling her anxiety.

[SabrinaFan]

13. "Lie to Me"

Album: In the Meantime (2021)

“Are you a nice guy or a wise guy? Those brown eyes look a little too kind”

This is certainly a bit less poetic and lyrically less complex than the prior two tracks, but it is still a favorite of mine for the catchy production. In the song, Alessia suspects her lover is being unfaithful and confronts them. While perhaps not as lyrically agile as the two tracks preceding it, there are some layers to the lyrics that take the song beyond the realm of “did you hop into bed with somebody else?!?” Throughout the first verse, Alessia reveals her suspicions, and you can feel her spiraling and becoming increasingly jealous, with lyrics such as “From a mile, I could see 'em! Fear, can't ever believe 'em.” There is an unspoken sense of insecurity as she shares her fears with the listener, as the lyrics revealing her fears become increasingly desperate towards the end of the verse, even going so far as to ask her lover “do you want me or your freedom?”

The pre-chorus continues to build on this, acknowledging that she knows she has a reputation for being suspicious, and that she recognizes this stems from being hurt before. Right before the chorus, as she cries “I’ll show you crazy when you walk through the door!”, she hits a high note to show she has reached her breaking point. Her vocal tone also changes to become more urgent in the chorus, as she commands her lover to come clean. This urgency complements the lyrics so well, and provides extra context to show how the thought of the one she loves being unfaithful is eating her alive. At the end of the chorus, she even admits that the thought of being cheated on is so unimaginable to her that it would make the relationship unsalvageable, vowing that she’d rather be by herself than lied to. As per usual, the production also does a great job complementing the lyrics, with the instrumental building to become chaotic in the pre-chorus, before reaching peak manicness in the chorus. Even though this does not have quite the same poetic feeling as many of her other songs on the surface, Alessia once again does not disappoint with a very dynamic vocal range and complex production.

I recently learned through watching Alessia’s behind-the-scenes video that apparently, this song was inspired by Alessia’s friend being worried that her boyfriend hadn’t texted her back in a couple hours. I’m not exactly sure how I feel about that haha, as no offense to Alessia’s friend, but within that context this seems like a very extreme reaction lol. Requiring that your partner instantly reply at all times also seems a bit toxic to me, and would imply a trust issue within the relationship, especially considering that according to Alessia, the guy the song is about was just out at a restaurant with his cousin. I guess I don’t know the whole situation though, and I suppose it could have just been inspired by the situation rather than actually being directly based on it, so I don’t pay too much mind to the backstory and enjoy the song for the bop it is.

[SabrinaFan]

12. "Bluebird"

Album: In the Meantime (2021)

“Guess my loving only clipped your wings, so, I let you go”

The second full track on In the Meantime features Alessia lamenting a lost lover. Unlike the bitterness and animosity of many breakup songs, “Bluebird” is fascinating in how emotionally mature it is. In the song, Alessia acknowledges that she recognizes that her former lover was no longer happy with her. Rather than being spiteful or depressed like so many breakup songs are, Alessia wishes her ex-partner the best, and acknowledges that she was only holding her lover back from being happy. Although she claims she doesn’t need her lover, her somber tone leaves it ambiguous to the listener whether or not Alessia is still mourning this relationship. All she confirms to the listener is that she realizes that the relationship would never work out, and that she has made her peace with the relationship’s conclusion. I have a special appreciation for songs that make the listener think deeply to decipher the meaning, rather than simply revealing all the details upfront, and this song is a prime example of that.

Alessia demonstrates beautiful lyricism here, using the “bluebird” metaphor in a multifaceted way to present the relationship to the listener. She states that her former lover’s new girl “makes them sing,” and promptly also acknowledges that she recognizes her love only “clipped their wings.” Vividly clever lyrics aside, a bluebird is such a perfect representation of setting a lost love free, so they can be happy and spread their wings. The intricate metaphor here works so well, and is incorporated into the lyrics and message of the song so well that it feels poetic, rather than gimmicky. The R&B production is equally complex here, and gives the song a vibe that is peaceful with just a hint of somberness.

[SabrinaFan]

11. "Middle Ground" (feat. Chika)

Album: In the Meantime (2021)

“I got barbwire around my house, but if someone would trade it for a picket fence I wouldn't mind”

We have arrived at our only feature on In the Meantime, and it’s a good one! This is a fun little track where Alessia talks about this idea of the in-between, which I know is a topic that fascinates her. She starts off the song with a contradictory lyric, “I don’t like boys, but I do,” and continues listing off conflicting things that she feels. We then move into the chorus, in which Alessia laments how her indecisiveness about life drives her crazy. The song is a fun little ode to the fact that feelings aren’t binary, and how we can often feel multiple things at the same time that don’t seem like they particularly make sense together.

As a strange little aside that probably nobody but me can relate to, the way Alessia’s voice sounds in the chorus of this song is so interesting to me. She’s singing at a bit of a higher register than she normally does here, which makes it sound like the lead singer of another band I used to enjoy, Avenue Beat (whom you may recognize from their viral hit “F2020”). Particularly the line “this middle ground I’m on” sounds exactly like this other band’s singer, which fascinates me, but anyway, back to the review.

Chika’s verse strikes a bit of a different note, talking about relationships and feelings being about compromise, but also expressing some of the same dualism that Alessia does in her verse. Chika sounds really good here, and not only has nice chemistry with Alessia, but feels like she fits really well into this song too. I know the concept of dualism fascinates Alessia from interviews she’s done, and it’s a word I use a lot in these reviews because she embeds it in so much of her artistry, so it’s neat she made a song about it.

[SabrinaFan]

10. "Girl Next Door"

Album: The Pains of Growing (2018)

“I rock my heart on the sleeve of my T-shirt”

“Never have I ever met someone who worries as much as I do” Girl, same lol. <3 Alessia certainly delivers with a song that brings a very unique contribution to the music industry, and is extremely relatable to me. As Alessia mentions in “My Song,” the music industry frequently tells women artists that they aren’t enough if they aren’t edgy, dramatic and a bombshell with tons of sex appeal, and while that image is fitting for some artists, it is not a fit for others. Despite this, the industry still tries to force that image on women artists regardless, which is unfortunate. That’s why I admire Alessia putting out a song that is essentially an ode to a “Plain Jane.” It’s the cutest possible middle finger to the industry that she could have given, declaring without reservation that she will wholeheartedly express her true self, and she will be remembered for her authenticity. I really like the production as well, which is a very gentle guitar that gets a slight bit of a confident punch during the chorus.

There are so many songs boasting about being the baddest bitch or being like “I’m unforgettable because of the wild sex we had,” so it melts my heart that Alessia is bragging about how she knows people will never forget her kindness and how she wears her heart on her sleeve. The authenticity here is very inspiring and relatable to me, and it is truly one of the cutest songs I have ever heard. <3 <3 <3

[SabrinaFan]

Bonus #9: "Querer Mejor"

Juanes / Alessia Cara

This is a song that is entirely in Spanish, which was nominated for a Latin Grammy. The song is a very passionate love song featuring excellent vocals from Alessia and Juanes. Both artists sing about a profound love, where the person is the love of their lives, and that they carry their lover in their heart with them everywhere. While I don’t think it’s one I would return to, I liked the sweet lyrics and passionate, soft production of the song.

[SabrinaFan]

9. "Somebody Else"

Album: In the Meantime (2021)

“I don't know that, so I fill blanks with my own pride”

The catchy hook and poppy production certainly elevated this one, and makes it a favorite on the album for me. Alessia sings about a former lover changing in front of her eyes, realizing they are now no longer the person they once were. Throughout the track, Alessia conveys a sense of disbelief as she processes the situation. Not only this, but she also displays some emotional dissonance as she comes to term with this realization she’s having, which comes across in lyric “Still confused, waiting you out,” but she quickly follows this up in the chorus by showing the listener the moment she realized this person is no longer their former self, saying “there’s no grey this time, it’s black and white.” Speaking of the hook, it’s incredibly sticky here and the playful, bouncy beat is a really fun contrast to the lyrics.

[SabrinaFan]

8. "October"

Album: This Summer EP (2019)

“The nerve of autumn time days flying by, every sunrise healing me”

In the final track of her This Summer EP, we depart from the empowering, upbeat vibe of the rest of the project, and dive into something much more melancholy. This is probably an unpopular opinion, but this is one of the most emotional songs in her discography IMO. I usually don’t gravitate to sad songs like this one, but the romanticism and fascinating contrasts within the lyrics make this one memorable enough to me to want to return to. It's also one of my go-to songs if I need a good cry, so make of that what you will lol. I also love the melancholy production, but I want to particularly note the humming at the end. Alessia’s humming feels almost haunting in a way, and it has also felt oddly cathartic if I am listening to it in a moment where I am sad.

The song is all about not wanting something good to change. The lyrics are relatively generic enough to be relatable, although Alessia has confirmed she wrote this song on a night she felt sad that her The Pains of Growing tour was ending. On a more personal note, change is something I struggle with when it comes to things I really love, so this song hits really hard for me lol. We get some absolutely beautiful lyrics here, one of them being “Bubble we're living in, setting me free again,” in which Alessia is admitting her realizations that she’s been living in a bubble, but she realizes life is setting her free so she can grow and change in other ways. The poeticism about change all throughout this song is what makes me love it so much. Another excellent lyric is “only a month, but doesn’t feel new somehow,” which is a very vulnerable expression of how surprised she is about getting wrapped up in something so quickly.

Perhaps the bridge is the most beautiful, in which Alessia comes to terms with the fragility of her comfort and the fleetingness of this moment in time that she is so attached to. “The nerve of autumn days flying by” is one lyric in particular that vividly expresses her vulnerability and frustration with the time going by so fast. The most depressing lyric is easily the last lyric, which is “We’ll live this way til it’s done.” It’s a simple sentiment, but it’s genuinely heartbreaking to listen to, because it expresses the abruptness of a good thing ending in almost a covertly poetic way. The rest of the bridge provides a fascinating contrast to this final lyric, because it is so poetic that it almost feels like Alessia is romanticizing her situation. Yet, the harshness and abruptness of the final lyric (“we’ll live this way til it’s done”) almost feels like a realization of sorts, like Alessia has realized that no matter how much she romanticizes the situation, she is helpless to the fact that it will inevitably end. The writing of this bridge is immaculate for how it allows the listener to experience this harsh realization with Alessia.