Single Review: Lily Allen – Higher / Three

lily allen no shame

Lily Allen announces album, tour and drops two new tunes
Fans of Lily Allen had to be patient for her big comeback, but things are moving at a fast pace now. The British pop star returned in December last year when she casually dropped infectious comeback single ‘Trigger Bang’, but after that things seem to go quiet around Lily again. This week however she announced a club tour in Europe, shared the news that her fourth album No Shame will be out on the 8th of June and now she drops not one, but two brand new singles; ‘Higher’ and ‘Three’.

Those who hoped for ballsy uptempo tunes like ‘Hard Out Here’ or ‘Fuck You’ might need to adjust their expectations a little, because what Lily Allen delivers these days is quite a bit more subtle. ‘Higher’ is an understated little tune on which Allen calls out someone who lies to her and does not treat her right. Allen’s delivery in the verses is stunning; her vocals have never sounded more heavenly before. The production by P2J is all sorts of brilliant with a subtle guitar riff running throughout the whole track and soft beats joining in for the chorus. Both vocally and production wise this soars in the most laidback way. It is a new direction for Allen, but it fits her like a glove.

‘Three’ could best be described as a piano ballad, which seems to be written from the perspective of one of her children. “I’ve been out making lots of friends, you can’t play with us, ’cause you’re always off on tour, one day I hope you’ll meet them”, she sings in the verses only to repeat in the choruses: “Please don’t go, stay here with me, it’s not my fault, I’m only three.” Quite heartbreaking to be honest! Lily lets the lyrics speak for themselves without any added drama or bombast. Her voice, a piano and a story told through the eyes of a toddler are enough to move us. Who would have thought that Lily Allen would become the queen of understated pop!?

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