Single: Crush by Rachel White
Pop singer newbie Rachel White has recently released her latest single, ‘Crush’, a happy, catchy bop with a 90’s to 00’s sound with plucked, pulsating synths and crisp percussion, emulating the likes of her cited influences such as Britney Spears and The Spice Girls, with a touch of Kylie Minogue and Madonna. However, Rachel has an authenticity and sincerity to her that is arguably lacking in pop icons of that era, whom I have always found a little void of emotion. She also compares her material to the warmer, more personal songs of Katy Perry, which I would agree with. Though relatively simple in its instrumentation, the song has a solid structure, with enough variation in arrangement, melody and dynamic to hold the listener’s interest.
Having a bright, clear tone and wide vocal range, a qualification in performing arts, dancing skills and worldly experience from performing in different countries, along with good looks to boot, Rachel has the ideal background and assets for the makings of a successful pop star. Songwriting is a more recently developed string to her bow, with her first single, ‘Royalty’, released in 2020, preceding ‘Over It’ earlier this year. Despite songwriting being a newer skill however, she seems to be off to a promising start in this field.
Crush is about an infatuation with a friend, and the uncertainty of whether or not they feel the same – a relatable scenario for most at one time or another, describing behavioral patterns and thoughts we are all familiar with in these situations. Rather than dwelling on negative feelings such as unrequited longing or anxiety however, the lyrics are glass-half-full and hopeful, with a dash of self-deprecating humour. All this gives the impression that these romantic feelings will likely be reciprocated.
In this vein, the song is accompanied by a rom-com style music video, directed by Jack Douglas. It shows Rachel attending a party with two girlfriends, where the object of her affection is waiting - roughly set in the 90’s or 00’s to match the song’s sound. It has short excerpts of retro style, lo-fi video clips that give it a tongue in cheek, “vintage” charm. Something I like about both the song and the video, is that they don’t take themselves too seriously. As befitting the word “crush”, the video has a giggly, girly mood, showing Rachel smiling, clad in pink 90’s/00’s get-up in every scene. She and her friends sing together with hairbrush microphones and try on different outfits, before choreographed dancing. Spoiler alert – there is a happy ending! This video is an ideal, cheering accompaniment to the song that makes it relatable and renders her more approachable. These scenes also add escapist nostalgia for millennials such as me, who may fondly remember growing up from little girls to tweens from the 90’s to the 00’s.
All in all, I have enjoyed listening to ‘Crush’ for writing this review, and have also been playing it for my own personal listening. Having it on the brain hasn’t been irritating – only uplifting. If you are looking for a cheery tune to add a bit of carefree, girly sparkle to your day, this track should do the trick!
