Soon after announcing the upcoming release of her sophomore album Big Ideas, out on July 12th, Remi Wolf has dropped the project’s first single ‘Cinderella’. Catchy, brassy, and bold, the Californian singer has once again given her audience a glimpse into her vibrant, psychedelic-sounding world where the highs are high but the lows are just as low.
Fizzy is the word that comes to mind when thinking of Remi Wolf’s music and this latest single is no exception. The production bubbles with energy and a saturation which is just as present in the colour-switching lyrics: “I can be yellow, I can be orange by the afternoon / And I’m purple, so quick when I switch it up”. Coupled with the presence of trumpets, catchy synth riffs, and the occasional blast of referee whistles, ‘Cinderella’ has all the hallmarks of becoming a memorable song of the summer.
But, like many of Wolf’s tracks, ‘Cinderella’ also contains hints of darker undertones. The signature moments of deep vulnerability that found their way into her 2021 debut album Juno are once again present in this new era of her songwriting. The pitfalls of fame and self-doubt continue to prevail, as the song lyrics question “is there something wrong with the way I’m designed?” and “should I change, should I leave myself behind?”. Using innovative metaphors and ambiguous lyrics (what does it really mean to be “like Cinderella / making babies on the company’s dime”?) Remi Wolf finds new and creative ways to sing about themes that persist throughout her discography.
More than anything, however, this track is infused with fun. With electric harmonies and a music video featuring a funky, 80s Jazzercise aesthetic and an ice-cream-selling Mac Demarco flashing toothy grins at the camera, ‘Cinderella’ marks an exciting start to Remi Wolf’s new musical era. Yes, there are serious elements, as Wolf herself explains in a statement: “This song was me stepping in as my own fairy godmother telling myself that I was in control”. Yet, after failing to recall the fairytale’s full narrative in a promotional, behind-the-scenes clip of the music video, she concludes with the giggly phrase “honestly, this song should not be called Cinderella”. This track ultimately shows us that there is something incredibly joyful about not taking yourself too seriously and having a boogie in the sunshine with friends, as ice cream melts down your hands.
Words by Sofia Cristobal Holman-Smith
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