Girl Scout Thinks It's Time to Break Up the Friendship in "Honey"
Photo: Christoffer Zetterlund and Emilia Jagerman
Swedish four-piece Girl Scout are back with a mammoth power-pop tune in "Honey." Having teased the track on-stage recently on their summer tour with Alvvays and at recent headline shows across the UK & Europe, the single is a sweet shot of punchy power pop with playful guitar lines and a hook-laden chorus that listeners can't help but sing along to.
"Honey" opens with upbeat melodies as hints of synths and melancholic undertones fill the air. The lyrics, which bring out melancholic beats, simmer beneath the earworm melodies, telling an emotional story of growing apart from childhood friends, which is only enhanced by the upbeat instrumentation. Lead singer Emma Jansson croons on the track, “Oh honey / Is she really nice to you? / Growing up together and now you’ve grown apart / And isn’t it funny / How little things, they mean so much / I’m worried about you / But I don’t think you noticed at all.” On the bridge, she encourages the listener to be honest with themselves when it comes to their personal relationships, explaining, “No, she’s not a bad person / But I think it’s time / To take a look at your friend from the outside / I know it hurts to see but only for a little while."
"Honey is about the bittersweet experience of close friends growing apart, heartache, and the inevitability to keep everyone in your life at the same time. The lyrics delve into the complex emotions of frustration, concern, and helplessness while witnessing the imbalance of that relationship. It was originally written as an acoustic number, but we discovered that it was better suited as our interpretation of a 2010s indie rock song."
The accompanying music video, shot and edited by the band, follows a similar visual rhythm. It begins pretty straightforward and steady, with the band giving a standard performance in their living room. However, before we know it, the visual begins to spiral out of control into a rocking mosh-worthy catharsis.
The single will feature on the band's upcoming five-track EP, Headache, out November 8. According to Jansson, "Headache is AAAAAAAAH!!!!!! THAT feeling. Straight-up hate and frustration. Feeling hurt and feeling funny about people. Feeling funny about life as a whole. Consider our gears ground. (But in a funny way)."
Watch the "Honey" video below:
