Isaac Dunbar’s Pen Is On Fire and Men Should Be Scared

Photo by Aiden Marceron
When Isaac Dunbar is not actively releasing music, the world of pop always feels a little less vibrant. Luckily, the drought ends today as the undeniable star is back with his new single “Princess”. After teasing the instantly iconic chorus on socials, fans have been clamoring for its release. Thankfully for us, the full track has even more to fall in love with, marking “Princess” as a clear contender for pop song of the year.
In this charmingly catchy banger, Dunbar is doing more than poking fun at misogynistic men; he’s addressing the backwards logic of their ideology. In a world focused on looksmaxxing, Dunbar is calling out the irony within incel culture that has become widely popular, seeing a boost even in the past few months. The song opens with a kitschy 90’s instrumental paired with his cheeky lyrical delivery, painting a picture of the type of man who desires femininity so much while lacking an ounce of respect for it. Every lyric is funnier and more accurate than the last, but also holds close the seriousness of the societal decay all around us. There are so many layers to the issue at hand and Dunbar tackles them with tact, without compromising the necessary humor of the situation.
The bridge is a real highlight. Dunbar addresses the subject head on, questioning “Why you talking to a femme like that? / Treating them like that?” In this moment, the mood shifts from poking fun to supporting each other, creating a sense of community dedicated to protecting and demanding respect for women, femmes, and the sacred feminine spirit at large. Another highlight, besides the perfect chorus, is the song’s outro. As the bridge loops, Dunbar makes a list of cliche Instagram bios typical within the woman-hating community. From bible verses, unoriginal quotes, and self-proclaimed “alphas”, each one is a marker of our backwards culture; the loss of individuality and herd mind leading boys down a road of despair of their own making.
“Princess” maintains the sweet balance of taking things seriously while being tongue-in-cheek, extending genuine concern while making fun in a cathartic way for both the writer and listener. We’re so happy that Isaac Dunbar is back and can’t wait for more people to be exposed to his brilliance. And for men…tread lightly.
Listen to “Princess” below: