“Something To Give Eachother” – Troye Sivan
Top Picks: “Rush,” “What’s The Time Where You Are?,” “One Of Your Girls“
Similar Artists: Charli XCX, Lauv, Sabrina Carpenter
After a five-year gap since releasing his sophomore album Bloom, Australian native Troye Sivan released his highly anticipated third studio album Something To Give Eachother. Following the massive success of the lead single, “Rush,” pop lovers were left waiting not-so-patiently for the rest of Sivan’s new music. With energetic synths, dramatic lyrics, and silly samples, Sivan proves that pop music is back in business with himself at the helm.
The lead single and opening track, “Rush,” (see in-depth review here) is a masterclass in true hyper-pop. With clear influences from the electronic world, it’s the perfect summer hit, and it leads us perfectly into the album. It’s fun and refreshing, and it sets the tone of both the sonic and lyrical themes in the album.
The album seamlessly rolls into “What’s The Time Where You Are?.” It’s a track full of silly, echoing adlibs, and an impossibly catchy chorus. The lyrics speak of a long-distance relationship (of sorts), and the feeling of connection through digital communication. The melody of the song makes a home in your head, and the high hats and stumbling bass notes keep you coming back.
While the pitched vocals in “One Of Your Girls” stand out the most, the lyrics are true pop genius. Sivan, as a person who’s risen to fame through social media, is obviously in tune with pop-culture references, and the lyrics of this song prove it. Comments like “face card, no cash no credit” or “pop the culture, iconography” truly capture pop culture in this moment. They also have the sass inherent to early 2000s pop stars that are missing from the modern pop world.
It’s impossible not to mention that, while this song is exactly what pop music is mising, it truly shot to the charts for its viral music video. “One Of Your Girls” has, undeniably, one of the most discussed music videos possibly of this year. It features Sivan, dressed in drag, hitting on global heartthrob Ross Lynch. It’s such a diva moment that there’s no longer any question of whether Troye Sivan is a member of the pop icons. The question now becomes where he ranks among them.
In an interview with Zach Sang on The Zach Sang Show (see video here), Sivan claims that “Still Got It” and “Can’t Go Back, Baby” are the two ballads on this album. Sivan’s other two albums are famous for their heartbreaking lyrics and powerful ballads. The inclusion of only two ballads in Something To Give Eachother is a stark change from this trend. Not only are these the only two ballads on the album, but their production—which is very a-typical of a normal ballad—makes the songs flow seamlessly between the rest of the upbeat, dance-pop tracks. Listeners likely don’t even realize that these two are technically ballads. I know I didn’t catch it on my first few listens.
“Got Me Started” boasts the iconic sample of Bag Radiers‘s “Shooting Stars.” Sivan stated in many interviews that this sample was truly just a pipe dream. It was a piece of amusement while creating the song. Yet, he was able to get approval for the first use of one of the most iconic samples of all time. Once again, Sivan takes sassy, yet honest lyrics, and he overlays them on an upbeat, dance-pop track. His ability to take two laughably different concepts—like a sample of “Shooting Stars” and lyrics exploring complicated relationships—and successfully combine them into a cohesive track is truly incomprehensible. He is undeniably a musical genius.
The album comes to a close with the track “How To Stay With You.” This song feels like a bow to tie up the project. Lyrically, the track wraps up the album’s exploration of difficult relationships. The whole album focuses on this new idea of “situationships” and the beauty of one-night stands. “How To Stay With You” is the acceptance that not every relationship is meant to be long-term. It illustrates the reality of meeting someone and only having them for a short time, and what it means to move on from that. Sonically, this track takes all of the elements we’ve seen throughout the album and brings them together in one final piece. The song is full of upbeat synths, soft vocals, and that electronic pop feel. It brings in a saxophone that feels so utterly perfect. It’s truly the perfect end to the project.
Overall, Sivan’s Something To Give Eachother is a phenomenal project. It feels like a breath of fresh air in a sea of pop singer-songwriters. It’s new, it’s fun, and it’s addicting. I can’t help but gravitate towards this album every time I’m looking for something to listen to. The songs get stuck in your head, and you truly cannot help but love them. Something To Give Eachother truly solidifies Troye Sivan as a modern pop icon. He is the moment.
Listen to Troye Sivan’s Something To Give Eachother here.