Released: 2022
Ladies and gents of the pop realm, let’s dive into the honeyed angst of “Lies” by Tove Styrke. At its heart, this track is a beautifully warped love letter to the addictive toxicity of a relationship past its expiration date. Styrke’s lyrics are a raw contradiction – seeking the comfort of sweet nothings while fully aware of their hollowness, illuminating the desperate human desire to cling to whatever semblance of ‘the good times’ one can salvage, even if it’s just an illusion.
Right off the bat, Styrke sets up a scene of relational doom with “We got way too much in common / It’s obvious we can’t be friends.” Here, she’s throwing in the universal truth that sometimes, having shared experiences with someone isn’t the ticket to everlasting companionship. It’s a cold, hard nod to how similarities can breed contempt when they’re mirrors of one’s own weaknesses – namely, broken promises and a self-trust deficit.
The chorus serves up the meat of this sonic feast, with Styrke pleading for feigned assurances: “Baby tell me lies / If you need to / Cause I just want your body next to mine.” She’s laying it all on the table – forget the virtues of honesty, give me the comforting charade of passion. Styrke’s not about that ‘truth will set you free’ life – she’s saying blissful ignorance can be just as liberating, even if it’s temporary.
Slick moves, Tove, portraying the classic scenario where someone knows they’re being fed lie after delicious lie but begs for more — a testament to the lengths we go to for a hit of nostalgic escapism. And that’s the crux of “Lies,” isn’t it? It’s a yearning for the past, for the rewind button on a love story, regardless of the deceit it’s wrapped in.
Finally, in the bridge, Styrke strips it down to the pure essence of her yearning: “To take me back and take me back in time / Baby tell me lies.” There’s a genuine honesty here, an admission that she’s willing to exchange truth for the trip back to a time when everything felt right – even if it’s just through rose-tinted lies. It’s a paradox wrapped in a synth-pop conundrum and it’s absolutely intoxicating.
So, there you have it – “Lies” by Tove Styrke is a raw, unapologetic anthem for anyone who’s ever craved the sugar-coated version of a love gone sour. It’s the tune you blast when you’re ready to dance with the ghosts of romance’s past, knowing full well the music might stop at any moment, leaving you alone in the silence of reality.
