Halsey is taking the world by storm, and it's not hard to see why. Her songs are catchy and haunting, and so different from anything out there right now. Which is probably why the message behind them can be pretty confusing. For example, what is Halsey's song "Castle" about? The song is off of her album Badlands , which she's described as an "angry, female pop record," and that gives us a lot to dissect right there. It can also be heard in the background of The Huntsman: Winter's War trailer, and floating out of my shower as I scream it at the top of my lungs. I mean, what?
But much like Winter's War itself, "Castle" is far from a saccharine take on a classic story. Many of the other songs on Badlands are about love, but "Castle" seems to be a look at Halsey herself, at her psyche and the way her brain works. It's has been described as "the gates" at the beginning of the album, allowing entrance to the rest of it, this "booming metropolis" where all of her "cognitive activity" happens, so paying close attention to the lyrics can give you an idea of not just what to expect from the album, but what to expect from Halsey herself.
Some people have tried to make a connection between the line "And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut" and Halsey's record company, questioning whether they've been putting pressure on her to be a certain type of artist, but she shut that down. Apparently, the song is really more about her rejection of the patriarchy in general, and being able to say whatever she wants.
It doesn't speak to my record company specifically — my record company is actually incredible, they let me do pretty much whatever the hell that I want, they're incredibly encouraging and they understand that this is my project and they have left it in my hands to do what I want with it. I think the old man is kind of just representative of a patriarch. When I first started out there were moments when I'd be wearing something and then I’d rock out on stage and think something like, ‘Is this too revealing? Is this too blah blah blah?' Or, 'Should I not say this? Maybe I shouldn't curse.’ And then I think I eventually just starting being like, 'Why the f*ck do I care? Why do I care? If I'm not offending anyone's race or creed or beliefs to a level of political incorrectness, then why do I have to f*cking please anyone? I have no one to please.' I think that is kind of what that song signifies — my entry into the music industry, and the realization that I don't have to follow anyone's rules.
Well, yup. If I wasn't already convinced that this song wasn't a perfect match with The Huntsman: Winter's War, I certainly would be now, because both the song and the film are about rejecting those "feminine ideals" and turning off the voices in your brain that we all struggle with. The message of this song is that Halsey is here, she's herself, and she's unapologetic about it, and for me, it doesn't get any better than that.
Image: Giphy
