On Sept. 13, three of the most well-known female singers teamed up to create arguably one of the biggest pop-anthems of the year, “Don’t Call Me Angel.” This song, by Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Lana Del Rey, will be featured on the soundtrack of this year’s reboot of “Charlie’s Angels,” which has been a well-known franchise since the 70s.
Miley Cyrus sings the first verse of the song. The “Mother’s Daughter” singer stays true to her new, bada** style that people have come to expect. Similar to her recent songs, “Don’t Call Me Angel” shows her strong vocals along with her latest rap-like singing, proving her power in the music business.
“Don’t call me angel when I’m a mess / Don’t call me angel when I get undressed / You know I don’t like that, boy,” she sings on the track.
As soon as it was released, many fans questioned whether these lyrics depict her feelings toward her now estranged husband, Liam Hemsworth, whom she separated from a month earlier. Hemsworth was known to call her angel as a term of endearment.
“Do I need to say it again? / You better stop the sweet talk and keep your pretty mouth shut,” she sings, continuing to play into that same idea.
In the music video, Cyrus is shown to be beating up a blonde man in a boxing ring, one who looks similar to that of Hemsworth. Along with the lyrics, this called for much speculation among fans and entertainment-news outlets.
One fan tweeted “Miley Cyrus really told Liam Hemsworth to ‘keep his pretty mouth shut’ in ‘Don’t Call Me Angel.’ Loves it,” while another joked, “Miley telling us not to call her angel…girl the only thing we won’t be calling you is Mrs. Hemsworth.”
This isn’t her first song that could regard her split, however, as last month’s ballad “Slide Away” came out around the time of their separation. This collaboration, however, was announced months ago, so it is likely that the lyrics are a coincidence.
Ariana Grande, along with singing the catchy chorus, comes in to perform the second verse. Her singing, however, is not much to note, as she sounds similar to that of every song she’s recently released.
There wasn’t much surprise with her verse like with Cyrus, but it didn’t disappoint. Her lyrics show off her confidence, while her voice continues to show its strength.
“See you here with somebody/ Dude sizin’ up my body, oh, yeah/ Don’t you know that I bite when the sun set, yeah?” she sings, playing off similar themes as that of “Boyfriend” and “Break Up with Your Girlfriend.”
And, of course, her outfit in the video is the same skimpy-yet-girly look that listeners have come to expect.
The only surprise of the track is that of Lana Del Rey, who nearly saves the song with her enchanting vocals. The “Summertime Sadness” singer is not known for being as mainstream as the other two, which makes for a surprising collaboration.
“I appreciate the way you watch me, I can’t lie/ I drop it down, I pick it up, I back it out the county line/ I fell from heaven, now I’m living like a devil/ You can’t get me off your mind,” she sings, sultry as ever.
From the lyrics to her vocals, from her appearance to the setting of the video, everything about Del Rey’s contribution gives off “Fifty Shades of Grey” vibes. She leaves listeners wanting more with every spine-chilling word she sings.
Overall, each singer performs exactly how one would expect, leaving for not many surprises, yet Del Rey’s echoing voice gives more thrills and leaves listeners wanting to hear the tune in full.
This song, while parts being expected, shows the strength of the current female pop singers. With one listen, fans are taken on a journey, one where these angels – or non-angels – are given as much power as their lyrics, and voices, suggest.
“Charlie’s Angels” premieres in theaters on Nov. 14, and will include “Don’t Call Me Angel” along with songs by other artists such as Janelle Monet.
By Natalie Forster, Editor-In-Chief
forstena17@bonaventure.edu
