DEEGIE CONFRONTS UNREALISTIC BEAUTY STANDARDS IN HER NEWEST SINGLE “MAKEUP ON THE BEACH”

Women everywhere (myself included) have long complained about the impact of egregious beauty standards. They’re instead doubled, too; you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. Pop-rock artist deegie has spent lots of time ruminating over this issue—and like, same girl… to the point where her latest single, “Makeup On The Beach,” is a certified banger.

The song is a slow build, admittedly a bit unassuming at first. Lyrically, I worried that it would be riddled with clichés, until I realized that was the whole point! Deegie isn’t just throwing adjectives at the wall like spaghetti; she’s building up a narrative that mainstream media has forced upon all of us. Ideas like “manic pixie dream girl” have so many layers of problematicness that I cringe just thinking about it.

Sonically, the catchy choruses are the heart of the song. Crescendoing guitars eventually become its centerpiece, adding not only volume but depth to the entire track. Deegie’s lead vocal is whole, healthy, and nicely textured. She has a grit that only really shows through when necessary, like in head-to-head battles with the patriarchy.

“Makeup On The Beach” does a fantastic job of detailing the woes of women without going overboard. It’s so easy to have the opposite effect in “feminist anthems.” However, this one has orchestrated a solid balance that makes deegie memorable instead of cringeworthy.