Review: "17" - Gabriela Bee

"17" by Gabriela Bee is a self-reflective track that takes listeners through the twists and turns of teen life: complete experiences of competition, fake friends, and exhaustion. Switching between the past and present tense and the use of the words "you" and "I", the lyrics mixes a compassionate message to the speaker's younger self through the with direct, in-the-moment reflections. Lyrics like "the world got louder but I didn't" beautifully express how small and eclipsed the speaker felt by the chaos of growing up. Reflecting on the hurt of being "stuck on weird insecurities" and mistreated by friends, the speaker says, "I didn't want to die, I just wanted to sleep and wake up at the end of the year."

A soothing blend of airy, melodic vocals and bright instrumentals bring a lightness to the heavy emotional weight of "17". The song starts off with a repeated guitar plucking pattern and percussive element, bringing an ambient feeling of continuity to the tune. Gabriela's vocals walk the line between singing and whispering through the verse, and bask with a melodic, strong voicing through the chorus. Her singing through the pre-chorus is reminiscent of Laufey as with a layered floaty, expressive delivery of the lyrics. Electronic instrumentals chime throughout the track, adding a whimsical atmosphere of contemplation. With its gentle and dynamic mix of vocals and instrumentals, the sound of this feels like a message to the speaker's younger self: that everything will be okay.

Gabriela Bee is a Canadian musician with an exciting alternative pop style. Her career blossomed from her covers going viral across social media platforms. Now, at 19 years old, she has carved out a niche in her genre. Gabriela's releases include collaborations with artists like Prinz, and features on Spotify editorial playlists including indie pop & chill, and Easy Listening. Gabriela recently finished a European tour supporting Walk off the Earth, where she graced the stages of renowned venues like Wembley Arena. Check out the links below to stay up-to-date with her music.

Written By Hanna

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