Devon Cole is well-known for her cheeky and relatable lyrics, so a single entitled “Dickhead” comes as no surprise to her devoted listeners. The infectious new song explores her personal experiences dating subpar men with terrible personalities and awful habits. Throughout the track, Cole sings lyrics that eloquently describe the feeling of dating men in your 20s, such as “I probably should have run// When I saw your three-in-one shampoo,” in the first verse, or the entire sassy bridge. However, the most iconic lines are in the second verse, referencing a universal experience for women. She sings, “Showed me your guitar, started strumming in the dark// And you said I was your Wonderwall.” Although Cole wrote this track over a year ago, this peculiar phenomenon has recently gained traction due to a popular scene in the new Greta Gerwig film, Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. In the film, Ken (Gosling) is seen playing the guitar while singing “Push” by Matchbox Twenty while Barbie (Robbie) is forced to listen for hours. Since the movie’s release, women across the world have shared their own experience of “being sung at” by men. Cole divulging her own experience in a song written prior to the film’s debut then releasing it during the hype is either a clever marketing tactic or a happy coincidence. Additionally, “Wonderwall” by Oasis being the song she references makes these lines even more amusing as the song is widely-known for being the one and only song that amateur guitarists know how to play. Every woman listening to “Dickhead” comes away from the track laughing while thinking about their own awful dating experiences. With the cheeky hook about being “addicted” to a “dickhead,” Cole once again blows it out of the water and proves she is one of the industry’s most creative songwriters.
“Dickhead” contains a fresh new sound from Cole, adding a new southern twang to her voice and a classic rock flare to the instrumentation. With the unique genre-bending pop production, the singer ingeniously gives listeners a taste of her upcoming music. The song kicks off with an electric guitar riff that is reminiscent of the throaty crisp sound of rock legend, Stevie Ray Vaughan. The guitar continues into the verse while Cole’s distinct vocals make their entrance. A short guitar lick and the introduction of the bass drums signifies the pre-chorus. The production picks up the bass guitar right before the infectious chorus takes off. The drums intensify and the bass becomes more prominent, while the electrifying guitar riff continues. In the background, hand claps and layered vocals are added to bring out the full, sassy energy of Cole’s lyrics. The second verse begins with only her vocals before a resonator guitar with a slide is introduced. While the original guitar riff provides a more classic rock vibe, this new addition creates a country music element to the production. The second pre-chorus reintroduces the initial guitar riff and bass, while maintaining this new instrumentation. This continues throughout the full production of the chorus and into the mesmerizing guitar solo before the bridge. The bridge starts with the hand claps, bass, and original guitar riff with added harmonizing vocals in the background. The vocals gradually pick-up high notes, subtly leading to Cole’s impressive vocal performance that signifies the final chorus. Then, the outro utilizes the original riff while her flawless vocalizations close out the track. “Dickhead” is a dynamic track that showcases Cole’s outstanding vocals, cheeky lyricism, and overall remarkable talent.
Devon Cole is a singer-songwriter from Calgary, Canada. She made her debut in 2020 with her single, “July for the Whole Year.” The following year, she released four subsequent sequels which were all featured on her debut EP, Party For One. The project has garnered millions of streams and massive support from several industry tastemakers. In 2022, Cole was signed with Arista Records and released her first single under the label, “W.I.T.C.H.” Prior to officially releasing the song, she performed a snippet of the track on TikTok, where the video earned over 40 million views and became a viral sound on the platform. Recently, Cole received a 2023 Juno Award nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. The talented artist strives to make music that lifts the spirits of listeners and provides them comfort through her lyrics. With her extensive discography of relatable and reflective songs, Cole has already succeeded this goal and continues to release unforgettable tracks. Check out her social media for her newly announced tour dates as the supporting act for Charlotte Cardin!
Written By Karlee Skipper
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