Review: "Happy as Hell" - Madelline
- Taylor Sheridan Lempke
- Aug 29
- 2 min read
Madelline unveils reality from the performative world like a scene from The Truman Show in "Happy as Hell." It feels like we’re far behind while everyone else is finding meaning in life with college degrees, jobs at big companies, and vacations in another continent. Measuring ourselves by our appearance, our academic accomplishments, and achievements up the career ladder can ruin our understanding of our true value. Madelline confronts herself: “Why am I so hard on myself?” We ignore all our private passion projects, classes and workdays that we pushed through when our bones ached, and care that we offer loved ones when a 100 degree fever urges us to stay in bed. Instead, like Madelline’s angst, we drench ourselves in gasoline as if it will solve the burn out. But it just turns into one big explosion. With Madelline’s new release, you’ll surely be strutting down the street, sunglasses and black boots on, staying cool as your world goes to flames.
“Happy as Hell” is the perfect soundtrack to kick down the pastel cardboard cutouts on the sitcom set. The single is produced by Arthur Besna (Nessa Barrett, Lay banks) and Jon Buscema (Sophie Truax). Wave goodbye to the performative people pleasing with each press of the piano keys, a happy-go-lucky tune as if you’re supposed to skip through a field of wildflowers. The gritty guitar powers over the keys as Madelline asks herself “why?” The drums pack a punch, tearing down the optimistic facade. She strategically spaces them out so each “why” hits even harder. Each second to process the question digs into your chest, fueling a moment for reflection.
Madeline Harvey, known as Madelline, sets her own stage with wit and power. With over 20 million streams, her music tackles death and mental health, recognizing their massive impacts in life. Fans recognize her through “dopamine,” her bilingual double-single with over 15 million streams, and “I’m Only Here for the Beat,” which topped Billboard’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart at #1. The split-brain version of “dopamine” caught TikTok’s attention with the English lyrics playing in the right ear and the French lyrics in the left. Now, Madelline has found her way through the dancefloor tunes to her theatrical pop era, starting with “Happy as Hell.”
Written By Taylor Sheridan Lempke
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