Breakups, at least in popular media, are depicted as large, loud, and explosive. They’re big and dramatic, there’s tears and running mascara– sometimes there’s even a slap or a punch– but no one really talks about the aftermath that a person has to go through post-breakup, especially if that breakup was due to the other partner cheating. In Dylan Matthew’s “Proud of Me,” Matthew sings about exactly that: the conversations, the scorn, and all the miscellaneous things that remind you of your ex. You’ll spend some time talking to them (to little success), sleeping anywhere but the bed that you shared, and scoffing at the pretense that all they ever wanted was what was best for you.
“Proud of Me” feels like a summer song; it’s bright, airy, yet has lyrics solemn enough to keep you singing aloud with your friends– in a way, it’s also a good karaoke song. Dylan Matthew has a way of singing that makes the lyrics, in spite of their sad material, feel fun; the vocals effortlessly fit the tone of the song. It’s that cutthroat feeling that "Proud of Me" nails, as Matthew sings, “You want what’s best for me/but you don’t wanna see me with anybody else.” The lyrics aim to expose the hypocrisy that comes with a partner who cheated, their words duplicitous when they say that they’re proud of you for moving on, as if it wasn’t their fault for the breakup in the first place. While the words are combative, they ultimately drive the song along for the narrator to realize that they don’t need or want to hear the fake platitudes from their ex any longer; “I don’t wanna hear it from you baby/you tell me that you love me but you don’t” feels like a particularly salient line, considering the entire song revolves around getting over said ex. Regardless, a good amount of the song also includes the more somber stages of a breakup. When “Proud of Me” initially begins, the first line is “I still wear that t-shirt/all the time/that you went and bought for me online.” “Proud of Me” is about healing and letting yourself grieve over that lost relationship, but reminds its listeners to not despair for too long since, sometimes, that’s just how people are. Don’t let them lie and say that they’re proud of you– be proud of yourself, instead, for withstanding and holding on in these rough times.
With nearly 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, having had multiple tracks on Billboard’s Dance Top 50, and his viral single “Love Is Gone - Acoustic” being soon-to-be Platinum certified, Dylan Matthew is a pop sensation. He’s played at some of the world’s biggest festivals and venues, such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, and EDC Las Vegas. Inspired by music from his childhood– folk, pop, and soul– his songs reach all corners of the music industry; he’s also influenced by some of the greats, such as Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, and Hall & Oates. This year will see Matthew adding a new EP to his already vast repertoire of music: “Proud of Me” is the second single from this upcoming EP. He is also currently setting out on his first North American Tour, “No Rain, No Flowers,” so if you’d like to pick up some tickets, you can visit his website here for more details.
Written By Alexa Leung
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