"Lonely Is the Muse" is a song by the American singer Halsey. It was released by Columbia Records on August 15, 2024, as the second single from the singer's fifth studio album The Great Impersonator.

"Lonely Is the Muse"
Single by Halsey
from the album The Great Impersonator
ReleasedAugust 15, 2024 (2024-08-15)
Genre
Length4:01
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Austin Corona
  • Wyatt Bernard
  • Brandon Buttner
Halsey singles chronology
"Lucky"
(2024)
"Lonely Is the Muse"
(2024)
"Ego"
(2024)
Audio video
"Lonely Is the Muse" on YouTube

Background

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On August 8, 2024, the singer headlined Budapest's Sziget Festival, where she played a snippet of "Lonely Is the Muse".[1] Halsey has also previewed the song at Helsinki's Flow Festival and a secret club show at London's Koko.[2] On August 15, the singer posted a one-minute snippet of "Lonely Is the Muse" and announced that it would be released the following day.[3]

Composition

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"Lonely Is the Muse" is a rock,[4][5] hard rock,[1] and alternative rock track.[4] The song was written by Halsey and Stuart Price, and produced by Austin Corona, Wyatt Bernard and Brandon Buttne. Many critics described the track as a return to "the grinding, industrial-inspired sound" of the singer's fourth studio album, If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power, which was produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails.[2][4][6] The song was inspired by Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee, whom Halsey referred to as "[her] OG dark rock queen", by dressing like Amy in the cover image of the album Fallen (2003).[7]

Lyrically, the song shows the singer "question[ing] her worth and how past lovers have treated her and forgotten her".[5] The first verse describes "a scenario of years spent 'becoming cool', only to have someone 'make a decade of my efforts disappear' in the snap of a finger".[2] In the second verse, Halsey deals with "those who would reduce their success and artistry to the sum of their body parts" and reminds that "others have banked successes off of [the singer's] artistry".[2]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Lonely Is the Muse"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[8] 22

Release history

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Release history and formats for "Lonely Is the Muse"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various August 15, 2024 Columbia [6]
November 1, 2024 Radio airplay Sony Italy [9]

References

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  1. ^ a b Deville, Chris (August 15, 2024). "Halsey – "Lonely Is The Muse"". Stereogum. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Kaufman, Gil (August 15, 2024). "Halsey Lets It Bleed on Visceral, Rocking 'Lonely Is the Muse' Single: 'I Will Always Be a Martyr'". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  3. ^ Saulog, Gabriel (August 15, 2024). "Halsey Teases Upcoming Single "Lonely Is The Muse"". Billboard Philippines. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Armstrong, Megan (August 15, 2024). "Halsey Details Being Used In Her Excruciating Rock Single 'Lonely Is The Muse'". Uproxx. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Mier, Tomas (August 15, 2024). "Halsey Follows Her Britney-Pop With Dark Rock Song 'Lonely Is the Muse'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Taylor, Sam (August 15, 2024). "Halsey has shared 'Lonely Is The Muse' from their upcoming fifth studio album". Dork. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  7. ^ "TRACK 12: LONELY IS THE MUSE". Instagram.
  8. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 26, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Sisti, Sara (October 30, 2024). "Halsey - Lonely Is The Muse (Radio Date: 01-11-2024)". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved October 30, 2024.