T
The Disney-to-pop star trend is still going strong even 30 years after Britney, Christina, and Justin made the leap from the Mickey Mouse Club to massive real-world fame. Leading the pack of up-and-coming gen Z stars is Olivia Rodrigo, a true generational icon; close behind her is Sabrina Carpenter, who is gaining popularity with her outrageous and entertaining performances. The outlier among this group is Dove Cameron, a goth-pop artist who had a successful UK Top 10 hit last year with “Boyfriend.” While some may say her sound is similar to Billie Eilish’s, her clever and boldly bisexual lyrics set her apart. With a villainous tone, she sings “I could steal you from him” before playfully adding, “Plus, all my clothes would fit.”
Cameron’s debut album, Alchemical: Volume 1, features a standout track called “Boyfriend”. However, the rest of the album falls short, lacking the unique perspective found in “Boyfriend”. The song “Lethal Woman” showcases Cameron’s Disney villain persona, but gets lost in the generic production that could be found in a show like Selling Sunset. Her use of similes in this song also come across as confusing rather than provocative. The hook in “Breakfast” is heavily influenced by Lana Del Rey’s “Diet Mountain Dew”, to the point where it’s surprising Del Rey wasn’t given credit. The other songs on the album lack depth and individuality, making the two ballads feel like filler. “God’s Game” has an interesting concept, with producers attempting to blend Jersey club and Bond themes, but it’s not enough to redeem the album from being a failed experiment.
Source: theguardian.com
