Lizzy McAlpine is a 23-year-old indie-pop singer who became famous by posting her song “You Ruined the 1975” on Instagram and TikTok. Her 2022 album, five seconds flat is currently getting me through finals week.
You know when you listen to a really good song and you wish more than anything you could rewind time and hear it again for the first time? Every time I listen to doomsday by Lizzy McAlpine I feel that same longing over and over again. The song begins with a soft drumroll and the strum of a guitar chord. Immediately she draws you in with the first phrase: “pull the plug in September I don’t want to die in June”. McAlpine explained on Instagram that she got the idea for this first line after listening to a TikTok about how if you die in June you supposedly become a Gemini in your next life. The person in the video was vehemently against the idea of becoming a Gemini so she ran with that concept.
Throughout the song, her soft voice is beautifully haunting which complements the story of her planning her funeral; a metaphor for the ending of a relationship with a narcissist. In the chorus, she sings about how she would like to plan out her funeral but he has control of every part: “I’d like to plan out my part in this but you’re such a narcissist, You’ll probably do it next week. I don’t get a choice in the matter. Why would I? It’s only the death of me.” Although she is self-aware that her boyfriend is a manipulative person she states how she would bleed herself dry for him over and over again which is on par with someone who is in a relationship with a narcissist.
The bridge sets the stage for the funeral, with no friends and family just her, “her murderer” and the priest who told him to go to hell. She ends the bridge by singing “I feel more free than I have in years six feet in the ground”. This sentence brings the metaphor full circle. She paints the picture of being dead and buried as a closure from the relationship.
I am not too proficient in music but I wanted to see what key the song was written in. To me, it felt like it is in a minor key. Upon looking it up, it is in a Mixolydian key which is what they would use in medieval church music. This is so cool because in my mind the funeral takes place in this large antiquated gothic church.
Every bit of this song, from the lyrics, to the metaphors, to her soft yet powerful voice makes it one of the most striking songs I have ever listened to. I strongly encourage you to listen to this song and the whole album if you have not. A few of my other favorites are ceilings, reckless driving, and firearm. And if anyone wants to give me tickets to her upcoming tour, feel free!