Album Review: Perrie by Perrie Edwards

English singer and song-writer Perrie Edwards has embarked on her solo journey with her

debut solo album Perrie after stepping out of the glittering shadow of Little Mix. Her debut

album is aptly titled ‘Perrie’ as it is completely about her, describing her journey of self-

discovery, her vulnerabilities, her passions, heartaches both romantic and over lost

friendships and the subjects which are closest to her heart. The album is essentially pop with

folk and country influences, ranging from energetic pop anthems to acoustic and slow tempo

ballads. Perrie’s exquisite vocals shine on every song, especially in ballads like Miss You

with less production and heavy reliance on her vocals. Her lyricism has depth and

vulnerability. Here is a song-by-song breakdown of the album.

Forget About Us

The opening track of the album is an upbeat song with pop-rock influences which reminisces

about a past relationship. It’s about the desire to hold on to the good memories of that

relationship. “Forget About Us” was the debut solo single of Perrie released in April 2024

and it also acts as the lead single of the album. Co-written with Ed Sheeran, it’s a perfect

blend of catchy upbeat music with lyrics carrying emotional weight. This song is about

looking back at past relationships with acceptance and remembering the happy moments.

If He Wanted to, He Would

The second track is a catchy uptempo pop song with a bit of country influences which

captures the frustrations of a toxic relationship but with the perspective of a friend looking

from the outside. In this song, Perrie offers advice to a friend that she needs to let go of her

toxic relationship because she deserves better. The lyrics are very straightforward in calling

out the toxicity of her friend’s boyfriend with lines like ‘Ruin your life and then tell you

“Relax” and ‘I hate to tell you, but he ain’t gonna change’. The music video pays tribute to a

variety of classic rom-coms such as Mean Girls, Pretty Woman, Clueless and The Holiday.

Sand Dancer

This is another catchy pop track which showcases Perrie’s exquisite vocals with the high

notes on the chorus. This song describes the early memories of Perrie with her family before

she gained fame. It reminisces about the times she spent with them in her hometown and how even after everything has changed, they are still the same. This song is a beautiful tribute to Perrie’s hometown, her family and the memories she shares with her family.

Rocket Scientist

Rocket Scientist is a dynamic upbeat pop track which describes emotional distance in a

relationship. Perrie’s powerful vocals shine on the chorus and deliver the emotional weight of

the lyrics. It was released as a single along with the album on September 26th and the music video was released the same day. The song starts off as more stripped back and builds up

tempo towards the first chorus. Rather than sounding heavy, it delivers it’s powerful message

about complicated romantic relationships by keeping the tone light and playful.

Baby Steps

This is one of the quieter and more vulnerable tracks on the record. It deals with heartbreak

and the slow process of healing. It’s an acoustic led ballad with minimal production. Perrie’s

powerful vocals take centre stage to deliver the emotions conveyed through the lyrics. The

metaphor of taking “baby steps” is used literally in the emotional sense about how you need

time and small moments to rebuild after the end of a relationship.

Bonnie and Clyde

This track leans into dramatic and romantic imagery for describing the intensity of love with

all it’s passion, insecurities and even obsession. It’s almost cinematic with passionate

declaration, some tension and some risk. Perrie uses the Bonnie and Clyde metaphor to talk about a relationship with intensity and loyalty, even to its messy edges. Musically, it has more rock textures and heavier instrumentation toward the end. The guitar riffs at the end build up the intensity of the song conveying the tension in love described in the song.

Pushing Up Daisies

This is an energetic upbeat track with synth-pop influences. It has a hopeful and defiant

undercurrent. The chorus uses the phrase “live young ’til I’m pushing up daisies” which

means to live life fully until death, without any regrets. This song conveys the message of

making the most of life while you have it. It’s a good contrast with some of the heavier

emotional tracks on the record with it’s energy and light tone. The song is an exclusive track

to the digital version of the album, not available on the physical versions.

Cute Aggression

A lighter, fun track about those overwhelming feelings you get when something or someone

is so cute you almost can’t handle it. It’s playful, possibly one of the more joy-filled songs on

the record. This song is supposedly about Perrie’s fiancé Alex with her describing his

physical features in one of the lines on the second verse. The lyrics mix affection, obsession,

and a hint of “crazy love.” The song leans on harmonies, bright melodies and a catchy playful

sound which reflects its quirky lyrics.

Miss You

The ninth track of the album, it’s a heartbreak ballad where Perrie lets her voice really carry

the weight of the song with minimal production. This song has the least instrumentation as

compared to the other songs. It’s a raw emotional track about the aftermath of a relationship,

what parts of the person she misses, and also about acknowledging the painful truths that

have come to light. Perrie has said it was one of the hardest songs for her to sing, vocally

demanding, but deeply meaningful. This track has been praised for it’s powerful vocals as

Perrie’s vocal depth and range is on full display in this piano ballad.

Punchline

Punchline is a groovy rhythmic track about dealing with the difficulties which life throws at

us with humour. The track leans into irony and playful self-awareness, showing that Perrie

tries to see even the downs in life positively. Rather than letting pain, difficulty, or misfortune

overwhelm her, she turns them into entertainment and embraces the comedic timing as one of her survival tools. This is a mid-tempo fun track with the core message of having resilience

through humour.

Put You First

This track is deeply personal as it involves motherhood and the changes it brought in Perrie’s

life. It is written about her son Axel whom she shares with her fiancé. In this song, Perrie

reflects how being a mother reshapes her priorities, emotions, and her identity. This track is

very tender and intimate with soft vocals and simpler production. It also features a voice

recording of Axel towards the end of the song which makes it even more personal.

Absofuckinglutely

This is a fun upbeat track describing Perrie’s engagement to her fiancé. The theme of

commitment is mixed with humour and realism. The title suggests Perrie isn’t going for

cliché romantic softness but instead something with character, colour, and fun. The

production on the song leans into pop festivity with big choruses where Perrie’s flawless

vocals shine. This is a song to celebrate commitment to your partner.

Where You Are

This is a longing track written by Perrie during a period of long-distance relationship with her

partner. This song is a blend of contemporary pop influences with emotional undertones. The

track describes the complexities of maintaining a relationship across distances, capturing the

longing and emotional depth that come with it. Perrie expresses the challenges and yearning

she felt during their time apart.

Same Place, Different View

This is one of the album’s more introspective songs. It deals with the end of a friendship. It

describes the sense of loss, confusion, and trying to understand what changed after a

friendship has broken. Perrie has said writing this was hard because she wanted to be open

but not bitter. The song is a slow ballad with Perrie’s soft vocals and harmonies conveying

the emotions behind the lyrics. The song picks up pace towards the end with higher notes

trying to convey the desperation to mend things within the broken friendship.

You Go Your Way

This song was released as the third solo single of Perrie after Little Mix went on hiatus. This

is an energetic track with strong melodic hooks. The lyrics reflect the vulnerability and

uncertainty of embarking on a new relationship. It captures the delicate balance between

personal aspirations and the budding connection with a significant other. The song’s

production features vibrant synths and a driving rhythm that complements its themes of

liberation and self-discovery.

Goodbye, My Friend

The last track on the album is emotionally charged and vulnerable. It closes the album on a

warm, sentimental note. Dedicated to her former Little Mix bandmates (Jade, Leigh-Anne),

it’s affectionate and bittersweet in places. The song reflects how paths diverge, but the bonds

between people remain. This song acknowledges the history, change, and sisterhood between Perrie and her former bandmates. It’s a sweet promise to them that no matter how far they go, their bond will always remain intact, and she will be waiting for them with open arms whenever they decide to come back.