Madison Beer sits on the line between heartbreaking and healing with her new song “bittersweet.”
From the opening line “Can’t believe it ends this way,” Beer pulls listeners into the raw aftermath of something coming to an end, but she does not do it in the typical sad girl anthem way that many artists try to deliver. Instead, “bittersweet” thrives in the emotional gray area, showing that she is on the line between resentment and relief.
“bittersweet” does seem to be a breakup song, but it also shows self-reclamation with her soft vocals and clear production, giving her powerful lyrics room to breathe. Madison uses her hard-hitting chorus to throw subtle punches: “I know I should be bitter / but baby right now I’m bittersweet.” It adds a clever twist to the usual breakup tropes that are filled with revenge. Rather than leaning into full bitterness, Beer leans into the complexity between being able to grow while still being hurt. There’s sadness, but there is also clarity. The balance in the track is what helps it stand out.
Lyrically, Beer is her usual sharp self, but she also doesn’t fail to show vulnerability. She cuts deep with lyrics like “One day I’ll wake up sad / but go to bed so glad / knowing you know what you could’ve had,” but also never seems to be petty when singing it. There’s strength in her vocal performance without having to deliver any screaming; just the confidence that makes you stronger when surviving something that may have been messy.
Throughout the song, Beer adds ad-libs that are very effective to telling the story. Adding “ha ha” multiple times in the song adds a sense of sarcasm, kind of like a half laugh showing that she’s done.
The new anthem fits well into the discography of honest pop that Madison Beer has spent her entire career building. It helps to show her comfort in sharing her story with her listeners. “bittersweet” isn’t just a song that you play during a breakup — it is a song you play when you remember who you were before it all.
Beer uses her song “bittersweet” to remind us that it is rare for healing to be clean, which is what makes it so relatable.
Keep up with Madison Beer: Instagram // TikTok // Website // Spotify
