Canadian pop princess Neena Rose has released her latest single “Superman,” a heart-wrenching ballad about the pain of loving someone who won’t grow.
Rose is based in Hamilton, Ontario, which is a city known for its rich and growing music scene. She recorded her first single, “Rock N Roll Lullaby,” at age 12, and owns a production company, Rosatone Records. Rose engineers and produces her own vocals, and is currently preparing to release her next EP, 333.
Rose’s production team have worked with the likes of Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and Kelly Rowland and they are all deeply invested in her success. Grammy Award-winning producer Eric Hudson has even likened her to the legendary Whitney Houston. She has been honored at the Hollywood Independent Music Awards with numerous nominations, and even won the award for “Original Recording of the Year” in August 2023. She has been recognized at Queens Park by the Provincial Members of Parliament and the Speaker of the House, with a standing ovation. There’s no doubt this passionate singer-songwriter has a promising career ahead of her.
With heartfelt lyrics and an intriguing composition, “Superman” tells a mournful story of dashed hope and love lost. Overall, this track was a bit of a mixed bag. Lyrically, the superhero metaphors were mostly clever, but a little over the top at times (“Deep down I knew it / get so confused when / you take off your glasses / but there’s no ‘S’ on your chest”). Some of the rhymes felt slightly forced or contrived (“Am I really that foolish / it’s still inconclusive”), but the theme and storytelling are still strong.
The instrumentation closer to the end of the song is gorgeous. When the drums and orchestral arrangement kick in after the bridge, it feels like a satisfying leap off a cliff. It took a little too long to get there though; it’s a very slow build, and the top half of the song feels like it’s missing some of that energy. I really wanted more of those loose hi-hats and dramatic strings.
What’s undeniable is Rose’s vocal prowess. She has a silky, feathery quality to her voice, but still artfully delivers raw power and intensity when it’s needed. She is an excellent singer with truly exciting potential.
“Superman” is available to stream wherever you listen to music.
Keep up with Neena Rose: Instagram // Spotify // Website // Facebook
