Single Review of "Glue Song" by Beabadoobee

Released on the day of love, Valentine's Day, “Glue Song” brings a gentle and wholesome perspective of love.

Beatrice Kristi t llejay Laus— professionally known as Beabadoobee— is a Filipino-English singer and songwriter. She began her career in 2017 with the release of her single, “Coffee”. This single became an internet sensation and won the attention of the British record label— London’s Dirty Hit— and Beabadoobee signed with them in 2018. In 2020, her popularity began to boom with her song, “Tinkerbell is Overrated”, a collaboration with PinkPantheress. The track quickly became a viral hit, propelling her into the spotlight. This momentum was solidified by the release of “Valentine”, which further established her as a rising star in the music scene. Another cause of her increased popularity during 2020 was her major change in writing style. While songs like “Coffee” showcased a more introspective, melancholic tone, songs such as “Glue Song” and “Valentine” marked a shift towards a more tender, romantic sensibility. Her shift in themes seems to be caused by her happiness in her new relationship. In an interview with CLASHMUSIC, she stated, “A love song and the first one I’ve written in my new relationship I usually write these songs that are sad, in the past with my writing even when it doesn’t sound sad looking back the lyrics usually have been.”

Beabadoobee performed the track during her October 2022 tour.  The song was unexpected, and she commented in a press release that she wrote the song “in the back of cars and traveling”. Although she performed the full song, only snippets were released. Despite this, it attracted vast attention, leaving her expanding fanbase eagerly anticipating its full release. Beabadoobee would go on TikTok, teasing fans, captioning her post: “Glue Song will be yours soon! I wrote this song about a boy called Jacob Erland. I hope this song makes you happy as much as he makes me happy”.  After many months of waiting, Beabadobee released the full single on February 14, 2023. The song’s increased attention was shown heavily on TikTok, with fans using it for couples’ trends and heartwarming videos about friends or family. She would also go on to perform the song on NPR’s Tiny Desk series with a live band. 

Not only did fans have a new song to enjoy, but also a music video filmed and directed with her partner Jacob Erland. Her music video documented the time she and Erland spent in her hometown, Iloilo City in Panay, Philippines. The music video captures the beauty of her hometown and her family, allowing fans to feel the love Beabadoobee hopes to depict. In a tweet she expressed, “i’ve never smiled so big in a music video before i wanted to capture how beautiful ilo ilo is as i haven’t seen much of it on the internet and i needed that when i was growing up a lot of people i love are in this music video, so you guys are seeing a little exclusive snapshot of my life, my lola planted all those trees in that bit where i was walking around in, my lola’s house is where i grew up in and visited every year once i moved to london.”

Overall, the song's meaning and music video gave me so much comfort. I’ve been a fan since she went viral in 2021 for a clip she posted of her saying, “Hmm I really want some miso soup” with a magical sound effect. Though her music has matured over the years, her messages of love, womanhood, and mental health are timeless.This song, though it may sound romantic, can be dedicated to anyone you love. 

Watch the music video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1cBhJLNNXU  

Watch the music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1cBhJLNNXU