Halle Bailey is having a fantastic year.
After dazzling audiences with her portrayal as Ariel in the Disney film, The Little Mermaid, Halle has officially launched her solo career with a lovely and inspiring song, titled ‘Angel.’ The powerful young vocalist, one half of the group Chloe x Halle, debuted the track on 8/4 after teasing the song throughout the week.
Do you ever make it out of your head?
Do you still swim in your thoughts?
Do you still mistake your flaws for property?
The song begins with Halle questioning the listener in an introspective way, setting up audiences to think about their state of being and wondering if doubting oneself is actually beneficial. Halle then comes in as a messenger, to her “angels” with a great piece of lyricism, “Black girl here, Black girl with the Black girl hair; Took a little sunkiss just to look like this”. This line is delivered quickly, but hits hard with positivity and broad acceptance in what it means to be a black girl in this day and age. Halle knows a bit about the challenges that black girls and women face, having being ridiculed by others when she was announced as the lead in The Little Mermaid. The role has been traditionally played by white women with red hair in the animated film, series, and stage portrayals, but Halle made it her own and withstood criticism she endured, by only just being herself.
Beautiful and real are you, they cannot compare, all you
Perfectly a masterpiece in all of me, even my scars
Even my scars, yeah
Halle closes the song by reminding listeners of the importance of recognizing your flaws, and also embracing them. She acknowledges that those “scars” are still a part of the masterpiece of humanity that makes up each and every one of us. “I’m regular, I’m human, I’m flawed, but at the same time, all of these flaws that make me who I am are beautiful and are the reason I am who I am”, said Halle on a recent Instagram Live promoting the single.
‘Angel’ is a wonderful and dynamic introduction of Halle as a solo artist. Those who appreciate her from Chloe X Halle will love the unique but familiar sound for the artist, while also acknowledge the contrast from her sister Chloe’s debut single, ‘Have Mercy’. The two young artists seem to be going on two completely different paths, with each singer carving their own lane in the R&B world. Only time will tell what impact Halle will have on the industry while on her own, but it is an impressive start for the young singer and actress, and we look forward to hearing her next project here on Stereofade.com.
