Rather than focusing solely on romantic relationships, the album begins with a tribute to the women who have shaped his life, before turning to the uncertainty of finding love himself.
...it reveals a more vulnerable side of Sivan without losing what makes pop music so enjoyable.
Sivan's 2023 album, Something to Give Each Other, was an unapologetic celebration of queer joy and nightlife however, Troye Sivan now returns with a more introspective exploration of love and connection. While the second single, ‘Party’ echoes the dance floor energy of its predecessor, the album shifts its focus towards the people who shape us and the relationships that give life meaning. Personally, I like this change as it reveals a more vulnerable side of Sivan without losing what makes pop music so enjoyable.
His title track and first single ‘She's the Best’ sets the tone for the album. I feel that there is a sincerity to its celebration of women as it resists the tendency to reduce them to romantic interests or supporting characters in someone else’s story. It is an approach that feels particularly refreshing in pop music, where women have so often been positioned as muses for male artists.
Friendships can shape how we ourselves just as much as romantic relationships can and I think that’s what makes the album’s central idea so relatable.
What I find most interesting about the album is the idea that the people who teach us the most about love aren’t necessarily the people we fall in love with. Friendships can shape how we ourselves just as much as romantic relationships can and I think that’s what makes the album’s central idea so relatable.
‘Party’ initially feels like a return to the world of Something To Give Each Other. It is built around a sample of Madonna’s ‘Music’ and it captures the almost euphoric feeling of losing yourself, yet there is still more to it than a straightforward dance floor track. The song feels like a playful nod towards his time spent with Charlie XCX, with her influence on modern pop woven into the sound, connecting the song to the album’s wider celebration of the people we spend our lives with.
It's this mix of nostalgia, fun and genuine affection that makes She's the Best feel like a natural next step...
Across the album, Sivan moves between the excitement of a night out and quieter, more personal moments. The glossy production and danceable beats still have the carefree feel of his earlier work, but there's a softer side to the record too. Listening to it, I get the impression that he's looking back on the people and experiences that have made him who he is. It's this mix of nostalgia, fun and genuine affection that makes She's the Best feel like a natural next step for him.
Overall, She’s the Best feels like a more personal album for Sivan, keeping the catchy pop sound he's known for while putting more focus on the people who matter to him. For me, the best thing about it is how genuine it feels. Celebrating female friendship and the importance of emotional connections feels like a refreshing change from the usual focus on romance. It might not have quite the same immediate energy as Something to Give Each Other, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. Instead, it feels like Sivan is trying something different and showing a side of himself we haven't seen as much of before.