With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I was looking for a new love song. Not a cheesy or bluesy song, but something new. That’s when I stumbled upon Benson Boone’s newest single, “Beautiful Things.”
Now, don’t get me wrong, I do love the older romance songs and Bruno Mars, but it’s always nice to try new music. When I was exploring Boone’s other music, I found his newest album PULSE. This album is lively, mixing an upbeat rhythm with harder concepts like breakups. Boone told Moxie Publicity that “PULSE just expands and builds on that world.” Boone’s focus seems to have been based around break-ups and mastering sad songs. One of his first releases, “GHOST TOWN,” was a huge hit in 2022. This breakup song “amassed more than 530 million streams and became his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100,” Moxie Publicity reported. At this rate, this young artist could be the next sensation.
Circling back around to his new release, “Beautiful Things” takes a different approach to his normal breakup ballads. Instead, Boone begs God to let him keep the life he has and, more specifically, his girlfriend. Boone’s powerful voice is backed by equally powerful instrumentals, highlighting the passion behind his plea.
The song starts slower, with an almost country twang and a soft guitar. Boone elaborates on his beautiful life, thanking God for it, before turning to a contemplative, sadder tone while understanding that, “I know the things he gives me, he can take away.” This sad melody continues, getting less instrumental as Boone sings, “But there’s no man as terrified as the man who stands to lose you.”
This slow introduction almost lures the listener in. I loved the slow melodic tone as the instruments fade. The last line: “But there’s no man as terrified as the man who stands to lose you,” pulls at the heartstrings. It’s completely true, and Boone captures the raw fear and sadness those in relationships may feel when fearing to lose their partner.
Stepping away from the gentle beginning, Boone builds up to his chorus through a fast paced drum followed by the other instruments, all starting at different increments. Boone sings slower, holding each word out longer as the instruments pick up pace. He sings, “Don’t take” before pausing and beautifully yelling out “These beautiful things that I’ve got,” which begins his passionate chorus, around a minute and thirty seconds into the song. The pauses between lines demonstrate the overwhelming emotion, it’s like a pain you can feel through the music.
After the chorus, Boone slows the pace down again. He notes that even though everything is good, he is anxious that he might lose all of it at any point. As he spirals into his thoughts the music again intensifies before flowing into his chorus, where he again emphasizes the pain and anxiety coming from his worries.
Boone ends his song with another slow melody, taking his chorus and, instead of singing it powerfully, he sounds defeated. His last line, “I need these beautiful things that I’ve got,” is slowed down with pauses between the lyrics “need” and “these,” sounding more desperate after “need.” Boone sings, “I’ve got,” breathlessly, as if it’s his last attempt. For me, it sounds as though Boone has given his all to beg and barter throughout the song, and all he can do by the end is hope that he gave enough while feeling like he didn’t. The switch from “don’t take” to “I need” is, also, a perfect demonstration of his desperation in the begging.
Benson Boone almost effortlessly conveys the passions and pains those in relationships can feel when overthinking. His voice strains, strategic breaths, and passionate lyrics help him convey this. It truly seems like he is voicing his own pains from his own experience rather than making up the story. His interesting take on relationships contrasts other songs on the radio — I’ve never heard one quiet like it.
If you would like to listen to Benson Boone’s music, he is available anywhere music can be streamed. He also has a TikTok account where he posts updates on songs and shows. Boone will be in Colorado on April 25, 2024 at the Fillmore Auditorium.
