Exploring Betrayal Through Songs by Female Artists
OnBetrayal Movie Song by Female Artists
Whether it’s love, friendship or family, betrayal is a universally painful experience. These songs, all of them by female artists, explore the different shades of disloyalty.
From Tori Amos’ “Cornflake Girl” to Evans Blue’s frantic guitars and screaming, betrayal is explored from all angles in these songs. Olivia Rodrigo’s song traitor especially captures the feelings of powerlessness and confusion that betrayal can bring.
1. Air Supply – “All Out of Love”
In the golden era of Hindi cinema, the theme of betrayal was fairly common. Mistaken identities, amnesia, love triangles and family honour were all staple tropes which churned out songs rife with feelings of disloyalty.
The Australian soft rock duo Air Supply had a run of chart-topping hits starting in 1975. This song from the album Lost in Love, which featured five songs with the word “Love” in the title, deals with unrequited love.
Lata’s voice takes on an octave shift as she sings this melancholy number. The lyrics convey the anger and sadness of a woman being accused of betrayal by her husband. It is a beautiful song, with the melodic variations adding to its appeal. The nuances of the lyrics are also well-delivered by the singer.
2. Underoath – “Reinventing Your Exit”
Throughout the band’s seven-album discography, Underoath would continue to develop their sound and experiment with new styles. Define the Great Line was no different, as it showcased a heavier and more chaotic side of the group.
The album pushed them further into the mainstream than they had previously been, and was a huge contributor to their unprecedented ascension into rock-stardom. The stark dichotomy between pop-like vocals and screaming from Spencer Chamberlain was a trademark of the band’s unique style and helped to define their genre as screamo.
Opening acts letlive and Caspian both gave heartfelt thanks to Underoath for bringing them along on the tour. When the band hit the stage, they were greeted with an explosion of whirling limbs, circle pits, and crowd surfing.
3. As I Lay Dying – “Comfort Betrays”
A metal band that specializes in hardcore music hits the nail on the head with this song about betrayal. The frantic guitars and super aggressive screaming make for a very painful listen that is sure to resonate with those who have experienced betrayal in their own lives.
The San Diego-based As I Lay Dying was formed in 2000 by vocalist Tim Lambesis following the dissolution of his previous group Society’s Finest. The group’s first album, Beneath the Encasing of Ashes, was released in June 2001 through Pluto Records. Guitarists Nick Hipa and Phil Sgrosso joined the band after the release.
In 2005, As I Lay Dying released their third studio album, Shadows are Security. Allmusic praised the album, calling it “a solidly executed effort”, and Sherwin Frias of Jesus Freak Hideout wrote that the band “didn’t exactly break any boundaries with this release, but they’ve executed each of the songs on the record so well (and with such precision) that nary a song misses its mark”. The album peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.
4. James Blunt – “It’s Not Over”
Few singer-songwriters dominated the second half of the noughties quite like James Blunt. A former reconnaissance officer in the British Army who toured in Kosovo with 4 Non Blondes, his earnest melodic contemporary soft rock broke through with 2004’s Back to Bedlam. The album shifted more than 12 million copies worldwide.
In the music videos for the singles from that record, he used symbolism and dark imagery to convey his songs’ meanings. He also played to an audience full of well-groomed, doe-eyed women in their late twenties and thirties, many clutching each other’s elbows during the ballads.
In 2010, he released his third full-length, Some Kind of Trouble, an uplifting, more spontaneous album influenced by ’70s American rock. He followed it with 2021’s The Afterlove, a more polished fifth long-player.
5. Demi Lovato – “It’s Not Over”
Demi Lovato is one of the most popular teen stars. She rose to fame as a Disney Channel actress on Barney & Friends and later starred in Camp Rock and its sequel Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. She’s also a best-selling author, with her book Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year.
Lovato is a vocal powerhouse, and the growth of her voice is evident in the rock version of “Heart Attack” as she sings about how the past still haunts her. She reaches the highest notes with ease, and the drum kit releases it into a rock thunderstorm.
Demi is currently a regular on the hit TV show Glee and has had several cameos on other shows. She’s also starred on Broadway and has gone on two world tours.
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