Dating today can be so superficial. In a world where it seems like men value appearance over personality, a woman might think she has to fit a certain mold to have a successful dating life. Somehow, it’s okay for the typical finance bro or artsy guy to exist, but in order for them to like you, you’d have to mold yourself to fit their aesthetic. If you’re a woman sick of dealing with narcissistic men who only know how to objectify women, “Oh!” by Hayes Warner is the pop anthem for you.
It’s rare to find a guy who has genuine intentions. Hayes calls out these guys immediately as soon as the song starts. She sings “First thing I learned when I tried to catch his eye/ It’s all looks, he don’t care about my mind/ Boys and their toys, they don’t treat ‘em very nice/ But two can play at the game of butterflies”. She’s saying that men only treat women like objects and toss them around like rag dolls. She’s acknowledging the double standards that men and women face, and how they are dismissive of her intelligence and personality. She’s aware of the game he’s playing, but what he doesn’t know is that she’s in the lead. Hayes opens up about emotional vulnerability in the pre-chorus, with the lyrics “Give your heart out and they’ll break it (they’ll break your heart)/ It’s much easier to fake it (Oh, it’s an art)”. She’s saying it’s easier to fake it and stay emotionally disconnected because there is a lower risk of getting hurt. By now, she knows how the game works and putting him into overdrive allows her to gain control and power. The chorus reminded me of a modern day “Circus” by Britney Spears. Now, Hayes is putting on a performance and the lyrics “Oh, I’m putin’ on a show for you/ Let’s go, I’ll do it like you want me to/ You can bend me like I’m rubber/ I’m an actress undercover” prove it.
“Oh!” is a fun pop song on the surface, but actually touches upon the complex issues girls face with modern day dating. If girls are faking who they are to impress a guy, why aren’t they impressing us? Hayes acknowledges that a relationship is a two-way street, and “Oh!” is the realization that she deserves better, that she deserves more. Produced by Zhone, Jimmy Jansson, and Jackson Hoffman, “Oh!” is a track about putting on a performance for someone else’s benefit and how those relationships are built on the manipulation of those emotions. Hayes has an amazing voice, one made for pop music. The production of this song takes it to a whole new level. The strategic use of reverb, synth, electronic beats, and the instrumentation brings “Oh!” to life. The song is clever, and the music video was even better. You watch Hayes go on a series of dates with different guys and you’ll watch how she changes her appearance or interests to fit their “type”. She’s a performer and she’s making the dating scene her stage, and you can certainly picture that when you’re listening to the song.
Hayes Warner is a singer-songwriter from New York. Warner landed a publishing deal with Glassnote Records after graduating from Northwestern University’s musical theater program. Her talent hasn’t gone unnoticed and she has composed work for a variety of television clients such as Netflix, Disney, Nickelodeon, Paramount, and Fox. Hayes is a verified artist on Spotify and has over 127,930 monthly listeners. I’m actually lucky enough to have met Hayes at her release party for “Predator” over the summer. I crashed with my boss who was raving about her on the way to the event. Even though there was no other reason for me to be there, Hayes introduced herself and was genuinely one of the kindest people ever. Since I left that release party, I refreshed Spotify every day until “Predator” was released. I immediately started listening to more of her work, and just by talking to her you can tell how proud and passionate she is. It's so clear to me that she’s a star. Not only was she kind, her manager and the rest of her team were as well, and the support they have for each other is truly unmatched. Hayes Warner is a name that is going to be plastered on billboards one day. You should listen to her now or you’ll regret it! Check out “Oh!” and give it a listen!
Written By Alexa LaMalfa
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