Review: "rethink us" - Kaelynn Hayes
- Kyler Griggs
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Love has never been an easy thing to navigate for anyone. Even for the most experienced, confident people, love, romance, and dating all can be very taxing emotionally and mentally. In "rethink us", Kaelynn Hayes shines a very bright light on such topics, creating a listening experience that is relatable, reassuring, and undeniably beautiful. One of the most notable lyrics in "rethink us" are the lines "I'm scared to be too much, scared that one day you'll wake up and see everything I see. See all the worst in me and it makes you rethink us." Everyone naturally has things that they are insecure about, and those insecurities can easily carry over into a relationship. Insecurities like that can also cause a lot of self doubts which can convince you that your partner will see "all the worst in you" and rethink the relationship. With the lyrics, "Pull me close, say don't say sorry. Talk me down with your arms on me. I wanna see me through your eyes.", Hayes also conveys something everyone needs from time to time, but may be too scared to say it directly: reassurance. In moments when your insecurities and self doubts are too loud, just one moment of reassurance from your partner would be enough to silence those thoughts, and remind you they are not accurate reflections of what your loved ones truly think about you.
Hayes' song "rethink us" has a very distinct pop sound. The piano in the background and echoes of her backing vocals adds an extra layer of emotion to the song. This paired with her vulnerable lyrics creates a very moving listening experience. Lyrically, "rethink us" reminds me of "needy" by Ariana Grande, as they both speak of similar themes and internal struggles with relationships. The background music of the track allows Hayes' voice to shine through, as well as the lyrics and each emotion behind them. The tone of her voice can best be described as smooth and deep. Her voice is one that you want to hear more and more of because of its incredible ability to soothe. Hayes' voice is the last thing you hear as the song draws to a close, leaving listeners with a lasting impression of her vocals and the emotional depth of the lyrics in "rethink us".
Kaelynn Hayes is a 19 year old upcoming singer-songwriter from the suburbs of Chicago. Hayes discovered her love for singing through karaoke, and she has been singing since she was just 7 years old. In 2020, she began to post covers to social media, garnering a lot of attention and praise for her unique vocals and lower range. During that same year, Hayes also learned how to play the guitar and piano. In 2022, Hayes began to focus on writing original music, and was inspired by other singers like Adele and early Tate McRae. She has also starred in the Nike Jordan "Beyond" campaign alongside Teyana Taylor, who musically directed the project, in 2023. Additionally, in 2024, Hayes joined Daniel Seavey on stage for a duet when he opened for Benson Boone during his tour at his Indianapolis stop. Her latest single "rethink us" was released in 2025, and follows her debut single "kind regards" which was released on October 23rd, 2024. Stay on the lookout for future projects she has to release!
Written By Kyler Griggs
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