“Dream Girl” is a people pleaser’s anthem. Kacey Fifeld elegantly describes the way that when our confidence is shot, like many women who have been socialized to behave the way others would like them to, we move to placate other people to validate our own self worth.
Such a heavy lyrical theme is balanced by a pop synth, guitars, and beeps. Despite the layered and light instrumentals which allow the song to be something anyone could jump to, Fifield’s vocals pull towards a lower tone which carries the stress and tiredness of having to find self worth in other people’s opinions. She describes this succinctly in the second chorus, “I’m on overdrive / I get obsessive / Can’t sleep at night / Guess I better / Stalk you online / Just to know / If I'm your dream girl, dream girl.”
The themes are carried deeper in each verse. The first describes Fifield’s inability to accept something might just be good for her, she must reinvent a good thing before it even serves its purpose: “reinvent the wheel before it turns.” She also describes the feeling that pain is a consistent part of love and thus “No true love is real ‘til I get hurt.” I have certainly had my moments when I turn to self sabotage out of insecurity that I will just get her one way or another.
Fifield is a fantastic artist. I applaud her use of juxtaposition, vocals and honest, vulnerable writing to create a fantastic song that will both help you be honest about your deepest vulnerabilities, dance the pain away and grow into someone who doesn’t need to be anyone else’s dream girl but their own.
