Throughout Valentine, love is a life-or-death proposition. Similarly, the subtle, synth-driven grooves of “Ben Franklin” see Jordan accusing a lover of breaking their vow to die for her. It’s an instant stylistic shift from Lush, with Jordan delivering the most propulsive hook of her career, along with a lyrical intensity to match (“As long as it’s us two / Fuck being remembered / I think I was made for you”). The title track opens the record on a delirious lovelorn high. Yet, the theme that reappears most consistently - unsurprisingly given the album’s name - is love. al” (“Even with a job that keeps me moving / Most days I just wanna lie down”). Certainly, the specter of fame hangs over her latest effort, with Jordan’s trademark lyrical honesty on display with tracks like “c. It’d be tempting to read deep into Valentine, tracing references to “parasitic cameras” or rehab buried in the lyrics. But that extra time was seemingly well spent, as Valentine finds Jordan more thoughtful, ambitious, and self-assured than ever.
Perhaps that pressure is part of the reason why her sophomore record Valentine arrives three years after its predecessor. She’s since described the constant whirlwind of emotions, intensive touring schedule, and the exhausting pressure to please everyone, all culminating in a 45-day stint in rehab. This year, Lorde, Clairo, and Billie Eilish all have released albums grappling with being anointed teenage musical prodigies, and, unsurprisingly, fame similarly took its toll on Jordan.
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