Halsey is making art out of their struggles. Months after declaring they felt “ lucky to be alive ” amid their lupus and bone marrow disorder diagnoses, the “Without Me” singer—whose real name is Ashley Frangipane —appeared to address the emotional health journey throughout their fifth studio album, The Great Impersonator , released Oct. 25.
On “Panic Attack,” the pop star—who is engaged to actor Avon Jogia —sang about a love interest having an impact on their physical well-being. “My spirit has been broken / My optimism's getting sore,” the lyrics read. “And I would love to love you / But my body's keepin' score.
” But elsewhere, the album’s lyrics were far less abstract. A trio of songs titled “Letter to God” interpolated the same chorus with slightly different lyrics, each tackling the ordeal of fighting an illness. “Please, God, I don't wanna be sick,” Halsey sang on “Letter to God (1983).
” “And I don't wanna hurt, so get it over with quick.” One of the most vulnerable tracks, “Life of the Spider” seemingly began with a devastating memory from Halsey’s health battle. “It's four in the morning and I'm layin' with my head against the toilet seat / For several days now I've been livin' here, too tired to sleep, too sick to eat,” the song started.
“I feel like a monster and it doesn't help that you will treat me like / I've got the venom in my teeth.” Meanwhile, on the ballad “Darwinism,” the 30-year-old reckoned .
