“Forever is a Feeling” is For Keeps
Musician Lucy Dacus’ new album “Forever is a Feeling” has risen to the top of the charts for Rock and Americana/Folk albums. Dacus’ ability to create catchy beats while writing stunning poetry for lyrics earns her this spot.
Following the split of the band Boygenius, there has been much anticipation for band members Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker to release individual music. Dacus released the first two singles of her new album, “Forever is a Feeling” — Ankles and Limerence — on Jan. 15 as an announcement for her new album. The contrast of these two leading singles set the tone for the emotional rollercoaster the album was bound to take listeners on. Ankles reflects on the light-hearted feeling of falling in love while Limerence walks listeners through the complex emotions of someone about to end their relationship.
Dacus continued to tease her new album with releasing the single titled “Best Guess” with a music video that features many masc and androgynous queer individuals on Feb. 10 – which hinted at a relationship between Dacus and her Boygenius bandmate, Baker – and released “Talk” on March 12. The official release of the 13-track album came soon after on March 28.
This release came directly after an official relationship announcement between Dacus and Baker. This news was anticipated by many Boygenius fans and was a shock to a few. This relationship is highlighted throughout Dacus’s album as she encapsulates the friends-to-lovers trope.
“I was writing the songs and I noticed that they were very heartfelt. They're love songs, mostly,” Dacus said in an interview with NPR.

Big Deal
After an orchestral prelude that reflects the Renaissance-esque art of the album cover, Dacus starts with a soft, nostalgic tune in this song, reflecting on the time she spent falling in love with her best friend, presumably Baker. She assumed nothing was ever going to happen and she would simply “be standing in a pinstripe suit” watching her best friend get married to someone else.
She walks through the memories of their relationship, from when she knew she was in love to when they finally revealed their feelings. This story, accompanied by the repetition of “you’re a big deal,” emphasizes the importance of this person to Dacus.
The sweet hopefulness of this song as she navigates through her presumed unrequited love with her best friend sets the tone for the raw emotion that is expressed throughout the entirety of this album.

Forever is a Feeling
The namesake for this album did not disappoint. Starting out with a quick, simple piano melody feels like an open sunroof on a summer evening. This song dives into the complexity of relationships, acknowledging that love can be both exhilarating and terrifying.

Lyrics like “My wrists are in your zip ties, 25 to life, why not?” and “This is bliss/ This is hell,” reflect Dacus’ conflicting feelings. She perfectly captures the feeling that love may feel like a cage, but she is perfectly content to spend the rest of her life there.

Bullseye (feat. Hozier)
Breakups are no stranger to the seven stages of grief; this song has made it to the end — acceptance. But don’t be fooled, this does not take away from the devastating nature of the song. Hozier is known for his soul-stirring music, and once again, he furthered this reputation through this feature.
The lyrics “But I wanted to be there the day you figured it all out/Whoever is, I hope they’re proud” express the acceptance that the relationship will never be the same, but that doesn’t mean the love for the person ever went away.

Modigliani
Modigliani is sure to touch the hearts of anyone missing a friend. The reference to Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani, who is known for painting his subjects with long, drawn out feelings, is a beautiful representation of the longing, melancholy one can feel for a long distance friend.
The inclusion of Bridgers on this track further adds to the message. The harmony between Bridgers and Dacus on the line “you will never be famous to me” captures the pure connection between two friends and demonstrates the strength of platonic love. This promise to always see them as a person and not as some mythical celebrity threatens to bring tears to the eyes.
This is a no-skip album that represents a complex range of emotions. Once again, Lucy Dacus manages to make her audience want to sob while skipping down the street and busting a little move.