Alt-pop worldbuilder Melanie Martinez returns today with “DEATH,” the lead single off her anticipated third album, PORTALS. Last month, the singer-songwriter teased the LP with a pair of Instagram posts that seemed to signal the death of Cry Baby—her alter ego on the albums Cry Baby (2015) and K-12 (2019)—and the emergence of a new character, a four-eyed pink creature that hatches from an egg. Given all of this intrigue, it’s no surprise that “DEATH” has raced up the Genius Top Songs Chart.
“Portals screams death is life is death is life is death is life,” Martinez said in a press release about the album. “A continuous loop. A circle.” That seems to be the central message behind “DEATH,” a theatrical five-minute art-pop journey with a tranquil opening that eventually gives way to pounding drums on the chorus. Martinez wrote the song and produced it alongside CJ Baran, whose list of credits includes Panic! At the Disco, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Britney Spears.
In the first verse, Martinez seems to reference the death of Cry Baby, though there’s a distinct lack of finality in her words.
They’re carvin’ my name in the grave again
The flowers are fresh and their faces wet
My body has died, but I’m still alive
Martinez later plays on the idea of people trying to summon her via some kind of seance. It’s unclear whether she’s talking about fans hungry for more music or critics speculating on what she’s up to. Or something entirely different.
Look over your shoulder, I’m back from the dead
Lightin’ all your candles to draw me in
Sayin’ all the same things, I’m gone this time
Your words mean nothin’, so take ’em back
On the pre-chorus, Martinez seems to draw strength from the notion of constant rebirth. It’s a liberating concept for any artist with this kind of ambition.
Death has come to me, kissed me on the cheek, gave me closure
Immortal by design
I’ll be meetin’ you here every time
Then comes the triumphant chorus, the point in the song where the drums go off and it no longer sounds like we’re at a funeral.
Back from the dead, back from the dead
I’m back from the dead, back from the dead
I’m back from the dead, back from the dead
I’m back from the dead, back from the dead
In the second verse, Martinez returns to the idea of communicating from the great beyond. One interpretation is that she’s signaling her loyal fans and promising her return.
They’re sayin’ my name in their prayers again
I flicker the lights so they understand
I won’t say goodbye, I’m right by your side
We’re screamin’ and pleadin’, this separation ends
“DEATH” arrived alongside a visualizer that shows Martinez’s new pink creature rising from a human body in a forest filled with mushrooms and candles.
Martinez will likely answer a lot of questions—and provoke many more fan theories—when PORTALS arrives on March 31. In the meantime, you can read all the lyrics to “DEATH“ on Genius now.
