“Cloud 9” by Megan Moroney is the ultimate girl’s girl playlist — the perfect mix of infatuation and man-hating. While I don’t love every single song, my thumb has clicked that pink album cover countless times since it came out. I am here to share with you my thoughts on my top five songs from “Cloud 9.” Buckle up, because Moroney’s emotions are a roller coaster (mine were too when listening to this d*mn album…).
Also, disclaimer: sorry to upset some of you, but the actual song “Cloud 9” did not make my list… sue me!
While most of her songs are about men (her hatred towards them or her love for them — come on, Megan, choose one), this song perfectly describes the show biz, something that isn’t talked about a lot amongst artists and actors. The song title is a perfectly curated metaphor, but the song itself tells it how it is. Her lyric “work ‘till it kills you but don’t actually die” explains her tiredness of creating music for the business and not actually for herself. Other artists have alluded to this idea in their songs, but I’ve never actually heard a song solely based on it. I think Moroney was very smart with the lyrics, and on top of the tune and chorus, this song easily made the top five for me.
This song is one of the most clever that I’ve listened to in a while. Moroney has done it again (she’s pretty clever with her lyrics, like her iconic “I’ll see you next Tuesday at the bar” lyric in “Bless Your Heart”)! Her whole meaning behind “Stupid” is the question: how could someone be stupid enough to ghost her or break up with her? In her chorus, she sings “he’s a lot bit pretty and a little dumb, he probably couldn’t spell ‘valedictorian.’” When first listening to this song, someone might be annoyed by the way she pronounces “valedictorian” because she pronounces the “AN” instead of “ON” at the end of the word. It doesn’t exactly rhyme with the lyrics before. That’s her point — how could you be so dumb to think that she would mispronounce the word just because you expected it to rhyme with the rest of the chorus? Again, clever.
“Beautiful Things” isn’t about boys or show business, but about girlhood and the struggles that girls can feel growing up. Moroney sings about being left out as a teenager and not feeling like she was beautiful enough. This is a part of the “Cloud 9” album, but was released way before the album came out. My sisters and my mom and I have bonded over this song in the car, talking about its wholesome lyrics. One thing that also makes this song special is the fan video that goes along with it. Moroney posted on social media that she wanted girls to send in videos of themselves that they think related to the song. She then picked out clips and created the fan video with them, which I think is very special. More artists need to be making songs like “Beautiful Things.”
“Oh, you gave your number to an LA blonde? Well I gave the quarterback mine.” Classic Megan. The chorus includes the lyric, “well how you like the taste of your own medicine,” which is just another one of Moroney’s clever lyric choices. I really advise readers to click the link above to this song and listen to the beginning… Every time I hear the humming come on in my car, it already puts me in a better mood. This is one of the better man-hating songs up Moroney’s sleeve, and taken or not, heartbroken or happily single, I think every teenage girl would enjoy this.
Now, if you know me, you would know that I am a sucker for sad songs. I could have the best day of my life and still turn up some Phoebe Bridgers in my earphones (If you need to cry, just listen to “Waiting Room”). The gist of “Wedding Dress” is that she is okay with missing her ex any time of the day, but just not while she’s wearing a wedding dress. The song hits the perfect cry-in-the-shower tune, which perfectly goes along with the lyrics. This song has been stuck in my head since the day it came out, which has been a really long time considering it was the first song I listened to off the album. It’s also a nice change from the up-beat vibe of the rest of “Cloud 9.” “Wedding Dress” takes #1 on my list easily, and I don’t think anything could surpass it.
Now that you have my opinion on the top five songs of the “Cloud 9” album, please (I beg of you) do yourself a favor and listen to this song in the car on the highest volume, or with your earbuds in — again, highest volume.
And, as always, a special thanks to Megan Moroney.
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