Why Hate Yourself When You Can Hate Benson Boone’s Music
You may know Benson Boone as the hip, new mustachioed TikTok sensation who’s often seen wearing sparkly jumpsuits and back-flipping off of pianos, but even more recently, he’s become the face of one of the internet’s most controversial album releases. His sophomore album, American Heart, has prompted criticism from listeners and commenters alike, and not just because his songs are “radio-ready” at best and “eye-gouging” at worst.
In a recent video for her YouTube channel, The Comments Section, host Reagan Conrad addressed Boone’s “controversial” album cover by mostly critiquing the public’s response to the controversy (controversy inception??). The cover depicts a shirtless and dirtied Boone holding an American flag and wearing blue jeans, both his nipples and his abs cast in moody lighting for all the world to see. Surprisingly, it’s the American flag that captured the audience's attention and not his partial nudity, prompting listeners to question Boone’s political views and the statement he’s making as a young white man in America, holding an American flag. Conrad refers to these listeners as “the left” (or those with left-leaning ideologies), saying that they have made it so the use of the American flag means that, “[Boone] must be MAGA or a MAGA sympathizer,”. While it may not have been Boone’s intention for his American Heart album cover to come off as having political undercurrents, it’s nearly impossible for any form of art to be neutral in today’s political climate and growing divide. Music lovers on both sides of the aisle can’t help but dissect the words, choices, art, and culture of the other to construct the story that lies underneath. So yes, while “it’s not that deep”, according to Conrad, and American Heart could very well just be an album with songs that speak from Boone’s American heart, there is also always more than meets the eye. Spoiler: The Barbie Movie isn’t just a movie about Barbies!
Despite Boone’s fledgling status in the music industry, it’s clear he’s talented. According to Debra Kate Schafer’s article for The Aquarian, he leans into his innocence as a young adult and the strength that reckless, youthful creativity allows. And while his lyrics aren’t bringing tears to anyone’s eyes, his songs exemplify fun and energy, and are perfectly tailored to stick around whether you like it or not. Critics sense a messy hollowness in his music that doesn’t quite fit with his upbeat persona… but that doesn’t mean balance will never be found.
Several young pop artists before him – Justin Bieber, Harry Styles, 5 Seconds of Summer – similarly entered the music sphere with slightly flat, gimmicky yet catchy songs, but evolved into more meaningful artists as their time in the industry grew. Their music, lyrics, and brand have ebbed and flowed to what we see today, yet their early careers are still appreciated and dare I say, celebrated. Beliebers far and wide can confidently say that Justin Bieber wasn’t reinventing the wheel with One Less Lonely Girl, but we still remember all the lyrics, don’t we?
Benson Boone should be afforded the same room for growth and maturity that we gave to some of the biggest pop stars of our generation. Negative feedback may be pouring in now, but with an entire music career ahead of him and Coachella performances, awards nominations and victories, a record label signing, and several Billboard Top 100 appearances behind him, he has plenty of time to win over his haters. Get yourself a scoop of moonbeam ice cream and give the man some slack!
