Jade Thirlwall has delivered the most addictive and innovative debut single (and video) in recent memory.
Co-written with Steph Jones, Pablo Bowman and producer Mike Sabath, ‘Angel of My Dreams’ explores the former Little Mix star’s complicated relationship with the music industry.
A frenetic dance-pop anthem, it takes an experimental approach to pop with several distinct sections, from the theatrical balladry of the chorus to the thumping electro verses, as well as the sample of Sandie Shaw’s Eurovision-winning smash ‘Puppet on a String’.
In a statement, JADE said her aim was to deliver a “relentless, huge pop punch to the face” and a debut single that wasn’t “safe”.
“I’m setting the tone of who I am as an artist on my own. I want people to hear it and be like, ‘What the fuck is that song?’ My worst nightmare is for someone to hear my song and go, ‘That’s nice,’” she explained.
“It’s about how obsessed I am with the industry – so there are lyrics like “love when you call me a star” – but also there’s the dark side that comes with that. It’s not as glam as it seems.”
On the ‘Puppet on a String’ sample, JADE added: “In the beginning of our career you do think you are this puppet, but at the same time it isn’t true – we wrote a lot of our songs, and we were behind a lot of what we put out there.
“I resented that as a statement. So it felt natural to take that and show that it can be true and untrue at the same time.”
The accompanying music video, directed by Aube Perrie, takes inspiration from the sci-fi blockbuster The Fifth Element, psychological thriller Black Swan and Michelle Visage’s favourite film Showgirls as a plethora of Jade clones do whatever it takes to steal the spotlight.
“There’s 11 looks in the video! The concept is sort of rags to riches,” she said. “It was emotional actually because for one bit I’m busking and walking past a Sainsbury’s Local. When I was 16, I would stand outside my local Sainsbury’s and sing Christmas songs.”
Both the track and video were met with universal praise from fans and critics, with one Mixer accurately describing ‘Angel of My Dreams’ as her ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
Another fan described her as – again, this is quite accurate – the “new pop supreme”.
Check out the best reactions from X/Twitter below.
what did i say.. literally who debuts with the gay bohemian rhapsody omg JADE YOU ARE A STAR pic.twitter.com/BLOTdOrGec https://t.co/WEeWTR2hye
— AARON (@lidolmix) July 19, 2024
all jade's looks in angel of my dreams music video, she's serving EVERYTIME pic.twitter.com/NhCWjQThKd
— lucille ♡ (@perrielelight) July 19, 2024
JADE THIRLWALL is giving storyline, alter ego, choreography, entertainment, looks, theatrics, drama and evoking all sorts of emotions.
what a superstar. stream angel of my dreams cause real but reinvented pop is here. pic.twitter.com/4EudVszu2W
— Best of Jade 🪽 (@thebestofjade) July 19, 2024
JADE IN ANGEL OF MY DREAMS VIDEO?? OH WOW, IT'S JUST INSANE YALL pic.twitter.com/B8MnWtyYYV
— lucille ♡ (@perrielelight) July 19, 2024
angel of my dreams easily top 5 songs released this year I had to listen to the leak just once cause we waited 4 years for this but wow jade the woman that you are today……. we’ve been so hungry for a new pop supremee and now she’s here pic.twitter.com/p04l1Uqzlq
— big oomfie general (@slmxny) July 18, 2024
Jade Thirlwall's 'Angel of my Dreams' is definitely something I have never heard offl before. It sounds really nostalgic with some of the vocal and synth melodies but also so futuristic with how all of the sounds come together??! What a brilliant debut single!
— SpaghettiBoi (@SpaghettiBoiiii) July 18, 2024
i‘m not saying this lightly, angel of my dreams by jade might be one of the best songs i‘ve ever heard
— marvin (@marvinismarvin) July 18, 2024
Angel of my Dreams is everything I imagined and more, what a cracking debut of a solo song!
Well done Jade❤️ @jadethirlwall pic.twitter.com/d622DJVr2T
— jacöb. (@Jac0bWilliam) July 19, 2024
jade thirlwall, the woman that you are. the ANGEL OF MY DREAMS music video is fucking incredible, i'm so proud of you @jadethirlwall 😭 pic.twitter.com/VEPM6y2sJD
— sam 🪽 (@reptracknine) July 19, 2024
JADE THIRLWALL WHAT IS THIS??? LIKE EXCUSE ME THIS IS THE MOST ICONIC SHIT EVER?? THE SONG THE MV IDK WHAT TO SAY ITS JUST FIRE ITS PHENOMENAL ANGEL OF MY DREAMS IS THE SONG OF THE YEAR I WON’T ACCEPT ANY OTHER OPINION pic.twitter.com/c8WYfoFlQU
— river (@auralwyn) July 19, 2024
ANGEL OF MY DREAMS IS FUCKING INCREDIBLE OH MY?!!! the way there’s so many different sounds, the lyrics are 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼, vocals are on point like jade did NOT come to play!!!! this is what you call an ARTIST. it’s so different and so perfect. so proud of you my love @jadethirlwall pic.twitter.com/z48VeIQgat
— danique (@leighsdutchie) July 18, 2024
you can tell she studied the hell out of iconic pop icons, songs and music videos to come out with this masterpiece song and video
jade thirlwall you were born to be a superstar pic.twitter.com/AEADjkifMn
— Best of Jade 🪽 (@thebestofjade) July 19, 2024
This music video deepens the song & makes so much more sense, it illustrates so much the storytelling of the song, I do think we will have to watch multiple times to get EVERY details to really understand Jade’s journey in the industry.
It is a masterpiece. pic.twitter.com/LBWUGjdjkr— ANGEL OF MY DREAMS (@kirim1xer) July 19, 2024
JADE CREATED A MASTERPIECE. PERIODT. @jadethirlwall pic.twitter.com/sdy7gbtoIq
— sarah 🍉 (@savinurheart) July 19, 2024
jade didn't lie when she said that she wanted people to be like what the fvck is this because my first reaction was what the fuck is this masterpiece https://t.co/iaQER83Umo
— nicki🪽 (@lyricistjade) July 18, 2024
Tuned in for the premiere of the music video #AngelOfMyDreams and crying my eyes at work.😭
I already said the last 40secs are my fav of the song but she didn't have to hit me this hard!
This is a masterpiece all around. The debut, the single, the MV and JADE. 🌌 @jadethirlwall pic.twitter.com/oKfdFGaRIP— Matea (@Kocka_) July 19, 2024
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