Chloe x Halle – “Lonely” Single Review

Chloe x Halle recently released their sophomore album, “Ungodly Hour”, that marks a matured sound to their music from their previous debut. While not released as a single at the time, we decided to review the song “Lonely”, a standout track from their latest effort.

Lyrics: A-

“Lonely” immediately gets into the context of the song in its opening chorus, where Chloe x Halle sing the lyrics:

I know sometimes, you feel alone
I know some nights, you wait by your phone
I know you wish you had somebody to hold
It don’t have to be lonely being alone

Tasty

Chloe x Halle benefit from being songwriters that contributed to most, if not all, of the material on “Ungodly Hour” — and that is especially present on “Lonely”. The lyrics of the song feel very organic, even when they touch on tropes regarding loneliness that have already been explored. One highlight of the song comes in the first verse where they sing:

Who are you when no one’s watching?
You close the door to your apartment
Are you afraid of the silence?
Are you afraid of what you’ll find in it?

Usually the idea of who someone is when no one’s watching is used in a criminal or negative fashion, since especially with current events, the actions of those who believe they aren’t being recorded usually shows a dark side of society. But Chloe x Halle use the concept to show how people cope with loneliness behind closed doors, and build upon it by comparing the silence of an empty apartment as a fear some people have to deal with.

The end result turns into an uplifting song about mental health and self-care, and the value that can be found in sharing these feelings with friends.

Not So Tasty

While the verses are already highlights of the song, it feels like a missed opportunity that Chloe x Halle did not incorporate a bridge to add more story. Instead, the song closes out by repeating the chorus and a series of layered adlibs. While not a major issue, the ending lyrics feel repetitive despite the strong start and middle of the song.

Production: B

“Lonely” is a mid-tempo song with a strong bass that’s carried by the vocals of Chloe x Halle.

Tasty

Chloe x Halle have a trademark of complicated vocal layering in their songs, which is emphasized by the unique, gospel-like tone often used in their singing. “Lonely” benefits from the vocal trademark of the duo as it fits with the lyrical content. The warm and full sound of Chloe x Halle vocals provides a soothing feeling to the lyrics that would otherwise come across as darker if performed by other singers.

Not So Tasty

The production on “Lonely” somewhat sounds muffled, as if there is an underwater-like quality to the song. The song would benefit from some clarity to the vocals to help distinguish it from the pulsing base. 

In addition, “Lonely” doesn’t do anything exciting or creative in its production as the song progresses, so by the time you’ve listened to the first 20 seconds of the song there are no surprises left. A change or removal in instrumentation, or anything really, would have helped elevate the song further.

Replayability: A

“Lonely” is a song that gets better with multiple listens. As mentioned previously, the standard production of the song does a disservice to the poignant lyrics of its verses, so skipping over the song at first listen can be a mistake. Even so, “Lonely” is an easy listen that will engage both casual and intent listeners, so we recommend keeping this on replay.

Check out our review of Bang Ye Dam’s song “Wayo” here, which features a similar style to “Lonely”.

Final Grade: B+

Chloe x Halle provide many songs about introspection on their sophomore album, “Ungodly Hour”, and the track “Lonely” is a highlight among them. While a crisper production would have been appreciated on the song, Chloe x Halle’s lyrics and warm vocals help deliver the message of the song regardless.

Color Vibe: Burgundy

Season Vibe: Winter

Mood Vibe: Reflective

Mocha Quality: B+

Tags: RnB

Check out the official audio for “Lonely” by Chloe x Halle below.