In Kacey Musgraves’ new Album, “Star Crossed,” she expresses the highs and lows of a breakup. Breakup albums are not hard to find, however, Musgraves’ new album is a new exploration of the classic emotions chronicled in many heartbreak stories.
“I’m honestly really glad for the opportunity to acknowledge the relationship, acknowledge the love that I had, but move on and be better,” said Musgraves in an interview with Zayn Lowe for Apple Music.
After three years of marriage, Kacey Musgraves and her husband, Ruston Kelly, divorced in 2020. Her new album is the story of the broken promises, ruined expectations, and hardships that lead to their divorce.
Throughout the album, Musgraves does not show much malice towards her ex, rather she focuses on herself and the breaking and reconstruction she has faced after their separation. The title of the album itself, “Star Crossed,” is an example of her belief that the unfortunate failure of her marriage was inevitable, written in the stars. This introspective and accepting perspective on a breakup is refreshing and allows for a more personable album that feels real.
In the first track, “Star-crossed,” Musgraves’ first lines are, “Let me set the scene/ two lovers ripped at the seams.” From the start, the raw truth and unfiltered story is exposed, making the album a complete and brave exploration of Musgraves’ failed relationship.
Before the initial release of the album, Musgraves screened the accompanying movie in theatres around the country. The movie allows Musgraves to attach images and visual symbols to the stories told through her songs. She included scenes of her literally being broken apart and put back together, and a scene of her running with a horse to escape her sadness.
In the second track, “Good Wife,” Musgraves sings about her desire to be a good wife going into the marriage, and her inability to live up to her own expectations, challenging the institution of marriage, and a woman’s place in a relationship. This is a common theme throughout the album; Musgraves never got what she expected out of her relationship.
The album and cohesiveness of the songs draw an interesting picture of Musgrave’s own failings in her relationship vs her ex-husband’s. The reality of love as Kacey Musgraves sees it is made clear; not only has her ex-husband, Kelly, disappointed Musgraves, she has disappointed herself. In “If This Was a Movie,” Musgraves lists all the scenarios she expects from a picturesque marriage, singing, “If this was a movie/ love would be enough/ to save us from the darkness that’s inside both of us.” Her romanticized expectation of a movie-like marriage was not true, and instead, she was left disappointed and confused.
The process of healing after Musgraves’ unfortunate divorce is chronicled in her album, and her tumultuous ups and downs of healing reflect a relatable process. The latter half of her album features songs with a varying range of emotions, like “Justified,” representing her confusion and acceptance of the pain she is experiencing, or “Keep Looking Up,” a song professing her persistence even through difficult times, like her divorce and the pandemic.
A beacon of hope is available at the end of her album with the song “There is a Light,” about how she is coming back from all that she has been through. She uses lyrics such as I won’t cry/ When the cold wind blows/ Gonna let it shine” to show that she has a new perspective on life, and is ready to find new joy in things. Each song offers a unique perspective on her relationship, and can be applied to various situations, making it a versatile and fun album for anyone.
While Musgraves excels in story-telling through her lyrics, she also has wonderful melodies and catchy choruses. Musgraves is mostly known as a country singer, but her newest album is a perfect example of seamlessly blending pop and country.
Kacey Musgraves created a masterful story in her album, depicting an emotional and personal story of her own hardships and failings, highlighting her lyrics with well-composed music for any mood.
