Girl Wilde once again shows why she’s one of the most emotionally evocative and arresting voices in contemporary pop on her latest single, “could’ve been.” A new artist who is also honest and raw, with melodic neatness that doesn’t require any effort to adhere to these traits together, the rising singer turns heartbreak into music that resonates far after the final note dies down.
Written during two years of heartbreak and near-misses, “could’ve been” represents that bittersweet place where hope tingles with disappointment, when love almost feels like a real thing, right before it’s gone. Girl Wilde exposes her vulnerability, meditating on what could have been but seeing the beauty in the ache bite.
The show perfectly reflects this emotional push and pull. Pulsating pop rhythms and soundscapes give way to more harmonious, intimate interludes, underlining the tension between resilience and fragility. The melodies are infectious and thoroughly human, the kind you do find yourself humming along to automatically, even as the lyrics yank at your heart.
Girl Wilde’s delivery, of course, is just as compelling. She’s not just singing about heartbreak, but actively feeling it and inviting listeners to recall their own “almosts” in her wake. On this single, Girl Wilde reminds us that pop doesn’t need to be perfect to pack a punch. “could’ve been” is an anthem for anyone who’s loved hard, fallen fast, and learned how to start over again, a song that hurts in the best way.