Sue Me, I relate to Audrey Hobert

I started listening to Audrey Hobert consistently this summer after trying to fight it. When “Sue Me” first circulated and gained popularity, I was confused by her fame. As I dug deeper, though, I understood immediately. 

My first impression of her was as a writer for Gracie Abrams, who I’m not a fan of. However, something about her lyrics in her own voice reached my heart. 

What stood out most to me is Hobert’s relatability. She captures the insecurity and vulnerability of being a young adult woman through blunt lyrics and catchy melodies. 

Four songs from Hobert’s discography stick out to me as a perfect representation of the hardships of modern dating, party culture and self-esteem. 

4. “Bowling Alley” 

Aside from “Sue Me,” this track was the first Hobert song I’ve heard, and the first I immediately loved. The song's childlike flow drew me in, but I adore it for its lyrics. 

The song captures the exhausting, understandable routine of psyching yourself up to go out, the anticlimactic experience of actually going and the nagging urge to just go home. 

I think many young people, including myself, can relate to the social pressures of trying to be fun and the life of the party, even when you just want to be alone. 

“Bowling Alley” perfectly captures the inner dialogue of a night out for me. I found the chorus the most relatable.

In the first chorus, Hobert sings, “And I don’t think anyone cares if I go or not,” regarding the mixed feelings she has about showing up to the party. In the next chorus, the lyric switches to “And the whole place totally cares if I go or not,” where we can see Hobert trying to convince herself to stay at the party. Finally, at the end of the night when she’s in bed, the last chorus line changes to, “And I don't think anyone cares if I'm home or not.” 

This lyric shift shows a brutally honest, understandable internal battle. 

“Bowling Alley” represents the parts of girlhood and going out that aren’t often expressed in other music. 

3. “Sex and the City”

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song that conveys the feeling of failed modern dating as a young woman as well as “Sex and the City.” 

Hobert details a whole night in her song, describing going out to find the love of her life, leaving satisfied and excited with a man who doesn’t care about her and finally going home, disappointed. 

Given how prevalent hookup and party culture is in our society, Hobert offers a refreshing look at how difficult it is for people on the outskirts. 

Hobert repeats in the song, “What’s it like to be admired?/ Hot and desired,” an intrusive thought that is unwanted and familiar. 

The lyric I relate to most is Hobert describing her hopeless-romantic tendencies. In the modern world of dating apps and online communication, she sings, “But I go to the bar, I’m a believer/ So if it’s not in the stars, then I don’t want it either.”

“Sex and the City” embodies the feeling of wanting a relationship, refusing to take realistic measures to get one, and instead relying on fate in favor of true love. 

2. “Thirst Trap” 

Just when I thought songs from Hobert couldn’t get more relatable, I listened to “Thirst Trap.” 

If you are young and have had any romantic situation where Snapchat is your main form of communication, this song is for you. 

Hobert illustrates the exhausting experience of trying to send a good picture to a person you like and driving yourself insane for their validation. 

Throughout “Thirst Trap,” Hobert describes giving up me-time and hobbies to take pictures of herself she doesn’t even like, just to feel wanted. This familiarity made the song click for me instantly. 

Hobert describes how her crush penetrates her mind, disrupting her normal routine: “Wake up, and I'm thinkin' 'bout, I'm thinkin' 'bout you /Can't read or write or do what I like to do.” 

Hobert sings about all the things I have found myself doing before: taking hundreds of photos because she feels ugly, going through her social media and playlists, pretending she is her crush and ultimately regretting it all. 

The lyrics that are most parallel to my personal experience are in the chorus: “I used to kick back, watchin' movies and the news/ But now I'm lame, it's such a shame, I used to be so super cool.”

Hobert sings about sacrificing the things that make her cool to focus her attention on potential love. Sure, it could be seen as sad or demoralizing, but it’s also just brutally honest—which is what makes her so refreshing.

1. “Phoebe”

The track that stuck out the most to me was “Phoebe.” The song is equal parts devastating and inspiring. 

The song draws on Hobert’s personal experiences and the character Phoebe from the sitcom “Friends.” Though I have never seen the show, I can infer why Hobert chose Phoebe to represent her in the song: she is underappreciated and overly eccentric, despite her internal struggles. 

In the beginning of the song, Hobert expresses her insecurities about her appearance, worried that she is unlovable. Hobert sings, “‘Cause why else would you want me?/ I think I’ve got a f—-- up face.” 

Despite her fears, Hobert sings about leaning into them and accepting herself, “And that thought used to haunt me/ ‘Til I fell in its sweet embrace.” 

“Phoebe” is a standout track for me because it is easy to acknowledge all the things you dislike about yourself, but choosing to love the faults can be rewarding. It’s a universal experience to be insecure, but it's how you deal with those insecurities that really matters. 

The lyric I related to the most was regarding self-acceptance: “Had to dig deep inside me/ ‘Til I found what I was looking for/ It was right there inside me/ It was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.” 

The lyrics in “Phoebe” touched me because as we get older, we have the choice to change what we don’t like about ourselves, ignore it or fall into “its sweet embrace.” 

I wish I had this song when I was younger, and it shows how different Hobert is as a musician. She is one of the few artists I feel speaks honestly and simply, without dressing her lyrics in fancy vocabulary or crazy metaphors. 

I wouldn’t go as far as saying Audrey Hobert is the voice of our generation, but she understands and expresses so many common experiences we as a society are too embarrassed to acknowledge.