Halsey Shares Britney Spears-Interpolated Single 'Lucky' with Y2K-Inspired Gia Coppola-Directed Music Video — Watch!

07/26/2024 10:12 AM

The visual for the pop star's latest single was directed by Gia Coppola

• Halsey has shared their new pop-meets-R&B-tinged single, "Lucky"
• The music video is directed by Gia Coppola and plays on the paradoxical nature of fame
• The song addresses criticism of the singer/songwriter's appearance and their battle with illness

Halsey tackles the paradoxical nature fame with their new track "Lucky"

The pop star (who uses they/them and she/her pronouns), 29, shared her new, pop-meet-R&B-tinged single on Friday, July 26, which features an interpolation of Britney Spears' 2000 hit of the same name in the chorus, as well as an interpolation of Monica's 1997 classic "Angel of Mine" in the production.

According to a press release, Spears, 42, heard the song early in the process and gave her blessing to Halsey.

Written by Halsey and produced by Michael Uzowuru (Frank Ocean, SZA, Rosalia), the track explores Halsey's relationship with fame, public commentary on their health and becoming a single mom.

"And why she losin' so much weight / I heard it's from the drugs she ate / And I feel her but I can't relate / Because I'd never end up in that state," she sings with a buttery lilt, appearing to comment on criticism of her appearance.

Related: Halsey Releases New Single 'The End' as She Reveals Secret Health Struggle: 'I'm Lucky to Be Alive'

Later in the track, Halsey addresses their health after revealing in an Instagram post in June that they'd been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, which they said "are currently being managed or in remission."

"I shaved my head four times because I wanted to / And then I did it one more time 'cause I got sick / And I thought I changed so much, nobody would noticed it, and no one did / And I left the doctor's office full of tears / Became a single mom at my premiere / And I told everybody I was fine for a whole damn year / And that's the biggest lie of my career," they sing.

Alongside the track, Halsey also shared the accompanying music video for "Lucky," which was directed by Gia Coppola.

The visual follows a young girl who appears to be a fan of Halsey and a pink-haired version of the singer/songwriter grappling with the effects of young stardom. Despite their fame, Halsey appears to be as lonely as her young fan. Throughout the visual, the "Without Me" performer becomes overwhelmed by the fame, argues in a hotel room with her boyfriend — played by actor Simon Rex — and reveals their shaved head beneath her wig before getting treatment for their illness

Similar to Spears in the "Lucky" music video, the visual cuts to Halsey singing in front of a shimmering backdrop alone several times and has their own overwhelming experience with the paparazzi. They also appear to pay homage to Spears' music video for "Toxic," sporting a rhinestone-encrusted bodysuit.

Halsey initially previewed the song in an Instagram teaser on July 1, where she confirmed she got Spears' "blessing" to use an interpolation of the original.

On July 18, when asked by an X (formerly Twitter) user if the "Princess of Pop" had been involved in the song's process, Halsey wrote, "yes of course! I wouldn't even dream of doing it without her blessing!"

The "Colors" singer also revealed to fans how she feels like she's sharing her most intimate emotions in her forthcoming body of work.

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Related: Why Halsey Thought Their Next Album 'Might Be the Last I Ever Got the Chance to Make'

"so basically, I tried to take a break for some privacy. And then I got sick," the "Eyes Closed" artist wrote on the platform. "And the break lasted 2 years longer than I had wanted/intended. and I was just desperate to do the thing I love again. It's different now. But I still love it and I have so much gratitude."

They also described the vibe of their not-yet-titled project as "all over the place" when a fan asked whether the new album era would be "manic" — pointing to their 2020 album — or have more cohesion.

"When I started writing it, I thought it might be the last album I ever got the chance to make," Halsey admitted, "so I tried to do whatever I'd been wanting to do, but hadn't tried yet ⭐️."

On June 4, she shared her latest single, "The End," and shared health struggles she had been dealing with since 2022. Halsey also shared on social media that she was "lucky to be alive" and confirmed a new album was coming.

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