To say that Meghan Trainor has a difficult path with female-empowerment anthems is a little bit of an understatement. Look no further than the "be proud of being thick because men like it" on "All About That Bass" or the stereotypical gender roles rooted in the lyrics to "Dear Future Husband." But now, the Grammy-winning Best New Artist is gearing up for her sophomore album, and its lead single "No" looks to redeem all that.
Yes, this may be the defiant (dare we say feminist) Trainor song that fans have been looking for.
Right off the bat, "No" sounds like any ol' Meghan Trainor single, with doo-wop harmonies and a sweet little melody. But, after just 15 seconds, Trainor finds her voice and the song drops. "My name is no / My sign is no / My number is no / You need to let it go," Trainor half-sings, half-raps in a defiant manner that we have yet to hear from her.
Taking lyrical inspiration from brushing off a too-insistent man at the club, "No" is the sort of anthem that women have been looking for. "Thank you in advance, I don't wanna dance / I don't need your hands all over me / If I want a man, then I'mma get a man / But it's never my priority," she sings in an out-of-character show of female empowerment and independence.
Musically, "No" also brings that sort of bold energy. Moving away from her ukulele-led throwback to the '50s sound, Trainor channels early 2000s girl groups and pop stars a la In the Zone Britney Spears and NSYNC's "It's Gonna Be Me." With ripping guitars leading instrumentation, "No" is the sort of single that millennials will revel in.
So, get ready for yet another Meghan Trianor takeover.
"No" is the lead single from Trainor's sophomore album Thank You, which is due for release later this year.
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