Marina Diamandis’ sophomore effort could easily be dismissed as another thoughtless bubblegum pop album. The sheen production, the syrupy Top 40-style electronic beats, the catchy choruses, and the superficial song titles (e.g. Bubblegum Bitch, Primadonna, Starring Role) are deceptively similar to tracks recorded by the commercially successful artists that fill the airwaves. Upon closer inspection, Electra Heart is more complex. The album uses a character to highlight two central themes: artifice and archetypes.
While Electra Heart may be a persona, she represents the different facets of Marina’s unfortunate love life. The pop direction was a conscious artistic decision by the songwriter. With glitz and glamour, she channels ideas about the real/fake dichotomy of fame. This is evident in the track “Homewrecker” where she declares that she is “the image of deception.” Ironically, it was this façade that allowed her to write honestly about her misadventures with men.
In “Valley of the Dolls” Marina invites the listener to “pick a personality for free.” The aforementioned personalities are various female archetypes, including the starlet, the suburban housewife, and the cynical teenager. These perspectives can be explored authentically because nearly all women possess qualities from each of them. She faithfully showcases the realistic depth and complexity of femininity, which will satisfy those who are drained from the constant cookie-cutter portrayals of women. In “Sex Yeah,” she even urges girls to question their role as voiceless sex objects. “Teen Idle” focuses on contradictions and unrealistic standards and expectations set for young women. The intricate embodiment of female representation breaks the mold of the typically two-dimensional figures found in most popular music.
Underneath the sugary-sweet surface layer, there are darker aspects to this LP, such as the eerie ending to “Fear and Loathing,” and the decision to rhyme “idle” with “suicidal.” These bleaker moments are what make Electra Heart a rewarding listen. Marina’s appeal is similar to Lana Del Rey’s in that they both express the pain that comes along the beautiful and glamorous side of life. Electra Heart offers both pure escapism via shallow pop and captivation for an audience craving music that challenges societal constructs.
