Synth Single Review:“Pretending to Be Cool” by NÆ & Blizz

by Karl Magi

NÆ’s “Pretending to Be Cool” is a dazzling blast of synth-pop fun. The song opens with metallically bouncing percussion and a rapidly rushing piano driven by heavy bass. NÆ chants the lyrics with playful confidence, supported by a thumping kick drum. I enjoy the joyful, carefree performance as a bending synth cries out with a ghostly, computerized shimmer.

NÆ lets her voice bloom with smooth expressiveness, joined by Blizz’s backing vocal. Quickly pulsing drums and synth mingle as interlocking, electrifying percussion adds shape. The track shifts into a section where an undulating synth mirrors the vocals and a twisty little melody shimmies through with snaky smoothness. Both vocalists sound like they’re having a great time as the tightly wiggling synth figure floats past and the percussion kicks hard.

Our storyteller admits, “I’m so good at pretending to be cool,” as she invites everyone to watch and play the game too. “Let’s take off, rocket to the moon, pockets in my spacesuit.” Now it’s “click, flash, bang, like everything is true,” as she urges everyone to “look in the deep blue hologram endlessly.”

She asks if anyone remembers her, adding, “The robots do and yours do too.” As they soar through the atmosphere, all fears are illuminated and they end up “falling into who we are.” She concludes, “It’s all pretend, let’s all pretend, you’re all pretend, I’m all pretend.”