Charli Adams’ new single feels in equal measures nostalgic and contemporary, as it explores the phenomenon of being a people pleaser. 

Cheer Captain is the latest deeply honest and relatable song released by Charli Adams, exploring religion, and losing yourself in the pursuit of other people’s happiness. 

The song captures an early 2000’s indie rock vibe, with its anchored beat, strong guitar chords, and a mellow, but meaningful anger behind it. The song doesn’t feel overly produced, and this along with its notorious 2000’s vibe creates a nostalgia that will certainly resonate with Millennials and Gen Z alike.

Originally from Alabama, now living in Nashville, Adams explores the futility of religion in the song, and more overtly through the strong religious referencing in the music video: “Talking to God in the shower / I knew he was busy, said ‘Sorry to bother’”. She presents in these lyrics and the music video, not only a generous insight into her as a person and her upbringing but also allows us to see things that are relatable to our own previous religious experiences.

It is clear that Charli’s skill of writing, which had already been explored through her contributions for artists such as Chloe Moriondo and Peach Pit, is her strong suit as she evokes with such specifics, her own experiences of being a people pleaser laid bare: “And when he fucks me over I'll say that I'm sorry / And then I'll take it all off so he says that he wants me”. Experiences that will be relatable to those that so many listeners will have gone through too. 

This song is the third single from her upcoming LP ‘Bullseye’ and if Cheer Captain is anything to go off, prepare for an LP that provides an honest look at womanhood and more generally, a relatable reflection of what it means to be human.

Bullseye is out on July 16th via Color Study.