Susannah Joffe’s “Call Me Pretty” Is a Smoky, Slow-Burning Ode to Wanting the Wrong Person
Susannah Joffe’s latest single, “Call Me Pretty” tells the tale of a desperate love, more specifically, the feeling of hopelessly grasping for someone that, deep down, you know is bad for you. It’s self-sabotage, and definitely messy, but Joffe effortlessly embraces that complexity.
Susannah describes the single as a “haunting, self-destructive ballad of yearning—aching for someone who only sees you as their plaything.” As the pre-chorus confesses, “You look at me like your shotgun: something to hold and have fun.” It’s a slow-spun tale of intense, vulnerable want—for better or for worse. All in all, though, Susannah is incredibly cognisant of what’s happening. "Call me pretty, but never yours,” she sings in the chorus,
What makes “Call Me Pretty” hit so hard is its refusal to flinch. Joffe doesn’t just tell a story of toxic love; she makes you sit in it. The lyrics toe the line between desire and despair, exposing the blurred boundaries between being wanted and being used. It’s brutal in its honesty, and with every line, Susannah forces listeners to confront their own complicity in chasing the wrong kind of love.
Joffe’s signature pop styling mixed with her western twang creates a dark atmosphere that perfectly aligns with the lyrics’ subject matter of raw intimacy. “Call Me Pretty” layers dry, whisper-like vocals over an intense production filled with dreamy guitars and moody synths, landing the track into the rich, dark Americana landscape Joffe has already flawlessly crafted for herself through other recent releases.
Listen to “Call Me Pretty" below:
