Loud, chaotic, and brutally honest in all the right ways, Towa Bird’s “FML” captures the feeling of unraveling in real time. The emerging singer/songwriter navigates themes of yearning, humor, and heartbreak in the opening track of her debut album, painting a vivid picture of queer love at full volume.
Follow our Today’s Song(s) playlist
Stream: “FML” – Towa Bird
There’s a moment in Towa Bird’s “FML” that strikes a balance between playful and painful.
“Sit on the couch and watch ‘Jennifer’s Body’ / Tell you she’s hot and then say that I’m sorry.” It’s amusing, awkward, and genuine. This is precisely the type of lyric that stops you mid-scroll and makes you wonder, Who is this?
Towa Bird is an artist who doesn’t just pen songs; she creates emotional landscapes. “FML,” the first track of her anticipated 2024 debut album American Hero, is a three-minute explosion of queer yearning, late-night over-analysis, and guitar-driven release. It’s as chaotic as authentic feelings can be. It’s loud in the way that heartbreak often must be. And it’s gentle in a way that's only possible for someone who has truly experienced it.
I want the best for you
Breakfast in bed for you
Just to be next to you every day
And if you can handle it
Here’s my Los Angeles
I’ll make the plans for us every day
Every day
American Hero – Towa Bird
Hailing from Hong Kong, raised across London and Thailand, and now living in LA, Bird’s journey is as cosmopolitan as her music. Yet, what makes her sound impactful isn’t her background; it’s the sense of intimacy. “FML” doesn’t seek to generalize the queer experience but rather zooms in on the details. It highlights the uncomfortable pauses, the spontaneous messages, the way desire can feel like both a gift and a burden—all wrapped in a guitar sound that feels like it’s been longing to break free.
‘Cause I got ideas in my fantasy
You just fly here, start a family
F* my life
‘Cause I can’t live without you
I might die
‘Cause I can’t live without you
There’s something bold about how effortlessly Towa Bird occupies space. She’s not waiting for recognition; she’s already present, amping up the volume. “FML” isn’t merely a song about queer love; it exists because of queer love. It reminds us that representation doesn’t need to be pristine or flawless to resonate. Sometimes, it just needs to convey the truth.
And that’s precisely what “FML” accomplishes. It speaks the truth loudly, filled with distortion and eyeliner, with a heart that’s been vulnerably exposed and turned into music. It’s a track for those moments when you’re uncertain if you’re in love or just losing control. It’s a song that helps you feel less isolated.
Swear when you get here
That I’ll always let you drive
Drag you to exercise every day
Sit on the couch and watch ‘Jennifer’s Body’
Tell you she’s hot and say that “I’m sorry”
I’m sorry
And when it’s over, let the credits roll
Pull you closer, take off all your clothes
However, it’s not just the lyrics that stir emotions; it’s Bird’s delivery. Her voice doesn’t just sing; it pleads, it laughs through the hurt, and it clings on. The desperation in the chorus feels as if it's fighting to escape her chest. “F* my life, 'cause I can’t live without you.” It’s not subtle or poetic. It’s simply sincere, and that’s what makes it sting in the most profound way.
F* my life
‘Cause I can’t live without you
I might die
‘Cause I can’t live without you
I’m not alright
‘Cause I can’t live without you
F* my life
‘Cause I can’t live without you
The production is raw yet purposeful. The guitars are sharp, the drums have an urgency akin to a panic attack, and the mix leaves just enough space for Bird's voice to resonate like a confession shared into a pillow. It’s not aiming for perfection; it’s striving to be felt.
“FML” is a song that doesn’t just serve as a backdrop for a moment; it embodies the moment itself.
It represents the drive home after an argument, the message you don’t send, the silence that follows a declaration of love when you’re unsure how to reply. It’s queer, chaotic, and therapeutic. It fulfills a vital need in pop-punk.
Towa Bird isn’t merely defining queer rock stardom; she’s making it resonate like an
Loud, chaotic, and brutally truthful in the most compelling manner, Towa Bird’s “FML” encapsulates the sensation of unraveling in the moment. The emerging singer/songwriter explores the intersections of desire, humor, and sorrow in the introductory track of her debut album, painting a vivid picture of queer love at full intensity.
