Album Review: Vie, Doja Cat

Doja Cat in a long dress gracefully descends with a yellow parachute, caught in a tree, against the backdrop of a clear blue sky in her album cover of Vie.

Vie is Doja Cat’s fifth studio album and takes things back to the 80s. The album has more of a melodic pop feel to it, giving it a nice change from her previous albums. The album comes two years after the release of Scarlet. Doja Cat is widely known for her songs “Paint the Town Red” and “Say So.” Vie is also one of Doja Cat’s most flirty and romantic albums.

"Cards"

The first song on the album is “Cards.” The song is about two people who are drawn to each other because of how they are both driven and successful. In the beginning of the song, listeners can hear the smooth groove of a saxophone. This song is catchy, especially when she sings, “play your cards right.” Towards the end of the song, Doja Cat raps and sets the tone for the rest of the album.

"Jealous Type"

“Jealous Type” is the next song. She sings about one’s partner as they seem to be looking around at other people. It’s also about them being more emotional as someone is exploring thoughts of jealousy, learning to trust, and feeling insecure in a relationship. She shows that she’s aware of her own flaws and when her partner begins to criticize her for being impatient, not wanting to show her off, and being shallow.

"AAAHH MEN!"

The third song is “AAAHH MEN!.” The intro of this song reminds me of the music that was used in a music video a few years ago. This isn’t a bad thing. In fact, one of the things that I really like about this song is how trance-like it is. It really grabs the listener’s attention by how funky it is and the amount of guitar riffs that are sprinkled throughout. The song is about having too much tolerance, critiquing toxic masculinity, and attraction versus disgust. She also gave us a look at her self-reflection singing, “Am I impatient? I can’t stop dating ‘em.”

"Couples Therapy"

Up next is “Couples Therapy.” This song is more emotional compared to other songs on the album, as she sings about a relationship that's close to ending. She encourages people in relationships to open up and be honest about their thoughts and feelings. She also emphasizes the importance of both parties stepping up and taking accountability for their actions and behavior.

"Gorgeous"

“Gorgeous” is the fifth track on the album. It's about how “it's a crime to be gorgeous” and she criticizes society’s unrealistic beauty standards. She also sings about the importance of self-worth and loving oneself and being proud of who she is and admiring her features. This song was meant to build up one’s confidence as they learn how to express themselves. Everybody is “gorgeous” in their own way.

"Stranger"

The sixth song is “Stranger.” It took me a little bit to realize that this is actually a love song. It’s about embracing one’s weirdness and wanting to stand out, then fit in. This part reminds me of the famous quote from the movie What a Girl Wants, when one of the characters asks, “why are you trying so hard to fit in, when you were born to stand out?”

"All Mine"

“All Mine” is the next song. It’s about going after the things that you want and not being afraid of doing so. In a way, it reminds me of “Not Afraid” by Eminem just because of the intro to the song. When she sings, “this street goes both ways,” it’s about how feelings and a relationship should be mutual. Besides being attracted to each other, both people should be putting time and effort into their relationship. It shouldn’t be one-sided. She also sings about being confident and empowered. “Calling shots just like the boss lady you love,” means that she’s going to do anything to make her dreams come true and shows that she’s in control of her life and embraces feminine energy.

Doja Cat surrounded by vibrant red roses, creating a stunning and dramatic visual display.

"Take Me Dancing"

SZA joins Doja Cat for the eighth song, “Take Me Dancing.” They sing about not wanting to be alone and escaping being emotionally isolated. She wants to let everything go and be set free. They want more than being close with someone and having a sense of intimacy. They want romance and to have a relationship and to go out and have fun by dancing. Throughout the song, listeners can hear that this song is flirty, confident, and celebratory.

"Lipstain"

“Lipstain” is the next song and is about being bold and having ownership and being visible in a relationship. She uses imagery and has a sensual expression of intimacy. The chorus, “loving you was never secret,” shows everybody that they belong together and combines declarations of love throughout the song. She also sings about the haters who don’t want to see them happy and are showing signs of scrutiny and jealousy.

"Silly! Fun!"

The tenth song on the album is “Silly! Fun!” and is also the shortest song. It’s about how a new romance is fun and exciting while also consisting of conflicts. While many new relationships feel magical and people are in the “honeymoon phase,” it also makes them wonder what the other person’s intentions are and if they’re serious. In a lot of relationships, both parties have a mutual respect for one another and have set boundaries, but it isn’t the case for all of them because it can be about creating a fantasy. Doja Cat referred to this one as the “love-bombing” song on the album.

"Acts of Service"

“Acts of Service” is a song about loving someone by their actions and not just by saying things. She sings “Would it mean that I found my person when the language is acts of service?” in the chorus and wonders if small gestures mean that she found her person. She also wonders if a relationship is happening because she’s always asking for reassurance and looks for mutual investment. Compared to other songs on this album, she’s more calm and grounded and finds out the things that are real in a relationship.

"Make It Up"

The twelfth song is “Make it Up,” and I really like this song. I love the intro and how emotional this song is. This song is about her wanting to apologize and make things right with the other person, especially because she still loves and cares about them. It’s about wanting forgiveness and using love to help her show them that she feels guilty about her wrongdoings. She genuinely wants things to get better and show how sorry she is.

"One More Time"

“One More Time” is about giving love and relationships another chance and being able to grow emotionally. When giving love another chance, it’s important to be open and vulnerable with the other person. She also acknowledges that love can be painful singing, “it’s gotta hurt if we’re burning.”

"Happy"

The next song is called “Happy.” It’s about heartbreak, acceptance, and selfless love. Throughout the song, she repeatedly asks, “are you happy?” She is being genuine and shows the other person that she can’t stay mad or have any hard feelings if the person is doing what they want, even though she has a sense of jealousy or feels like she’s been betrayed. This can also show the balance between everything from wanting to be close with someone to being respectful of the other person and the decisions they make.

"Come Back"

“Come Back” is the last song on the album. This one is about a breakup and has a combination of pop and rap elements. When I think about people who give their all into a relationship but it isn’t being reciprocated or making them tired, they should probably end things so they can have a sense of peace and find their self-worth. She sings “changin' the way that you act to me,” and doesn’t want to put up with that kind of behavior from her partner.

While I listen to some of Doja Cat's music, I actually really like this album. My two favorite songs are “Gorgeous” and “Jealous Type.” To me, this album has a perfect blend of nostalgia and pop-rap. I also really liked how she incorporated some French into her music. It’s something different and I don’t hear too much of that very often.