It’s been seven years since Lily Allen’s last album. No Shame earned a Mercury Prize nomination and was praised far more than 2014’s Sheezus—especially by Allen herself—but it also became her lowest-selling record to date. That could have been seen as proof that pop music had moved on. In 2018, Britain was dominated by the polite, friendly pop of artists like George Ezra, Jess Glynne, and Ed Sheeran, while Allen seemed to represent a more chaotic and outspoken era. After that, she stepped back from music to focus on what you might call a varied set of interests: acting, podcasting, launching her own sex toy, and even selling photos of her feet to fetishists on OnlyFans.
But pop music tends to move in cycles. When Olivia Rodrigo brought Allen on stage at Glastonbury in 2022, it underscored how deeply Allen had influenced Rodrigo’s songwriting. You could draw a direct line from Allen’s raw, expletive-filled “Smile” to Rodrigo’s equally candid breakup anthems. And Rodrigo is just one of many younger female artists who cite Allen as an inspiration—others include Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and PinkPantheress. If Lola Young got a fiver every time she was compared to Allen, she’d never have to work again.
So West End Girl arrives in a much different and more welcoming climate than its predecessor. While you can hear Charli XCX’s influence in the fizzy, treble-heavy synths and heavy Auto-Tune on “Ruminating,” and a hint of PinkPantheress in the two-step garage beat of “Relapse,” the album doesn’t feel like it was made just to capitalize on the moment. Instead, it comes across as an unstoppable act of personal exorcism. It delves so unflinchingly into the collapse of Allen’s second marriage, with such vivid and gritty detail, that you’d think the lyrics had been vetted by a lawyer. (She told British Vogue that the album references experiences from her marriage but cautioned, “that’s not to say it’s all gospel.”)
Though it’s unclear where poetic license comes into play, the album’s narrative follows her acceptance of an open marriage under specific rules—as she sings on “Madeline,” “He had an arrangement, be discreet and don’t be blatant, there had to be payment, it had to be with strangers”—only for the relationship to implode when her husband breaks those rules. The songs describe confrontations with other women, a visit to an apartment where Allen (or her persona) expects to find her husband practicing martial arts but instead discovers “sex toys, butt plugs, lube” and “a shoebox full of handwritten letters from brokenhearted women.” There’s a brief, unhappy attempt to fight fire with fire—on “Dallas Major,” she joins a dating app under a fake name but keeps repeating, “I hate it.” It all builds to a bitterly unhappy conclusion: “It is what it is—you’re a mess, I’m a bitch… all your shit’s yours to fix.” The result is both gripping and shocking. At times, you wonder whether airing this much dirty laundry is wise, no matter how impeccably written or darkly witty the lyrics may be.
Naturally, those lyrics will attract the most attention. In an era when every pop song is scrutinized for clues about the artist’s private life, Allen has significantly raised the stakes. Even Taylor Swift’s complaint about being called “boring Barbie” seems mild by comparison. But West End Girl offers more than just cathartic confession. The songs move through a range of styles: the title track features orchestrated Latin pop, “Beg for Me” borrows from Lumidee’s 2003 R&B hit “Never Leave You,” and “Nonmon”ogamummy combines electronics with dancehall-style guest vocals from London MC Specialist Moss.
In other news, Olivia Rodrigo opens up about her sudden rise to pop stardom, dealing with plagiarism claims, and growing up in the public eye, saying, “I had all these feelings of rage I couldn’t express.”
Beyond the narrative, the songs are tied together by their strikingly beautiful melodies, which oddly evoke a romantic fairytale ending rather than the anger and sadness in the lyrics. West End Girl saves its sweetest tunes for its darkest moments. 4chan Stan has a wistful charm that contrasts with its title referencing online subcultures, while Pussy Palace—with its explicit lyrics—might be the catchiest track, almost daring you to replay it despite its gritty story.
It’s uncertain if West End Girl will be appreciated for its boldness and songwriting quality; it’s a strong pop album regardless of theme. Some may find it too personal, while fans who’ve matured with the now 40-year-old Allen might relate deeply to its take on modern relationships. Beneath the graphic details, it hints that open relationships are often misused, typically by men, and that thinking you’re beyond traditional fidelity—as Allen calls being “a modern wife”—doesn’t protect you from heartbreak. Time will tell, but one thing’s clear: West End Girl is a uniquely raw divorce album.
This week, Alexis enjoyed Daniel Avery’s “The Ghost of Her Smile” featuring Julie Dawson, where the British dance producer delves into what he describes as “the shoegaze and ethereal corners inside my mind,” creating a blissful track with NewDad’s vocalist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Lily Allens West End Girl framed as an examination of marital betrayal
General Beginner Questions
Q What is West End Girl about
A Its a song by Lily Allen that tells a story from the perspective of a woman confronting her partners infidelity exploring the shock anger and emotional fallout of the betrayal
Q Is West End Girl based on a true story
A While Lily Allen often draws from personal experience in her music the song is a piece of art Its widely interpreted as being inspired by real feelings and situations but its not a direct factual account of one specific event
Q Who is the West End Girl in the title
A The West End Girl is the other womanthe person the narrators partner is having an affair with The West End of London often symbolizes a glamorous highsociety lifestyle contrasting with the narrators world
Q What is the main theme of the song
A The central theme is marital betrayal and the complex emotions that come with it including jealousy insecurity heartbreak and a loss of trust
Deeper Analysis Meaning
Q How does the song portray the emotional impact of betrayal
A The lyrics vividly capture the rollercoaster of emotions the initial shock and disbelief the sharp pain of jealousy the feeling of being compared and replaced and the deepseated anger toward both the unfaithful partner and the other woman
Q Why is the examination considered shocking
A Its considered shocking because of its raw unfiltered honesty Allen doesnt shy away from the ugly messy feelings of betrayallike resentment and the desire to retaliatewhich many people feel but are often afraid to admit
Q Whats the significance of the lyrics I know what youre up to and youre not that slick
A This line highlights the painful reality that the betrayed person often knows more than the cheater realizes It speaks to the intuition and the small telling details that give the affair away making the betrayal feel even more insulting
Q Does the song offer any resolution or hope
A The song is more focused on the turmoil of the discovery than on resolution It
