On August 9th, 2024, singer and songwriter Beabadoobee (Beatrice Laus) released her 41 minute long, third studio album titled “This Is How Tomorrow Moves”. It was an instant hit, being her first album to debut at #1 on the UK Albums Chart. Bea is known for her indie pop/rock, early 2000s inspired records which really shine through in this album.
Take A Bite: Being the first track and lead single from the album, “Take A Bite” quickly gained popularity, peaking at #68 on the UK Singles Chart. The song is mainly acoustic, matching perfectly with Bea’s unique vocal sound. The lyrics are candid and meaningful. “It’s me feeling introspective about my thoughts and unhealthy way of living. It’s finding comfort in a familiar place – finding comfort in chaos, because that’s what I know.” Stated Bea in an interview with NME. Truly an excellent way to open the album.
California: The second track on the album, and just as good as the first. “California” stands out with its prominent use of guitar in the instrumental, making it one of the tracks on the album focused on the rock genre. It has become a fan favorite, being the opening song in the setlist for Bea’s sold-out tour for the album. The song itself is speculated to be about the topic of tour, feeling exhausted and stressed to maintain her best self while performing. This is expressed in the chorus, with the lyrics “I swear I tried”.
One Time: With a soft start, you would expect “One Time” to be more lighthearted. But after the first lyric, you are hit with a wave of instruments. The song picks up to discuss Bea’s broken relationship. Stating her partner was ‘a bore’ that ‘never tried’ or ‘put up a fight’. She goes on to further sing about their issues in the outro, getting more intense as the song nears its end, screaming the lyrics “What’s the point of fixing problems? When it was broken, we were shameless, and we never tried to solve them.” This song is in my personal top three favorites from the album, and it’s clear that Bea put a lot of emotion into the lyrics, instrumental, and vocals.
Real Man: A classier track from the album. This song is a good representation of how Bea has matured as an artist, going from teenage relationships, to looking for real love (looking for a ‘Real Man’). She vocalizes what she wants, singing “Need the reassurance baby, not a silly romance.” And goes on to describe all the immature actions this boy in her life has done, with the chorus ending with the iconic line “I guess no one ever taught you how to be a real man.”
Tie My Shoes: Yet another acoustic track, but much softer than “Take A Bite”. The acoustics back up her vulnerable lyrics, in which Bea opens up about her disappointing relationship with her father. It’s heartbreaking to hear her childhood perspective on her father, who she looked up to despite his actions and absences.
Girl Song: Tracks five and six are back-to-back emotional experiences. If you didn’t cry during “Tie My Shoes”, then get prepared for “Girl Song”. This track covers all the feelings you have as a girl, with the graceful piano in the background allowing you to resonate with these lyrics on an even deeper level. Bea goes on to discuss topics of insecurity, regarding looks and her connections with others, something she feels daily. A day like no other, is just another bad day.
Coming Home: “Coming Home” is the second single from “This Is How Tomorrow Moves”. “I wrote it in a hotel room in LA when I was away from my boyfriend, my loved ones, my two cats.” Commented Bea in an interview with Danielle Chelosky. The song focuses on the little things in life, like taking out the trash or washing the dishes. You learn to appreciate the small things once you’re away, any amount of time you spend with your loved ones. This track can be classified as a very sweet and cutesy love song.
Ever Seen: “Ever Seen” is an indie-pop love song as well as the third single from the album. Written while on tour opening for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour”, Bea was inspired by Swift’s obsession with bridges. The bridge of Ever Seen completely transforms the song, confirming her affection for this person by singing lyrics like “Every piece of me holds parts of you,” Compared to the beginning of the track where she seems unsure about how she feels.
A Cruel Affair: One of my favorite tracks from the album, “A Cruel Affair” stands out with its tropical sounding guitar paired with quieter vocals. Bea compares herself to other ‘perfect’ women, but she realizes that those who seem perfect compare themselves to others too, as expressed in the lyric “We’re both sat complaining, while we compare.” Despite her comparison, she subsequently acknowledges how she herself is a catch too. The song is very self-affirming, and I admire Bea speaking out on unrealistic beauty standards.
Post: For one of the shorter length songs on the album, being two minutes and 41 seconds, it sure has a lot to deliver. “Post” is my ultimate favorite track from “This Is How Tomorrow Moves.” “Post” is one of those songs that shows the versatility of the genres Bea covers, peeking into the shoegaze genre (a subgenre of indie and alternative rock characterized by its obscured vocals, guitar distortion, and loud volume.) The song itself is created upon multiple stories Bea has heard from friends about their breakups. That feeling of desperately trying to figure out how someone feels, just waiting for that letter through the post, but never receiving anything. Hence why the chorus is left as “He said, He said”, because there was never anything said.
Beaches: The fourth and final single from the album, as well as Bea’s favorite. On October 4th, 2024, she performed the song as a special guest on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” In an interview with Mia Hughes, Bea elaborates on the song’s meaning, “It’s about stepping into this opportunity and feeling unsure about it, but then doing it and finally feeling like I’ve made the best decision I’ve ever made.” This is conveyed in the chorus, “Don’t wait for the tide just to dip both your feet in, cause I’m sure now, I’m sure.” What’s the point of just dipping your feet in when you can go full force? That is the meaning of this song, take the risk, take the chance, you never know what you could miss out on.
Everything I Want: Being heavily inspired by artist Norah Jones, “Everything I Want” is a plain, old-fashioned love song. Bea wanted a “honky-tonk” sound, a song you could dance and fall in love to, and that’s exactly what you get. The soft vocals and acoustics in the background create a comforting atmosphere, as if the song makes you feel the same kind of safety that your partner makes you feel.
The Man Who Left Too Soon: The shortest track on the album, but still a deeply meaningful song. Disguised behind the upbeat instrumental hides a meaning of death and dealing with loss. About her boyfriend’s dad who passed away, she sings about both her and her boyfriend’s emotions. Ultimately finding comfort in knowing that those who passed on will always be there in spirit, looking at the same moon.
This Is How It Went: The final track from the album, and an excellent close. With a waltzy feeling, “This is How it Went” takes influence from Elliott Smith. The lyrics express the comfort that Bea finds in songwriting, and how she writes them as a way of healing. While the previous tracks on this album may be about other people, she is never writing the songs with intentions of being hurtful. The track comes to a close with “Getting tired don’t want to speak, oh, please let me go to sleep,” ending off the album as a whole.
This Is How Tomorrow Moves” is a meaningful album with a great sound to it. If you enjoy listening to artists like Clairo, Beach Bunny, Girl In Red or genres like indie-rock, alternative pop, or bedroom pop in general, then I highly recommend you have a listen.