Vanity keeps the tempo high following "Infinity" with track eleven, "New Religion" - another song on the record where Vanity showcases smooth, accessible vocals in comparison to some of her more wild, untamed moments on the album, alongside a thumping dance beat that entices the listener from the very beginning. The song serves up a sonic piece of a side of Vanity that fans have loved since her early days, and that nostalgia is likely to make the song a fan favourite, featuring her trademark lyrics, a strong, synth-heavy beat and powerful, yet clear vocals from the superstar.
"New Religion" lyrically shows Vanity completely infatuated by a person, turning away from society norms and 'fairytale fiction' love stories for her hungry desire to make someone her religion. The message is clear in the song and Vanity doesn't shy away from it, in fact, with her bold vocals on the track and the constant repetition of the line "I got a new religion" in the song, it's safe to say Vanity's proud of the fact and wants the world to know about it. It's borderline creepy and obsessive, but it's not hard to see that's what Vanity was going for in the song - a feeling towards someone that's untamed and uncontrollable.
VANITY: "A lot of my music deals with, perhaps extreme forms of emotions. So if it's a sex song, it ends up being very much about sex, and if it's a love song for someone, it ends up being very over the top and dramatic, which is what 'New Religion' really shows. We grow up with crushes... people who we're extremely attracted to, but would never dare tell them in fear of rejection. This song really addresses that, without focusing on that fear and rejection side of it, it's more of a mentality than a song declaring love."
"New Religion"Sounds like:
No more following the past
All the fairytale fiction, let's change the system
Replace the rumors for a change in the future
I write my own rules
And I've got nothin' to lose
I got a new religion
I got a new religion
You, you're a star in the dark
You, you're my work of art
The way you express yourself
In a way like no one else
From the heat of your blood
To your precious touch
I got a new religion
I got a new religionPreachers would always preach to me
And teachers would always teach to me
I made my own mind up
And my eyes are on you
I made my decision
The story is written
I got a new religion
I got a new religion
Don't question false truth
Well that's the power of youth
Always searching for answers, a hungry desire for more
And when I'm not looking, you're knocking at my door
Don't you know that it's always been you…
I got a new religion
I got a new religion
You, you're a star in the dark
You, you're my work of art
The way you express yourself
In a way like no one else
From the heat of your blood
To your precious touch
I got a new religion
I got a new religionDidn't think I'd be in this deep
But I'm not backing out this time
Don't turn around, put your coward down
I'm gonna stick it out, say it loud
Cause this time, my eyes are on you
I got a new religion
I got a new religion
Didn't think you'd light up my life
But I'm not hiding behind my darkness
Don't stop, cause I'm feeling it now
I'm gonna let my guard down
Cause this time, I've got nothing to lose
I got a new religion
I got a new religion
You, you're a star in the dark
You, you're my work of art
The way you express yourself
In a way like no one else
From the heat of your blood
To your precious touch
I got a new religion
I got a new religion
Track twelve is the powerful "Human Right", still just as catchy as any of the other radio-friendly songs on the album, but with a deeper, more heartfelt meaning coming from Vanity, wrapped up in a melodic pop song that Vanity's core fanbase is likely to appreciate. The verses are minimal and eerie in sound as Vanity expresses her lyrics with perhaps the most passion we've heard from the singer, singing about a subject that's evidently close to her. While it's a celebration song, likely written about the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the United States, the song has an air of melancholy around it, as if she's sad that it's taken this long in the first place. As the chorus hits, the beat explodes, becoming more punchy and elevating Vanity's vocals to new heights.
The song subject isn't so unheard of from Vanity, as we've heard her sing empowering, supportive lyrics in the past on her previous records, so "Human Right" fits in perfectly in her discography. "Old scriptures and hateful teachings / Can't silence the sound of human feelings", Vanity sings beautifully in the opening verse, sounding like she's still on a mission for equality. "Cause we've waited enough time / For equal to be legal, and we're not out of line", she follows in the track's powerful chorus, one of the most memorable moments on the album with its moving lyrics.
VANITY: "This song is one that I'm extremely passionate about, well, I'm passionate about them all, but this one is me really baring my heart. I adore the message of it and I truly believe that while progress is being made in the world, there's always somewhere and someone else that needs more support... that's who I fight for. Not just my country, but the people in our world. 'Human Right' is a celebratory song, but the fight is far from over."
"Human Right"Sounds like:
We could change the world, boy or girl
Light up the skies with glitter and gold
And all that they say
Won't matter today
Old scriptures and hateful teachings
Can't silence the sound of human feelings
Instead, we silence the sound of hate speech
Now we've got new rules to teach
The doors are wide open to break the norm
We'll change history
And a new era is born
Cause we've waited enough time
For equal to be legal, and we're not out of line
It's just a human right and through all the fights
We can raise our fist to a victory won (we are, we are one)
Don't let history repeat itself, let it come undone (we are, we are one)
It's just a human right
There's no wrong or right
Just a human, human rightWe could dance tonight, into celebration
Boy with boy and girl with girl
Living how they want, in a home we all call the world
Cause all that they say
Won't matter today
Call it disobeying a higher power
But this life is ours
And love's our superpower
Cause we've waited enough time
For equal to be legal, and we're not out of line
It's just a human right and through all the fights
We can raise our fist to a victory won (we are, we are one)
Don't let history repeat itself, let it come undone (we are, we are one)
It's just a human right
There's no wrong or right
Just a human, human rightNew found confidence
Up against the same old arguments
We're just living to be who we are, and that's alright
Don't feel so uptight
It's just a human right
Just a human, human right
It's just a human right
There's no wrong or right
Just a human, human right
It's just a human right
There's no wrong or right
Just a human, human right
Cause we've waited enough time
For equal to be legal, and we're not out of line
It's just a human right and through all the fights
We can raise our fist to a victory won (we are, we are one)
Don't let history repeat itself, let it come undone (we are, we are one)
It's just a human right
There's no wrong or right
Just a human, human right
Rounding off the album at track thirteen is "Curtain Call", a moving ballad that may be a predictable ending to your average pop album, but it's a beautiful highlight on the record that shows off Vanity's incredible vocal talents that may sometimes be drowned out on her more electronic-focused tracks. The track sees Vanity throw in those synthesizers and overly-processed vocals for real, authentic vocals that are gritty and raw, paired with an emotional combination of piano, drums, violins and guitar.
The song could be written about either a dying romance or Vanity's outlook on life, depending on the way you interpret the lyrics, either way we can only assume that Vanity wrote the song in a fragile, emotional state of mind, as it's rare when we hear the singer in such a vulnerable way. The lines "This life is fading and nothing's changing / Time is precious and we're careless / We never realise until we're breathless" both open
and close the song, it's not the most joyful endings we've ever heard on a Vanity album, but it certainly leaves its mark on the listener with its blunt message. Though it's not all bad in the track, as there are hopeful undertones, such as in the lines "We can work with whatever we have left / The little time and the endless debt" and "We can see everything we've ever wanted / Achieve all of our dreams".
VANITY: "I wanted to round the album off with a good, old fashioned ballad, something I haven't done on an album of mine in a long time. 'Curtain Call' isn't a song I would usually create, the vocals were done in one take and the lyrics didn't take very long either, but I really appreciated the raw beauty of the song when listening back to all of the tracks that I created for this record, it definitely stood out to me. In fact, it was close to not making the album at all, and I think that's why so little attention was given to it as it was recorded right at the beginning of the album process, and I was expecting to scrap it, right until the end when it came to making the track list. Though I feel it really adds something that otherwise would have lacked on this record, so I'm proud of my decision."
"Curtain Call"Sounds like:
This life is fading and nothing's changing
Time is precious and we're careless
We never realise until we're breathless
We want the world, so why do we settle?
Why make do when we've got potential?
You can't shift the blame
If you let yourself burn out like a dying flame
We can see everything we've ever wanted
Achieve all of our dreams
And if we can move the mountains
That we can paint the perfect outcome
What if it's the last dance?
I thought we still stood a chance
Don't say it's as final as the writing on a grave
Cause babe, I think we got time to save
All that we wanted to do
Be who we wanted to be
What if there's still time to see?
That we can do it all before curtain callWe do the nine to five to visualise
A different reason to survive
A new meaning to live this life
We want the dream, the high, the prize
But there's always someone to name the price
We can work with whatever we have left
The little time and the endless debt
We can see everything we've ever wanted
Achieve all of our dreams
And if we can move the mountains
That we can paint the perfect outcome
What if it's the last dance?
I thought we still stood a chance
Don't say it's as final as the writing on a grave
Cause babe, I think we got time to save
All that we wanted to do
Be who we wanted to be
What if there's still time to see?
That we can do it all before curtain callBut if we're still holding on, then there's gotta be a reason
Otherwise we woulda caved in by now, we woulda gave up
Maybe we shoulda by now, cause we're weak and tired
We're wilting and drifting
Holding on til curtain call
Holding on til curtain call
Is it as final as the very last dance?
What if we still stand a chance?
Is it as final as what's written on a grave?
What if there's still time to save?
All that we wanted to do
Become who we wanted to be
What if there's still time to see?
That we can do it all before curtain callThis life is fading and nothing's changing
Time is precious and we're careless
We never realise until we're breathless