Perrie rides out the highs and lows of love on Rollercoaster: First Listen

The course of love never did run smooth, but what’d be the fun in that? 

“Everybody loves,” proclaims Perrie over Rollercoaster’s glittering intro. “I’ll take the highs and the lows!” 

With our mates recently staging an intervention (apparently it’s ‘not acceptable’ to stream Christmas Magic in the middle of February), Perrie comes to the rescue with a brand-new bop this week. 

Originally teased on her socials an actual lifetime ago (read: 2023), Rollercoaster serves as a Valentine’s Day gift to fans; and Pez has only gone and given us a sneaky First Listen, the gorgey hun. 

Strap in!

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Co-written by Perrie alongside Jin Jin, Tom Mann and Starsmith (who’s also on production duties this time), Rollercoaster sees Perrie at her most vocally-versatile yet. While Tears served some smooth lower register and You Go Your Way gave the grit, Rollercoaster immediately offers something fans have been waiting over a decade for: a whistle note! On record! 

The instrumental quickly catapults into sparkly, ‘90s pop-R&B territory; layer-on-layer of acrobatics on the backing vocals. Think Mariah Carey’s Butterfly-meets-Whitney Houston’s I’m Your Baby Tonight vibes. 

“If problematic, it could be hell, it could be black magic. In automatic, we can go fast, it could be a crash landing.”  

True to its title, Rollercoaster finds Perrie embracing the ups and downs of a relationship for the greater good. She’s taking the rough with the smooth; the track’s oscillating production encapsulating the thrill of the ride.

There's a certain vulnerability in the jollity of it all, too.

"It’s a habit, trying to get help but my heart won’t have it. That’s why I panic, trying to do love, but I’m just bad at it."

Listen to a preview of Perrie's Rollercoaster:

 

 

 

 

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Then comes Rollercoaster’s euphoric chorus.

“It’s the way you pull me closer, every touch it gets me so high. When you’re shakin’ me, makin’ me fizz like pop cola. My head spinnin’, as long as my heart’s in it, I’ll ride this rollercoaster.”

Rollercoaster further showcases Perrie's versatility as an artist. To confine herself to genre would prove a disservice; her vocal fitting a '90s Mariah moment as it does a pop-rock project.

We can't wait to hear what else you're cookin' up in the studio, Pez. Happy Valentine's Day!

Perrie's Rollercoaster is released February 14 via Sony Music.

Article image: Georgie Gibbon.