On the 26th of January, American singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin released his new single ‘Pick Me’. This came as a surprise to many fans, as unlike his previous release, there had been no teasing prior to its announcement. In this song, Benjamin takes on the concept of a “pick me boy”; someone who (whether knowingly or not) uses his low self-esteem to emotionally manipulate the other person.
The emotional manipulation starts right off in the first verse, where Benjamin says that he’s lying about things such as his height and wondering whether he is trying too hard. The words are set to the strumming of an acoustic guitar, often Benjamin’s instrument of choice. In the pre-chorus an extra layer is added to Benjamin’s voice, creating an interesting effect. This part of the song suggests that he is trying to make up a fictional story of how he met his person of interest. He seems to want to create a ‘meet-cute’, a popular trope in romantic media in which two people meet under cute circumstances. Benjamin suggests that they could say they met at a coffee shop or through a friend, but no matter what they think of, they’ll probably have to make something up every time as they continuously forget the lie they’re trying to sell. In addition to the first verse, it is noticeable through this pre-chorus how much of the relationship he’s envisioned is based on fabricated narratives.
The chorus starts and ends with the words ‘pick me’. Benjamin is trying to let the other person know that he’s available and desires to be chosen by naming specific characteristics to make him fit into the idea of a “good guy”, even though “there’s other fish in the sea”. Drums play throughout this first chorus and continue into the second verse. Here, Benjamin lies a little more – in this case about his academic achievements – on top of calling his crush “the most flawless specimen”. It is interesting to note that while he is trying to complement them, he does so in a way that feels almost uncomfortable – adding to the icky feeling this character is causing. Throughout this second chorus, a tambourine is playing in the background.
The last chorus only makes use of the guitar the song started out with. In its entirety, the song delves into the idea of seeking validation from your love interest in a way that is entirely dishonest. Benjamin, known for his story-telling lyricism, has spun yet another tale inspired by current reality as seen on social media, set to an upbeat array of guitar and drums.
Written by: Mandy Huibregtsen
Edited by: Molly Day
