Back in 2021, Canadian singer-songwriter Annabel Gutherz released her debut album Loose Ends. Since then, she has continued to develop her own sound and style, releasing several singles over the past few years. On August 16th, the Montreal native released her latest track, ‘Showtime, Baby!’, where she asks herself, and the listener, the question, “If life is a stage, am I always performing?”
The song opens with groovy instrumentals, including drums and several guitar riffs, immediately setting the tone for a pop-rock approach. In the first laid-back verse, Gutherz talks about how she’s ‘rehearsed’ what she’s been wanting to share – presumably with her listeners. The entire ambiance of the song evokes a Wild West feeling, as if the listener is on a sun-soaked film set, watching Gutherz perform.
After the first verse, the track flows seamlessly into its pre-chorus, which has some of the song’s best lyrics. Gutherz speaks about her desperate need for the attention, applause and approval of the audience – whether that audience exists of fans or people in the music industry. As she has stated herself when talking about this song, she has “explored the tension between living authentically for myself and living to meet others’ expectations,” which really shines through her.
Upon a heavy strum of the acoustic guitar, the song dives into its chorus, which features much more intense instrumentals – drums, guitar, and even some piano to top it all off. Here, Gutherz literally asks the question, “Do I live for you or do I live for me?” In the chorus, she also mentions how her stage persona is not who she really is – there is more to her behind the scenes. The chorus is followed by a short instrumental break that takes on a darker tone due to its lower pitch.
The second verse, pre-chorus, and chorus follow a similar structure to the first. The track reaches its climax right after another short instrumental break, during which Gutherz repeats the title phrase. This is followed by the bridge. Gutherz has an immensely unique voice and manages to show off her stunning vocals in this part of the song, making use of some adlibs and longer notes to really capture the listener.
The bridge transitions into the final chorus, and the song concludes with a mostly instrumental outro. “But life’s a stage and it’s showtime, baby,” the singer reiterates one final time before the song fades out with the soft playing of high piano notes. And scene!
Gutherz’s ‘Showtime, Baby!’ takes an interesting approach to the idea that, as people – and perhaps especially as women – we are always performing. The combination of thoughtful lyrics and dynamic instrumentals creates a theatrical atmosphere that speaks directly to the listener. While the idea of always having to perform, especially to please others, is not necessarily new – performativity has been a sociological interest for decades – it is surely something that many people can relate to. Whether or not one is actually on the stage, ‘Showtime, Baby!’ makes one think about their own ‘performances,’ all while delivering an exceptionally catchy pop-rock track.
Written by: Mandy Huibregtsen
Edited by: Shanna Henselmans
