Halsey probably believes in the “Church of Stevie,” too. On Friday, Vevo premiered a live performance of the star’s Great Impersonator single “Panic Attack,” set in a Seventies backdrop as Halsey channeled Fleetwood Mac.
The live performance — captured on 35mm film stock — is the first to be released with Vevo off of Great Impersonator, with the platform recreating sets in different aesthetics to represent the eras that Halsey’s songs channel.
“And I think you’re a danger to my health, or so it seems,” sings Halsey on the track. “Is it love or a panic attack?/Is a heavy heart too much to hold?”
Halsey released Great Impersonator, her fifth album, on Friday. She led it with singles “Lucky,” “Lonely Is the Muse,” “Ego,” and “I Never Loved You.” She also teased its release by recreating iconic looks by folks who inspired the album, including Dolly Parton, Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, and Aaliyah.
“There’s a constant tension between the playful wit in the music and the sluggish gloom of the vocals,” read a Rolling Stone review of the record by Rob Sheffield. “But the best moments on The Great Impersonator come when the music wins out. Playing around with the past seems to shake up her imagination — and point her toward the future.”
Halsey released Vevo performance videos similar to this one for her first two records, Badlands and Hopeless Fountain Kingdom.
“For the past nine years, we’ve had the privilege of seeing Halsey’s uniquely expansive vision for her work come to life, with her gracing multiple Vevo franchises,” said JP Evangelista, SVP, Content, Programming and Marketing, Vevo. “Halsey is, and always has been, a creative force of nature – and this time, fans get to see another side to her.”
“With each performance distinctly reflecting an era, Halsey brings her fans on a nostalgic journey through time and introduces them to her various personas,” Evangelista added. “We look forward to releasing the next decade piece.”