HENNESSY - “All For Nothing”
“ALL FOR NOTHING” is an impassioned expression of love, loss, and helplessness, and Hennessy certainly delivers. At just under three minutes, the song is short but packs a punch. Her smooth voice and dark eyes capture the emotion in each lyric: “Told myself don’t fall too deep / Shoulda known it was all for nothing.” As the title suggests, she fears that her investment in a relationship was ultimately a waste. In the aftermath of a breakup, she regrets “fall[ing] too deep” because she had an inkling all along that things would fall apart. The video conveys these emotions of heartbreak and regrets both simply and effectively. We watch the singer strolling alone down empty streets, her head downturned as she sings the poignant lyrics. Often lifting her chin to meet the audience’s gaze, she portrays the mixed emotions of newfound solitude. In between these shots, we see clips from the relationship—resigned arguments on a living room couch, her hand placed affectionately on his chest even as their eyes reveal their unhappiness. Another interspersed shot depicts Hennessy standing behind a glass door in an orange-lit room. Sparks fly around her, evoking the sparks from the beginning of a relationship that has now burned out.
Hennessy sings in first person plural throughout the song, making frequent references to “we” rather than “I”: “Hard to say goodbye when we both wanna stay / I’ll be your freak for life.” This lyrical choice implies that the relationship’s end was mutual in part. However, at other points in the songs she seems to place the blame on herself: “Then I sit back and reflect, like I just fucked shit up.” The toggling between plural and singular voice reveals her internal conflict. In the romance’s aftermath, the blame is difficult to place. This nuanced approach to heartbreak allows Hennessy to craft a distinct voice. Her vocals are certainly the song’s core focus—the backing track is light and subtle, featuring instrumentals in a higher register than her voice. The sounds highlight Hennessy’s abilities rather than drown her out, placing the spotlight on her vocal talent. If “All for Nothing” is any indication, this artist’s forthcoming EP will be a must-listen.
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