Here’s exactly which artist each song on Halsey’s album The Great Impersonator is impersonating

Halsey blessed us all with her new album The Great Impersonator this week, and the whole concept is that the songs are imitations of different artists.

The back of the album reads, “Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! Behold the marvel of a century! Witness the uncanny ability of a woman who can become anyone, anything your heart desires. Friend, lover, foe.”

Halsey explained on Instagram over several weeks which artist inspired which song on the album. Here’s a helpful rundown of all the songs on the new Halsey album The Great Impersonator, and exactly which iconic artist inspired them.

1. Only Living Girl in LA

The first track was revealed last on Halsey’s Instagram. It pays homage to Marilyn Monroe, who Halsey calls “the most impersonated woman in history”.

2. Ego

The vibey music video for Ego
(Image via YouTube)

Halsey imitated Dolores O’Riordan for Ego. They joked on Insta, “Not much transformation necessary here, since I was basically born Dolores’ long lost daughter, but I couldn’t do the series without honoring this incredible woman.”

3. Dog Years

The 2000s icon PJ Harvey inspired this song, which has deeply snarky yet kind of tragic lines like “They say all dogs go to heaven, but what about a bitch?”

4. Letter to God (1974)

So, Halsey split up The Great Impersonator with three songs called Letter to God. Cher inspired the first version. Halsey wrote on their Insta that 1974 is a reference to Cher’s song Dark Lady from 1974.

5. Panic Attack

Halsey was going for the “witchy ballerina” vibes of Rumors-era Stevie Nicks. I knew I loved it for a reason.

6. The End

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The haunting first single from The Great Impersonator is a tribute to Joni Mitchell. No wonder the lyrics are heart-breaking.

7. I Believe in Magic

Audio of Halsey’s son Ender is mixed into this track, and Halsey even credited the toddler as a co-writer of the lyrics. The production is impersonating Linda Ronstadt.

8. Letter to God (1983)

Halsey picked Bruce Springsteen as the inspo for the 80s version of Letter to God. She wanted to honour him because he’s also from Jersey.

9. Hometown

The queen that is Dolly Parton inspired the Americana country vibes of this track.

10. I Never Loved You

Halsey embracing her inner Kate Bush
(Image via YouTube)

This song has the signature floaty dreamy vibes of Kate Bush.

11. Darwinism

Halsey wrote on Insta that this song is a homage to “Ziggy Stardust, The Starman, The Thin White Duke, The Picasso of Pop, Major Tom, The Master of Reinvention and The Chameleon of Rock… DAVID BOWIE”.

12. Lonely is the Muse

This fabulously dramatic song is in the style of Amy Lee. I can’t get enough of “And I mined a couple diamonds from the stories in my head / But I’m reduced to just a body here in someone else’s bed.”

13. Arsonist

Only Fiona Apple could inspire dark lyrics like “You can leave me sleeping in the dark so you can hide away your blade / Then lock the door and trap me right here in the blaze.”

14. Life of the Spider (Draft)

This song has stripped-back production to mimic Tori Amos. Halsey said, “his song, the most personal on the album, is just me and my piano. Because that’s all Tori ever needed to rip your heart to shreds.”

15. Hurt Feelings

Halsey impersonated herself by imitating the sound of her iconic album Badlands. What a power move.

16. Lucky

A very 90s video
(Image via YouTube)

It’s Britney, bitch!

17. Letter to God (1998)

The final edition of this song is a tribute to Aaliyah. Halsey explained on Insta, “Fun fact: I layered this song with vocals from my son when he was a baby, inspired by Are You That Somebody.”

18. The Great Impersonator

The grand finale of The Great Impersonator has Björk vibes, who Halsey calls, “the coolest, most ethereal being to ever exist.” Each to their own, I guess.

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• From popstars to models: A look inside all of Matty Healy’s surprising past relationships
• These artists are TIRED of making TikToks to promote their music, apparently

Feature images via YouTube