Amy Shark’s latest single is an ode to the power of a crush
Image via @amyshark / Instagram
Words by Camille Allen
“If you’re forming feelings for someone, just tell them ’cause it shows confidence and I think that’s the sexiest move of all.”
Amy Shark’s newest release ‘Can I Shower at Yours’ was first teased on TikTok through an elaborate reference to the 2010 comedy romance Easy A. Back then, Emma Stone’s ‘Pocketful of Sunshine’ scene cemented itself as an iconic pop-culture moment indicative of youth, play and individualism. Now, Amy Shark’s own rendition of the quintessential scene highlights the humour, energy and confidence surrounding the initial stages of a crush.
You probably remember Amy’s 2016 six-time Platinum single ‘Adore You’. It was a plea to love. She was begging to feel the intensity of affection. I remember it playing on the radio, sitting in the back seat of my mum’s car wondering why the guy in my homeroom didn’t want to like me back. Why had he purposely chosen to not feel the way I felt?
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Now, listening to ‘Can I Shower at Yours’ at 21 years old, I reflect on the ridiculous, beautiful, frustrating nature of a crush. I’m still not immune to outbursts of ‘Why won’t he want me???!’ but I’m at least a little more mature in my reasoning.
Two chords begin ‘Can I Shower at Yours’ before listeners are thrown into a spur of fast-paced lyrics, confusion and anguish. Amy Shark’s tone is indicative of a friend’s pressing voice memo after a slight interaction with a crush. “This song is all about the early stages of a crush, saying exactly what’s on your mind, breaking down all the barriers and embracing the excitement of what could be,” Amy tells me.
We’ve all been there. Crushes eat you up, and more than not (at least in my case *sob*), spit you right back out. The rush of discovering someone new, someone special, is almost worth the heartache, the confusion and the constant ranty updates to friends.
What started as a “serious songwriting addiction” while listening to “bands like Blink-182, Tegan and Sara, and Alanis Morissette,” Amy’s career has undoubtedly catapulted, and she’s now one of the biggest names in the Australian music industry. In July, just prior to performing her new single, Amy took home the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent at the 2023 Logies. “I think I’m influenced by so many incredible Aussie artists, I also have a great team who all work very hard so that keeps me working hard,” she adds.
“Be competitive, but not obsessed,” Amy tells me when asked what she’s learnt about being successful within the music industry. “Take the time to build the right team for your artist project, take the time to still see your friends and family, and do things that aren’t music-related.”
My crush on the boy from my year eight homeroom is long gone. However, I still cherish the butterflies of a potential new fling. Will these flings ever turn into an actual thing? Perhaps. But it’s scary to be truthful, to be vulnerable and admit you care for someone.
“I think people should wear their hearts on their sleeves a little more.” Amy rebuts. “Cut out all the games, throw away all the rules about how long you should wait before you text back. If you’re forming feelings for someone, just tell them ’cause it shows confidence and I think that’s the sexiest move of all.”
Listen to Amy Shark’s new single ‘Can I Shower at Yours‘ here.