Pop Perspective: Tove Lo’s “Cool Girl” Rated & Reviewed

Mike Wass | August 4, 2016 5:44 pm

At Idolator, the editors share a passion for high-quality pop. Occasionally, our tastes align. Other times, not so much. So, in the spirit of debate (and online drama), we’ve developed a recurring feature called Pop Perspective. In a nutshell, our editors dissect a particularly noteworthy pop-event, and give it a rating out of 10.

That way you’re getting a full spectrum of views and we can all vent. (It’s cheaper than therapy!) The latest track to be dragged under the Idolator microscope is Tove Lo’s cheeky new single “Cool Girl.” Is this another “Stay High”-sized smash or has she slightly missed the mark? Read our thoughts below.

Robbie Daw — 8/10

Upon my first listen of “Cool Girl,” I caught myself thinking, well, it’s kind of an understated song for a lead single from a major artist. But that’s the enviable fly zone Tove Lo travels in: At this point, she is indeed a hit-maker. But she’s not so huge that there are six different office suits out there market-testing her songs to death (that we know of), and so she can still work out a left-of-center track like this.

For me personally, “Cool Girl” and its subtle, club-friendly charm really clicked on the second listen. Tove’s traveling in a good direction, musically, which gives her a leg up on a bulk of her pop competitors. Now she just needs a smash that puts her over the top. Might this be it?

Rachel Sonis — 7.5/10

A sarcastic, flirty anthem about maintaining your chill amid a sea of fuckbois? Sign me up.

Carl Williott — 7/10

I’ve about reached my limit with this Xanax-drip dance music trend, but what separates this cut from the chaff is that great synth bass line and those snarky-ass lyrics. And even though it’s entirely warping the song’s theme, when I hear “I’m a cool girl, ice cold, I roll my eyes at you,” it basically resurrects my teenage nightmares about interacting with the opposite sex.

Also, only Tove Lo could make the single art for a song called “Cool Girl” a picture of her licking a donut. Together, it all adds up to the chill inverse of “Talking Body.”

Mike Wass — 7/10

Lorde lied to us. This isn’t the Song Of The Summer. It might not even be the Song Of The Week. But Tove’s latest is a perfectly charming piece of pop fluff. Given the darkness and misery that permeates Truth Serum and Queen of the clouds, she’s long overdue a flirty, upbeat moment. I just hope there’s more meat on the album.

AVERAGE SCORE: 7.4/10

What would you rate the song out of 10? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!