There is something tremendously poignant about seeing an artist find their voice in real time, and with Buttercups, fifteen-year-old Ava Valianti has created what could be her most emotionally impactful piece yet. It is not just a coming-of-age song, it is a masterpiece about what it means to grow up and how the heartbreak can never be forgotten with time.
The first thing that comes to mind is the courageous vulnerability of Ava The delicate, rich sound of her voice in the beginning of the song brings you to the place of personal confessions in a room. As she switches into that high falsetto in the chorus, the emotional appeal is impossible to deny-it is the sound of a person finding strength within herself, despite being in the state of confusion and pain.
The structural progression of the song is the same as the emotional progression of the song Initially quiet with slow acoustic guitar and subtle piano, Buttercups seems to be a sweet lamentation of good memories. However, when electric guitars and pounding percussion are introduced, it turns into something more multifaceted and heavy because love itself can change as fast as it can become sweet as it can turn stormy.
What takes Buttercups out of the typical teen pop genre is Ava displays a mature sense of emotion. She is the embodiment of that common phenomenon that we all know about by holding onto beautiful memories even when the relationships are complicated, finding meaning in what originally made us happy. Her descriptions of scents of cinnamon and the creaks of the doors give a clear idea of the place and time, which makes the intimate feel broad.
It is sophisticated songwriting by an artist who will not dilute the complicated feelings to a palatable level. Buttercups proves that Ava Valianti is not only a gifted young artist, but also the voice of her generation, who is not afraid of touching the most problematic areas of love, being sincere and optimistic.
