Words by Andrea Regina Esperon
Valentine’s Day is approaching, and there is one artist who never fails to make me feel so in love. And that is Ella Mai.
I have been following Ella Mai since the days of her hit songs, “Boo’d Up” and “Trip.” In those tracks, her perspective on relationships felt very naïve. Mai sang so passionately about the thrill of “tripping” in love for the first time, capturing that euphoric sensation of stability and security. However, on Friday, February 6th, Mai released a 14-track album filled with romance and a profound sense of self-reflection, titled Do You Still Love Me?
With this album, she returns with a more evolved perspective on her experiences, exploring all forms of love. Mai reveals how she not only focuses on loving a partner, but also on learning to love herself. The track that stands out most is 100, where Mai frames the idea of loving someone as an ongoing practice rather than being content with perfection. The song centers on a partner who shows up with patience and reassurance, showing how emotional effort is the foundation of a strong and lasting relationship. She makes it clear that there are times when you will not feel your best, and that is okay. She pleads, “I admire all your efforts, all your patience. Know this love ain’t got no limits.” Mai acknowledges that the efforts are not going unnoticed and that these flaws are what make people flourish together.
Mai continues to explore the idea of shared responsibility and care, singing, “Baby, I can bear the load, Let me take the weight off your mind, It’s a give and take ’cause you do it for me.” It is here that Mai really emphasizes that love is a shared, reciprocal line of support rather than being strictly split. Mai continues, “Baby, even if you only got 20 for my 80, ain’t no maybe, we’ll make it to 100.” What Mai sings helps dismantle the “picture-perfect” relationship. She stresses that imbalances in a relationship are totally natural. It is a pleading reminder that the backbone behind a true partnership is the willingness to return to one another and restore a sense of wholeness.
I think when people think about relationships, they often focus on physical attraction, but the song really emphasizes the realistic emotional intimacy that comes with being in one. Mai’s fragile delivery of yearning, particularly in the line, “Love ain’t never 50/50,” reassures an individual’s worry of not being fully emotionally stable in modern dating.
Across the song you can hear soft violin harmonies and layered melodies add depth without overshadowing her voice. I think it is the perfect song for a late-night drive, especially if you are in your feels. The master of R&B emotional storytelling does it again!
Loudspeaker Collective 