If you’ve ever wanted a song that makes you simultaneously grin, cry, tap your feet, and contemplate your own mortality, then Bailey Grey’s “USE ME” is the morbidly whimsical anthem you didn’t know you needed. This theatrical indie-pop-jazz banger is like Sara Bareilles met Danny Elfman in a haunted greenhouse and wrote poetry about body recycling. “USE ME” kicks off with a vivid piano and thumping drums that build into a lush, confident groove. Bailey’s voice is deep and velvety, oozing attitude and sincerity in equal measure. Her vocals sway with a smug charm, and when the horns come in? Forget it—you’re hooked. They rise and swell like a jazzy ghost parade, giving the track an offbeat grandeur that’s both campy and cathartic.
The lyrics are a poetic fever dream: “Mix my ashes in an hourglass / Pour my blood onto crashing waves / Make my spine into a guitar.” It’s gloriously macabre, but it’s also weirdly comforting. Grey finds the beauty in decay and gives us a chorus that feels like a hug from your favorite slightly creepy aunt. It’s a celebration of mortality with a funky bassline and a whole lot of heart.
The backstory makes it even better. Inspired by a poem from her friend Alex King, “USE ME” began as a fresh acoustic performance at a song competition before blowing up on TikTok—complete with a choreographed dance. It even became the soundtrack to a young boy’s end-of-life celebration, a story Bailey shares with moving humility.
“USE ME” is delightfully dark, oddly joyful, and ready to listen on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan