Devon Cole Delivers an Infectious Pop Romp in “Dickhead”
Photo: Eden Graham
What might be wrongly attributed to the equivalent of audio clickbait, Devon Cole's “Dickhead” is actually a song that has been brewing in a live setting for over a year, a meme song that became a fan favorite for all the self-evident reasons that finally led to even her label being convinced it needed to be released. The originally from Calgary, now based in Toronto songstress is known for her immersive, detailed lyricism, superfluously funny hooks, and perfectly grafted melodies that ride under the song bed like a powerful steed.
With her first string of singles released during the pandemic, her sound emanated a natural alt-pop tilt, likely partially inspired by her hometown, most famous for its rodeo, which decorates her inviting pop sound with country adjacent flares. While Cole was always drawn to music, growing up in a successful musical family, her course was almost diverted to slogan and jingle creation via her copywriting day job. Sadly for pizza chains and happily for us the music-engrossed fans, she’s charted her course as a pop predator, seeking out narratives filled with humor, wit, and most importantly catchy hooks.
In “Dickhead,” Cole walks us through the familiar tale of a love interest who pulls our curiosity and interest despite signaling all the wrong behaviors, a person littered with character flaws. Starting with some delta blues guitar, Cole takes a Nashville country pop tempo and spins a devilishly hilarious story of man-child behaviors sung quickly with twangy hints before settling into a proper power pop chorus.
“'Dickhead' is THE song for me," shares Cole. "I feel like it captures so much of who I am. From the title to lyrics to the beat, it’s everything I wanna be as an artist. It’s a track that makes you wanna move and makes you smile. We had a laugh coming up with the lyrics. It’s hooky and just straight-up fun and I love it. I’m someone who is very drawn to music that is campy. The biggest songs of my youth were songs like 'That Don’t Impress Me Much' and 'Call Me Maybe' and 'Mambo No. 5.' I love music that is lighthearted and a little ridiculous. That’s the stuff people bond over, the stuff of life. I feel like the world can always use more FUN and that’s what 'Dickhead' is to me. I believe in it so much. I hope people love it as much as I do.”
The single which is bookended with an equally hilarious video (Cole ironically cast her manager as her “dickhead”) casts the rising star's inner circle and displays her impossibly charismatic personality and tongue-in-cheek delivery. For our tastes, Cole’s irreverent storytelling, powerful narratives, and approachable pop delivery have us bucking for more, so don’t be a dickhead and saddle up with this tune as your lasso for more summer fun.
Watch the "Dickhead" video below:
