Be Kind (with Halsey)

"Be Kind" is a song that explores the complexities of a relationship where one partner struggles with emotional vulnerability and trust issues. The lyrics, sung from Halsey's perspective, are a plea to a lover who puts up walls, lies, and acts aggressively due to their own fears and ego. The central message is an appeal for kindness, compassion, and open communication as the foundation of a healthy relationship. Halsey offers reassurance, promising to stand by her partner if he would only open up and confide in her. She sees past his behavior, believing he doesn't have "a bad bone in his body" and that his actions are a result of a "bruised ego". The song touches on the difficulty of supporting a loved one who is struggling, acknowledging the emotional toll it takes on the supportive partner while emphasizing the importance of empathy. It's a reminder that true love involves creating a safe space for vulnerability, where one can cry and confide without fear.

The narrative begins with an expression of faith in a partner's inherent goodness, despite their actions suggesting otherwise. The speaker acknowledges that the partner's ego, bruised and fragile, causes them to act out wildly and build emotional walls. There's a desire to believe that even when the partner is emotionally distant and cold, they feel remorse for their behavior. The core of the conflict lies in the partner's inability to be vulnerable; they hide their fears and resort to lies, pushing away the very person who loves them. The speaker watches this defense mechanism with a mix of frustration and empathy, seeing the pain and fear that drives it.

A direct appeal is made, questioning why the partner hides from the one they should confide in. The speaker offers unwavering support, promising to be a constant presence through the night, a source of comfort in their darkest moments. The chorus is a powerful and recurring plea for emotional honesty and kindness. It champions the idea that love should create a safe space for tears and confessions. It's a call to action, urging the partner to be kind to the one they love, which implies that their current behavior—rooted in fear and ego—is the opposite of kind.

The second verse deepens the empathy, recognizing the partner's need for someone to see through their tough exterior and understand their internal struggles. The speaker sees the partner's silent battles and understands that their guardedness is a cry for help. The repetition of the promise to stay and the reminder that the partner is pushing them away highlights the speaker's resilience and commitment, while also acknowledging the strain this dynamic puts on them.

A bridge introduces a shift in perspective, where the speaker admits the toll this one-sided support is taking. It's not fair that the burden of reaching the partner and pulling them from their mental turmoil falls solely on them. This admission of personal struggle—of 'going sick in the head' trying to help—adds a layer of realism and complexity to the song. It's not just about selfless support, but also about the personal cost of loving someone who is emotionally closed off. Despite this, the song circles back to the central, hopeful message: be kind. It's a simple but profound solution offered for a complex emotional problem, suggesting that a small act of kindness and vulnerability could break the cycle of hurt and misunderstanding.

"Be Kind" was released on May 1, 2020. The collaboration was first teased on social media on April 29, 2020, when both Marshmello and Halsey posted a flower visual with the caption "friday". The song was written by Marshmello (Christopher Comstock), Halsey (Ashley Frangipane), Amy Allen, Freddy Wexler, and Gian Stone. The production was handled by Marshmello, Gian Stone, and Miles Ale. Songwriter Freddy Wexler revealed that the session started with him playing a riff on a new synth he had just bought, with Amy Allen singing melodies and Gian Stone building a track. Marshmello stated he was "instantly obsessed" with the song after it was finished and that he and Halsey were on the same page about the final outcome. The song was created with an optimistic, '80s-inspired dance vibe, which the artists felt was needed during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The music video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, was filmed during quarantine, which presented unique challenges. Halsey learned the choreography via FaceTime and even fractured her ankle before the shoot, but still managed to perform the intricate dance sequences in the video.

"Be Kind" follows a conventional verse-chorus structure with a consistent rhythm that drives its dance-pop feel. The tempo is a moderate 94 BPM, creating a rhythm that is danceable but not frantic, suiting the song's heartfelt and pleading tone. The rhyme scheme in the verses is roughly ABCB, as seen in lines like, "Wanna believe, wanna believe / That you don't have a bad bone in your body (A) / But the bruises on your ego make you go wild (C) / Wanna believe, wanna believe / That even when you're stone-cold, you're sorry (B)". The chorus features more consistent rhyming, particularly with the repetition of "the one" followed by a rhyming verb: "When you know you can cry to the one / Always confide in the one / You can be kind to the one that you love." This repetition and simple rhyme make the hook memorable and emphatic. The interplay between the steady, synth-driven musical rhythm and Halsey's more nuanced, emotional vocal rhythm creates the song's core dynamic of a dance track with a deep emotional center.

Musically, "Be Kind" is a dance-pop and EDM track with a distinct 1980s synth-pop feel. The production features a laid-back chord progression, pulsating synths, and classic '80s-style snare drums that create an uplifting yet mellow atmosphere. The track is composed in the key of E major with a tempo of 94 beats per minute. Halsey's vocal delivery is a key stylistic element; she navigates the emotional arc of the song with a tone that is both soft and pleading, yet firm in its message. Her vocal range in the song spans from F♯3 to C♯5. Lyrically, the song employs direct address and rhetorical questions ("I don't know why you hide from the one") to create an intimate and confrontational dialogue with the listener, who is put in the position of the partner being addressed. The narrative structure follows a clear progression from identifying the problem (the partner's defensiveness) to offering a solution (kindness and vulnerability).

"Be Kind" was released in May 2020 and achieved notable commercial success. It peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and entered the top 20 in several countries including Australia, Canada, and the UK. The song appears on the deluxe version of Halsey's third studio album, Manic, as well as her compilation EP, Collabs. Its release during the global COVID-19 lockdown was timely, with many critics and fans noting that its message of kindness and optimism was particularly resonant. The music video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, was praised for its creative execution despite being filmed under quarantine restrictions, with Halsey learning the choreography over FaceTime and performing with a fractured ankle. The song has been certified 2x Platinum in the United States and has received multiple remixes from artists like Surf Mesa and Jacques Lu Cont. During her subsequent "Love and Power Tour," Halsey would paint unique canvases on stage during her performance of "Be Kind," later auctioning them to raise money for the National Network of Abortion Funds, adding another layer to the song's cultural impact.

The song uses several metaphors to convey its emotional themes. The partner's defensiveness is described as being caused by "bruises on your ego," a metaphor for emotional wounds that trigger aggressive behavior. Halsey sings that her partner is "choking on your fears," a powerful image that illustrates how fear can be paralyzing and prevent open communication. In the music video, Halsey's journey through different settings, from a stark grey room to a vibrant, anime-inspired world of flowers, symbolizes an escape from a harsh reality into an imagined, more beautiful emotional space. This visual journey can also be interpreted as being trapped in a thought spiral, trying to convince oneself that a difficult situation is better than it is. The recurring motif of flowers in the promotional material and videos symbolizes growth, beauty, and vulnerability, contrasting with the cold, stone-like exterior of the person being addressed in the song.

The most significant recurring phrase in the song is the title itself, "be kind." This phrase acts as the central thesis and resolution offered for the conflict described in the lyrics. It's repeated in the chorus, becoming an earworm hook that summarizes the song's entire message. The phrase "wanna believe" opens both couplets of the first verse, establishing the speaker's internal conflict and desire to see the good in her partner. The line "I don't know why you hide from the one" is another key recurring motif, appearing in both the pre-chorus and the chorus, emphasizing the partner's self-sabotaging tendency to shut out the person who loves them. This repetition highlights the speaker's confusion and frustration with her partner's emotional distance. Musically, the song is built around a recurring synth progression that gives it a recognizable and cohesive '80s-inspired sound.