Country music artist Megan Moroney released her third album, “Cloud 9,” on Feb. 20, weaving together a tracklist of heartbreak and personal growth. Following the success of her previous album, “Am I Okay?” Moroney continues to prove her talent and establish her worthy recognition as one of the current top selling female country artists of the time.
Moroney built anticipation for “Cloud 9” not just through her teasers and social media hints, but also through a visual shift from her royal blue persona to a new pink era. Before fans could hear the new album, Moroney gave her listeners a sneak peek at her new character.
“Am I Okay?”, Moroney’s second album that skyrocketed her fame, came out just last year and set the bar high for future projects. The album was an instant success, sharing layers of failed relationships and the healing that follows, which resonated with a lot of fans.
“Cloud 9” opens with the title track that introduces a much more upbeat melody than Moroney’s previous album. However, Moroney does carry the same country-pop vibe fans look forward to into this new album. With “Cloud 9” being a bright first song, many expected the whole album to be fun and lighthearted, not anticipating what Moroney had in store for the following tracklist.
Notably, Moroney shared that the fifth track, “Beautiful Things,” was written for her niece, making it one of the more personal pieces on the album. Moroney also shared with fans on stage and on social media that she feels like the song encapsulates the emotions many young girls go through with harsh critiques and expectations from society. With lyrics like, “You’re pretty and you’re smart,” and “Girl, don’t pick yourself apart,” the song is a sincere message for listeners to remember their worth. The song became even more meaningful to many with the drop of a new music video, a collaboration of videos sent in by fans, making the song even more sentimental and special to many listeners.
A shock to many was the feature of Ed Sheeran on the album and his role in making one of the most heartbreaking songs on the list. “I Only Miss You” perfectly blends Sheeran and Moroney’s voices with the emotionally devastating lyrics to create a beautiful, sad song that, despite the gut-wrenching words and instrumentals, many fans are playing on repeat.
Sheeran is not the only featured artist on the tracklist; Moroney also includes country music legend Kacey Musgraves on “Bells & Whistles,” a track that prominently includes a whistle, a clever tie back to the title, and the clear, lyrical bridge of the song. While the song is not a stand out on the album with no attention grabbing lyrics or surprises, it does have a catchy melody and shows how far Moroney’s creativity has come in her music career.
Initially written three years ago, the previously unreleased song “Wedding Dress” drew fans’ attention through its heartbreaking lyrics. Moroney shared she had worried that “Wedding Dress” didn’t fit the rest of the album with its feeling of being unable to move on and pure heartbreak, but after fans’ insistence for inclusion, it made a perfect addition to the album.
The final track of the album, “Waiting On the Rain,” closes “Cloud 9” off just as powerfully as it began.The goodbye to the album being a song of reflection perfectly concludes an album that was built up throughout a range of different emotions captured through heartfelt lyrics. The chorus of the song is backed by a choral arrangement, making the impressionable song a standout sound from others on the album.
Ultimately, “Cloud 9” presents both artistic and personal growth for Moroney. While the album continues the personal storytelling and vulnerability fans know and love, it also introduces a more confident, self-assured perspective that things will be okay. By building off of her previous works, Moroney continues to solidify herself as a country artist with resonant talent and strong creative vision.
