Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Beautiful Disguise” by Picture Me Broken
Picture Me Broken’s hit single ‘Beautiful Disguise’ is an anthemic power ballad about living as a kind of chameleon to fit in. The protagonist in the song describes the elaborate disguise they put on in order to feel accepted and part of a larger group, but deep down they long for true connection.
The song starts with an energetic instrumental filled with driving synths and percussions, before Picture Me Broken vocalist Deanna Johnston comes in with the passionate and emotive lyrics. The lyrics reflect a feeling of isolation and loneliness, ‘so here I lay my broken heart’ being a key line in the chorus and one of the more powerful lines in the song. Johnston sings of a fear of being judged and not accepted for who they are, so she hides behind a mask and takes on a new identity.
‘I tiptoe through these shadows of doubt, questioning the sense of my own identity.’ – Here, Johnston is expressing her disconnection from herself, masking her true emotions and personality and even ‘tiptoeing’ in an effort to blend in and be accepted. Through these lyrics, the singer is inviting listeners to relate and understand the fear of not belonging to a certain group and having to resort to hiding behind a facade in order to fit in.
Johnston’s powerful vocals and soaring verses end by fully embracing her true identity, she concludes her transformation by using the strength of her own voice to sing out that she is brave enough to confront the fear and take off the mask. ‘I am through with the fear and I’m ready to take off the mask.’ She finds the courage to see beyond the so-called ‘beautiful disguise’, which can act as both a source of protection and a prison.
The message of ‘Beautiful Disguise’ is one of hope and empowerment, empowering the listener to own their story and be who they are despite the fear of judgement or rejection. It’s a song that speaks to humans’ collective desire for connection, and courage to be themselves and face the fear.