Honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle this album exists. When the news first broke that Halsey—born Ashley Frangipane—was grappling with a dual diagnosis of lupus and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, the music world kind of collectively held its breath. It wasn't just another celebrity health scare. It was a 29-year-old artist looking at her life and thinking, "This might be the last thing I ever make."
That's the heavy, vibrating core of The Great Impersonator. It’s not just a collection of songs; it’s a 66-minute existential crisis set to music. She basically decided to play a game of "what if" while facing her own mortality. What if she had debuted in the 70s? Would she still be the same person? Would she still get sick?
The concept is wildly ambitious. Halsey impersonates 18 different icons across the record, from Joni Mitchell to Britney Spears. But the "great impersonator" isn't just about her mimicking Dolly Parton's twang. It’s about the fact that she’s spent years impersonating "Halsey" the pop star while Ashley, the human, was falling apart.
The Brutal Reality of the Diagnoses
We need to talk about the "EDS trifecta" because it’s a lot. Before the lupus news even dropped in 2024, she was already dealing with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), POTS, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Imagine your body’s connective tissue is too stretchy, your heart rate spikes every time you stand up, and your immune system thinks everything from a scent to a snack is a lethal threat.
Then came the T-cell disorder.
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In a series of raw Instagram clips, we saw her receiving IV treatments, crying in hospital beds, and looking generally exhausted. She told fans she was giving herself two more years to be sick, then she was done with it. It’s a gritty, dark brand of hope. The album was recorded between 2022 and 2024, mostly in the thick of this treatment. You can hear that physical strain in tracks like "Life of the Spider (Draft)." It sounds like a draft because she could barely get through a single take without breaking down. It’s just her and a piano, and it’s arguably the most uncomfortable, beautiful thing she’s ever released.
Why the Impersonations Aren't Just Gimmicks
A lot of critics were skeptical. They thought the 18-icon marketing campaign—where she dressed up as everyone from David Bowie to Kate Bush—was just a way to hide a lack of sonic cohesion.
They were wrong.
The "impersonations" are actually a lens for her to explore different facets of her trauma. Take "Lucky." It’s a direct nod to Britney Spears, even interpolating the 2000 hit. But where Britney’s version was a glittery plea for empathy, Halsey’s version is a mid-tempo, somewhat bitter reflection on being a mother who is too sick to play with her son, Ender.
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A Breakdown of the Eras
- The 70s Soul: In "The End," she channels Joni Mitchell. It’s folk-heavy and devastatingly honest. She sings about her "poisoned" blood and asks a partner if they’ll still love her when she’s a "mess."
- The 80s Grit: She goes full Bruce Springsteen for "Letter to God (1983)." Being from New Jersey, the Boss is basically her musical DNA. The track is reverb-drenched and sounds like a soundcheck in an empty arena.
- The 90s Grunge/Rock: "Lonely is the Muse" is a massive, operatic nod to Amy Lee of Evanescence. It’s loud, angry, and deals with the feeling of being used as a tool for other people's art while being ignored as a person.
The "Letter to God" Trilogy
If you want to understand the narrative arc of The Great Impersonator, you have to look at the three versions of "Letter to God." They are the anchors of the record.
- 1974 (Cher influence): A young, naive voice asking God to make her "sick" so she can get the attention and care she sees other sick kids getting. It’s a haunting look at childhood neglect.
- 1983 (Springsteen influence): The middle of her career. Now she’s famous, she’s actually sick, and the prayer has changed. Now she’s begging not to be sick.
- 1998 (Aaliyah influence): The final evolution. It features audio of her son, Ender. The focus has shifted from her own survival to the fear of leaving her child behind.
Is It Actually Good?
Look, 18 tracks is a lot. Some songs, like "Hometown" (inspired by Dolly Parton), feel a bit like filler to some, though New Jersey natives swear by its accuracy. "Darwinism" (the Bowie tribute) is sonically weird and doesn't always "fit" the flow of a standard pop record.
But that’s kind of the point.
Life with chronic illness isn't cohesive. It’s messy, disjointed, and full of weird pivots. The album is a "confessional concept" project. It’s not meant to be a club banger. It’s meant to be a legacy.
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Halsey’s move to Columbia Records for this release gave her the freedom to be this experimental. She isn't chasing a TikTok hit here. She’s chasing a version of herself that might not be around in ten years. That kind of stakes makes the music feel "heavy" in a way most pop albums just aren't.
What to Do Next
If you’re just getting into this era of Halsey, don't start with the singles. Go straight to the deep cuts to feel the actual weight of the project:
- Listen to "Life of the Spider (Draft)" in a dark room with headphones. It’s the closest you’ll get to the raw emotion she was feeling during her diagnosis.
- Watch the "Ego" music video. It’s a 90s-inspired trip that shows the duality between "Halsey" and "Ashley."
- Check her Instagram archives. Look for the "countdown" posts where she explains the specific connection she feels to each icon. It adds a whole new layer to the listening experience.
- Explore the Lupus Research Alliance. Halsey has become a huge advocate. If her story moves you, seeing the actual science behind the struggle is a great way to turn that empathy into action.
The Great Impersonator is a lot to digest. It’s long, it’s dark, and it’s occasionally confusing. But in a world of curated, perfect pop, it’s refreshing to see someone actually show their scars—both the physical ones from surgery and the metaphorical ones from a decade in the spotlight.
Don't expect a fun summer record. Expect a conversation with someone who isn't sure they'll see next summer. That's where the real magic of this album lies.
Actionable Insight: To truly appreciate the technical "impersonation" aspect, try playing the original tracks—like Joni Mitchell’s "A Case of You" followed by Halsey's "The End"—to see how she mimics vocal placement and phrasing while keeping her own lyrical identity. It’s a masterclass in music history.