Halsey thought they were dying.
That’s not some dramatic clickbait or a PR stunt. It’s the literal, terrifying premise of The Great Impersonator. When the album dropped on October 25, 2024, it wasn't just another collection of radio-friendly hooks. It was a 66-minute confession from someone who had spent two years staring at their own expiration date.
Being diagnosed with both systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder will change how you hear music. It'll definitely change how you make it. For Halsey, these health crises—which they've been managing since 2022—turned the recording studio into a time machine and a sanctuary.
The Identity Crisis Behind The Great Impersonator
Kinda weird to call an album "The Great Impersonator" when you're trying to be your most authentic self, right?
But that’s the irony. Halsey felt like their body was becoming a stranger. When your own cells start attacking you, you begin to feel like you’re just "impersonating" a healthy version of yourself. This feeling of being a fraud in your own skin birthed the concept: If I had debuted in a different decade, who would I be?
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It’s a heavy question.
To answer it, Halsey didn't just write songs. They morphed. During the 18-day rollout, they posted uncanny recreations of icons like David Bowie, Dolly Parton, and Kate Bush. This wasn't just high-end cosplay. Each impersonation linked to a specific track influenced by that legend's DNA.
The Icons and the Tracks They Inspired
Honestly, the list of influences is a fever dream for music nerds. Halsey didn't just pick "popular" people; they picked the architects of their own creative soul.
- Marilyn Monroe inspired "Only Living Girl in LA," a six-minute opener that basically rejects the plastic glamour of Hollywood.
- Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries) haunts "Ego," a track that feels like 90s alt-rock distilled into a vial of pure adrenaline.
- Stevie Nicks is the ghost in the machine for "Panic Attack." If you close your eyes, you’d swear you’re hearing a lost Rumours B-side.
- Britney Spears gets a massive, heartbreaking nod in "Lucky." It samples the 2000 original but flips the perspective to Halsey’s own modern-day isolation.
There are others, too. From the Bruce Springsteen-coded "Letter to God (1983)" to the Björk-inspired title track at the end. It’s a genre-hopping mess in the best possible way.
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Mortality in Three Parts: The "Letter to God" Trilogy
If you want to understand the heart of The Great Impersonator, you have to listen to the "Letter to God" songs. They are the emotional spine of the record.
- Letter to God (1974): A child's perspective. It’s weirdly dark. Halsey sings about a boy they knew with leukemia and, in a twisted bit of childhood logic, wanting to be sick so people would love them that much.
- Letter to God (1983): The regret. The reality of being an adult who actually is sick and realizing that the "attention" isn't worth the agony.
- Letter to God (1998): The mother’s plea. This is the one that guts you. It’s about the terror of leaving their son, Ender, behind.
It’s rare to see an artist track their own spiritual evolution across three different "eras" on one album. It shows a level of planning that goes way beyond a typical pop release.
Why "Life of the Spider (Draft)" Feels So Different
One of the most talked-about moments on the album is "Life of the Spider (Draft)." It sounds like it was recorded on a phone in a bedroom at 3:00 AM.
That’s because it basically was.
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Halsey said they barely got through it. They left it as a "draft" because a polished, studio version would have killed the raw, shaky-breath energy of the performance. It’s an extended metaphor about being a spider—something people want to kill even when it's just sitting in the corner, minding its own business. It’s a brutal look at how the public and even loved ones can treat someone who is chronically ill.
The Sound of Survival
Musically, this isn't a "hit-maker" album. It's a "life-maker" album.
While "Lucky" and "Ego" had their moments on the charts, the record as a whole leans into folk, grunge, and industrial sounds. It’s a middle finger to the expectation that Halsey needs to keep making "Closer" for the rest of their life.
What This Album Actually Teaches Us
Most people look at The Great Impersonator as a tribute to the past. That’s only half the story. It’s actually a roadmap for how to survive a crumbling reality.
- Lean into your influences. When you don't know who you are anymore, looking at the people who built you can help you find the pieces.
- Don't hide the "drafts." Sometimes the unpolished, messy version of your story is the only one that actually matters.
- Legacy is a dialogue. Halsey isn't just mimicking these artists; they are talking to them across time.
If you're going to dive into the record, don't just shuffle it. Listen from start to finish. It’s an 18-track journey that starts in the 70s and ends in an uncertain future.
Next Steps for the Listener:
- Compare the "Lucky" versions: Listen to Britney’s 2000 version and Halsey’s 2024 version back-to-back. The shift in perspective on fame is staggering.
- Watch the visuals: Halsey’s Instagram archive from October 2024 contains all the side-by-side impersonation photos. Seeing the makeup work helps the sonic references click.
- Read the lyrics to "The End": It’s the song where Halsey first publicly addressed their illness. It serves as the "Rosetta Stone" for the rest of the album's themes.