Pretend - Lapenzi (Pop) Lapenzi gives us a power pop ballad with latest track, “Pretend”, on which she begs a former love to give her the opportunity for one last moment, asking if they’ll at least pretend to still have feelings for her. It’s a bittersweet track, amplified by warbly piano and a dynamic production that slams hard into the chorus to mirror the desperation and outpouring of vulnerability in the vocal performance. Lapenzi delivers a strong pop vocal, punchy and focused, with a tonality reminding us a bit of Miley without all the recent husk and rasp—”Wrecking Ball” era. With a universal subject matter, evocative instrumental and heartstring pulling lyrics, you’ve got a new karaoke song in “Pretend.”

Best Lyric: “If you don’t love me could we just pretend you love me?”