The song's lyrics, written by guitarist , explore the universal theme of the loss of love and the desire for genuine vulnerability.
: Critics highlight the second verse as particularly poignant for its simple yet heavy emotional weight: "If you wanted out / Didn't I let you go / If you wanted in / Didn't I make it so" . Musical Composition & Style a_ha_under_the_makeup_lyric
: The "makeup" serves as a metaphor for the masks people wear in relationships. The narrator expresses a longing to see their partner without these layers—"I want to see you under the makeup"—to rediscover the original connection they once shared. The song's lyrics, written by guitarist , explore
: Produced by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and Erik Ljunggren , the track starts with a sparse piano accompaniment before building into a "boombastic" orchestral finish. Critical Reception The narrator expresses a longing to see their
"Under the Makeup" is the lead single from a-ha 's 2015 comeback album, . The track marked a significant return for the Norwegian trio after their 2010 farewell tour, offering a cinematic, orchestral sound that diverges from their 1980s synth-pop roots. Lyric & Theme Analysis