Møna Challenges Storybook Stereotypes In «Fairy Tale»

Møna takes a fresh approach to music, with bone-vibrating bass lines, alien synth soundscapes, and an assortment of non-musical components that leave listeners wanting more.

Her crystal clear vocals deliver figurative and sensory lines that become stuck in your head.

Following the success of her 2023 single, «unsent letters», the story of Møna being fed up with the wishy-washy character of her prior love interest, MNA’s new release, fairy tale, is much anticipated.

«Fairy Tale», like unsent letters, provide a whole story from beginning to end. The song challenges listeners to examine themselves and acknowledge that they deserve better from their significant other.

«Fairy Tale» weaves an image that questions the idea that we were all told as children, the story book romance, with the opening of a clock tower bell, synth strings, and an upbeat tempo. With a haunting tune that repeats in both the verse and the chorus, and lyrics that are sad and descriptive, it’s no surprise that fairy tale gets stuck in your head right away.

Unlike anything else in Møna‘s discography, «Fairy Tale» is presented from the perspective of the villain rather than the hero. There are references to a well-known fairy tale that we all remember hearing as children throughout the song. We are told as young girls that we should want for a prince charming to come and save us, that the only one who can save us is a man who is depicted as powerful and fearless.

In «Fairy Tale», Møna questions this, beginning with «never wanted the shoe to fit, or a somniac kiss” going on to say,», and goes on to state, «didn’t ask for a carpet ride, oh no, did I make you cry?» Throughout the story, she emphasises the perpetual state of gratitude that young women are supposed to be in, that we should be so lucky if we are saved by someone, especially a male, and that being maintained in a relationship by a man is such a treat that we should be grateful for it. In every facet of the song, Møna opposes this premise.

Most significantly, «Fairy Tale» question the notion of needing to be a damsel in distress waiting to be rescued, as well as the notion that sometimes revenge is the way to moving on, and is sometimes required to extricate yourself from a dreadful situation. At its core, it’s a song about female empowerment.

Finally, music serves as a sort of therapy for Møna. She navigates serious issues and everyday life as a queer musician through her poems and songs. She aspires to inspire others and make music that affects change in the world. It’s not unexpected that fairy tale is so focused on the story it’s telling, with a deeper message just beneath the surface, raw and real, and so accessible to listeners.