| "Pretty Ugly" | ||||
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| Single by Zara Larsson | ||||
| from the album Midnight Sun | ||||
| Released | 25 April 2025 | |||
| Genre | Eurodance | |||
| Length | 2:39 | |||
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| Zara Larsson singles chronology | ||||
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| "Pretty Ugly" on YouTube | ||||
"Pretty Ugly" is a song by Swedish singer Zara Larsson. It was released on 25 April 2025 as the lead single from her upcoming fifth studio album, Midnight Sun , through Sommer House and Epic Records. [1] It reached number fourteen in Sweden and entered the charts in Norway.
She teased the single through social media and a Coachella-themed billboard. The release follows her previous album Venus , which debuted just over a year prior. Larsson is also slated to support Tate McRae on the Miss Possessive Tour beginning in August. [2] In a 2023 interview with British GQ , she discussed her views on societal pressures related to female appearance, a theme reflected in her latest work. "Pretty Ugly" combines high-energy pop production with commentary on femininity and self-expression. [3] Larsson further explained that the song was written on the first day of working with MNEK, Margo XS, and Helena Gao, who served as core collaborators on the album. Larsson stated that the song was developed spontaneously through conversational exchanges, with some lyrics originating from improvised speech. The group sought to produce a track characterized by immediacy, energy, and intensity. [4]
The track features bold lyrics addressing societal expectations placed on women, with Larsson rejecting the idea of appearing traditionally ladylike. The chorus explores themes of rebellion, messiness, and freedom from conventional beauty standards. [3]
Clash described "Pretty Ugly" as a deliberate break from the constraints of Larsson's past work, channeling "chaotic main character energy" with brash, early 90s rave-inspired tones and a punk-like DIY edge. Blending euro-dance with vintage pop, the track rejects polish in favor of volatility, reflecting Larsson's embrace of unpredictability and creative freedom. [5]
The music video for "Pretty Ugly" was directed by Charlotte Rutherford. In the visual, Larsson arrives in a worn Volkswagen and emerges barefoot into a muddy field, where she joins a group of girls performing a cheer-inspired dance routine choreographed by Zoi Tatopoulos. [3]
"Pretty Ugly" received critical praise across its release. Robin Murray of Clash praised "Pretty Ugly" as a powerful artistic statement from Zara Larsson, describing the song as her shedding past constraints and embracing unfiltered self-expression. He highlighted the track's rebellious tone, calling it "one of 2025's most potent pop manifestos" and spotlighted the lyric "Fuck the ladylike, more like crazy-like." The accompanying music video, directed by Charlotte Rutherford, was noted for its striking visuals. In contrast to the highly curated nature of contemporary pop, Larsson was commended for delivering "a dose of haywire thrills." Clash awarded the single a score of 8 out of 10. [5]
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
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| Norway (VG-lista) [6] | 61 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [7] | 14 |
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