Pretty Ugly (Zara Larsson song)

"Pretty Ugly"
Single by Zara Larsson
from the album Midnight Sun
Released	25 April 2025 (2025-04-25)
Genre	Eurodance
Length	2:39
Label	Sommer House Epic
Songwriter(s)	Helena Gao Margo Wildman Uzoechi Emenike Zara Larsson
Producer(s)	Margo XS MNEK
Zara Larsson singles chronology
"You Love Who You Love" (2024) "Pretty Ugly" (2025) "Midnight Sun" (2025)
Music video
"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. It reached number fourteen in Sweden and entered the charts in Norway.

Background

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. ^[1] 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. ^[2] 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. ^[3]

Composition

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. ^[2]

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. ^[4]

Music video

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. ^[2]

Critical reception

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. ^[4]

Charts

Chart performance for "Pretty Ugly"

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Norway (VG-lista) [5]	61
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [6]	14

Release history

Release history for "Pretty Ugly"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	25 April 2025	Digital download streaming	Sommer House Epic	[7]
United States	5 May 2025	Contemporary hit radio	Epic	[8]

References

1. Tyler Damara Kelly (25 April 2025). "Zara Larsson has kicked off a new era for her forthcoming studio album, alongside the release of new single, "Pretty Ugly"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
2. Paul, Larisha (25 April 2025). "ZARA LARSSON GETS GLAMMED UP TO GET DOWN AND DIRTY IN 'PRETTY UGLY' VIDEO". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
3. Irvin, Jack (25 April 2025). "Zara Larsson Reveals Why She Likes to 'Document' Herself in 'Ugly Moments' with Selfies (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
4. Murray, Robin (25 April 2025). "Zara Larsson's 'Pretty Ugly' Embraces Chaotic Energy". Clash. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
5. "Singel 2025 uke 18". VG-lista . Retrieved 2 May 2025.
6. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 18" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved 2 May 2025.
7. "Pretty Ugly - Single". 25 April 2025. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025– via Apple Music.
8. U.S. Radio Updater [@USRadioUpdater] (25 April 2025). ".@zaralarsson's 'Pretty Ugly' will officially impact US Pop radio on May 5th (via @Epic_Records)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 7 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025– via Twitter.