Written by Annie Barber.
Starting with mic static, before bursting into acoustic country style guitar with conversational lyrics, ‘That’s On Me’ is a bold and catchy track that reflects on heartbreak with detail and humour. As the third single from Paper Girl, the Midwest-emo-leaning project of songwriter Sarah Gargano, ‘That’s On Me’ shows Gargano as a relatable narrator and innovative artist.
The melody sounds almost like a spoken conversation, a choice which makes the song casual and Gargano sound uninterested, flipping the narrative from her originally chasing someone who wasn’t right for her, to now being the one who is being offhand about the song’s subject.
Pop-punk inspirations underpin the song, which has clear Blink-182 influences, in its shouty lyrics, emo and punk sounds, and explosive final chorus. The song is honest and playful, putting a girlish twist on the male-dominated punk genre.
Gargano lays her feelings bare on this track, unpicking heartbreak with introspection and honesty. She doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of a breakup, citing stalking someone’s Venmo, searching up the person they’re moving on with, and ruminating on all of the other person’s red flags, as the questionable behaviour which we all fall into following a relationship’s demise.
‘That’s On Me’ showcases Sarah Gargano’s talents under the guise of ‘Paper Girl’, from her pop-punk tendencies to her vulnerable lyricism. She’s definitely one to keep an eye on.
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