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“I'm gonna fall in love tonight / I’ve got my bow and arrow,” MARINA powerfully sings within the first seconds of her newest single, “CUPID’S GIRL.” The single comes just a month after the release of her February single, “BUTTERFLY,” marking the beginning of a new album and a new era for MARINA.

MARINA, also known as Marina Diamandis (and formerly known as “Marina and the Diamonds”), is a Welsh singer and songwriter known best for her popularity in the early 2010s following the release of her certified-gold album, “Electra Heart.” Today, MARINA remains relevant on the music scene. This year, she is set to perform at upcoming major music festivals, including Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza.

“CUPID’S GIRL” opens with seven seconds of the echoey sounds of synths before MARINA’s tell-tale strong beat grounds the song as the lyrics begin. The sound of the song stays true to her classic style — stunning vocals, a production style inspired by the synth of Europop, and a powerful beat that engages the listener and accentuates her lyrics.

MARINA’s remarkable voice that originally catapulted the singer into stardom shines in the song, holding its own against the equally strong atmospheric production and beat reminiscent of a beating heart. Like many of her other songs, she doesn’t leave the listener alone with their thoughts for long. Each second of the single is packed with impactful vocals, pounding beats, and sound effects, taking the audience on an engaging journey from the moment they hit “play.”

The buildup of the pre-chorus pulls the listener in, and MARINA’s strong voice paired with a racing beat and crisp lyrics is punctuated by arrow sound effects. The chorus after this buildup, however, is disappointing. The song seems to miss the narrative lyricism and storytelling that defined her albums, and this is especially true in the chorus which features lyrics like, “Cupid / You’re so stupid.”

These surface level lyrics especially stand out when followed by the emotional delivery of thesingle’s bridge. In a tone almost similar to a lamentation, MARINA sings, “But I can see your heart, it burns.”

Throughout MARINA’s earlier work, popular albums like “The Family Jewels” and “Electra Heart” use better, campy lyrics and classic pop sounds to immerse the listener in a character that becomes almost an alter-ego for the artist. Using lyrics that carefully build an easy-to-follow narrative, MARINA creatively constructed caricatures of the modern American popstar.

In “Primadonna,” she sings, “You say that I’m kinda difficult / But it’s always someone else’s fault / Got you wrapped around my finger, babe.” Although MARINA’s early works were often simple and to-the-point, the “point” was clear: A satirical depiction of the common personas of stars at the time.

Later songs on albums like “Froot,” “Love + Fear,” and “Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land” explored topics of feminism, human nature, and self-reflection of the singer’s own vulnerabilities, as MARINA moved away from crafted personas and boldly presented herself as the subject.

In comparison to these earlier songs, “CUPID’S GIRL” falls flat. MARINA’s newest single doesn’t offer a societal critique to be presented through a kitschy persona, nor does it explore any personal vulnerabilities. While these features are not necessary for a hit song, the single leaves long-time MARINA listeners underwhelmed, missing the poignancy and emotionality that oftentimes accompany her older work.

Ultimately, although the lyrics leave the audience wanting for a bit more of the emotional depth provided by the earlier songs in her discography, the tell-tale sound of MARINA’s new single, “CUPID’S GIRL,” remains just as catchy as ever.