Expectations is the first debt full-album by former disney star, singer, director, and songwriter, Hayley Kiyoko. Released on March 10, 2018, this rising star hit top 40 chart in Ireland, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the United States. Kiyoko told Hot Topic in an interview that she chose the name “Expectations” for the album because she felt it was her biggest stretch and her biggest weakness,”
This queer artist whose fans have entitled her as the “lesbian Jesus” of this century have been escalding to success since she has dropped this album. Since she dropped the album, Kiyoko has shown visual representation of the relationship and affection between women. In the LGBTQ+ community, this seemed revolutionary for someone to be so open and unapologetic about their sexuality, which made other realize that they should not hide their identity and the people they love.
Kiyoko wanted to make this able for those who had trouble expressing themselves for who there are as being a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Giving her fans her perspective about this world and her feelings about the same-sex. Going through those questionable thoughts and experiencing them for the first time.
One of the most popular songs on the album, “What I Need”, featuring Kehlani, which marked one of the most powerful songs between two gay queens. Kehlani commented “Marry me” on one of Kiyoko’s Instagrams, and became friends. Once they finally linked up in the studio, it only took four hours to make this poppy piece of art.
Kiyoko directed the music video to “What I Need” and structured it almost like a short film. It started out as Kehlani fighting with this mother figure as she packs her back to leave her childhood home. Kiyoko waiting for her in the car outside as the mother continues to yell and try to stop Kehlani from running away with the nature of Kiyoko and her platonic relationship. Later, the “couple,” get into a predicament where the car runs out of gas. Instead of going to get help, Kehlani decides to hitchhike with a random guy who takes a liking for her. Kiyoko gets nervous as Kehlani runs away with him and leaves her behind. A few moments go by and Kehlani returns as she running down the highway just to land in Kiyoko’s and give her that movie moment kiss.
Expectations embodies a modern representation of expressionism. Kiyoko gained her fame through her beliefs and perspective of what love should be like. The expectations of being in love and being a powerful female songwriter, singer, and director.
