“Moral of the Story” by Ashe feat. Niall Horan

In 2019, when I first heard Ashe’s second EP “Moral of the Story: Chapter 1,” she immediately became one of my favorite artists. This summer, I fell in love with the title track “Moral of the Story” all over again when Ashe released a remix as a duet with former One Direction member Niall Horan.

Reflecting on a recent divorce, she sings “in the end it’s better for me, that’s the moral of the story.” She looks at her past with maturity and reinforces the message that life is full of difficulties, but everything you learn from those journeys allows you to blossom into the best version of yourself. Throughout this pandemic, I have had a lot of time to reflect on what truly matters to me. While this year has not been convenient nor favorable due to the immense tragedy that has come, the silver lining, which this song reinforces, is that every struggle I have encountered has helped shape the person that I am today; that’s the moral of the story.

The conversational lyrics bring a casual vibe which are accompanied by gentle piano chords, making the song agreeable to whatever mood I’m in. It brings the comfort of a warm hug from an old friend. The idea that your mistakes are just learning experiences brings a fairytale element to the song which is one reason I never get tired of it. In the newest version we are met with harmonies from Ashe and Niall which instantly lift the tone of the song, making it happier and more upbeat. Matching the 2020 narrative, Horan and Ashe recorded their parts separately and the song was put together and released before they ever met in person. Yet, their voices blend together seamlessly on the track.

“Some mistakes get made, that’s alright, that’s okay” is a phrase that every individual needs to hear at some point or another. Beyond its catchy tune, the message of this song is comforting during times when things seem to be constantly going awry beyond our control. No matter the situation you apply, this song can be relatable when we look to mistakes we’ve made years ago or even yesterday, and feel frustrated about how “blindsided” we’ve been. It’s important to look at the bigger picture, and be thankful for the ways we’ve grown and what we’ve learned.