“We wear a smile to hide that we’ve been hurt before,” sings Jacquie Lee, a former contestant of The Voice, on her proper debut single, “Broken Ones,” and it’s a deeply affecting ballad, just brimming with raw emotion. And, wow, this is one brilliantly-produced and written track. It’s so rich with details, from the little electro-flourishes during the verses to the faint electric guitars that help fuel the thunderous drums during the chorus. Every note of this track serves to showcase Jacquie’s incredible voice and she really couldn’t have asked for a better debut song. Ultimately, this is the best pop ballad to come along since Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper.”
