MARINA Princess of Power
MARINA's Princess of Power stakes out a glittering, sometimes conflicted reinvention: critics praise its campy, disco-pop maximalism while often faulting production excess for flattening emotional highs. Across professional reviews, standout songs such as “CUNTISSIMO”, “I <3 YOU”, “PRINCESS OF POWER” and “HELLO KITTY” emerge repeatedly as the record's most vital moments, with several reviewers calling “CUNTISSIMO” an instant career highlight and “I <3 YOU” a bright disco spark.
The critical consensus sits at a 68.2/100 across five professional reviews, reflecting a mix of affectionate appraisal and measured skepticism. Variety and Paste emphasize reinvention, queer club appeal and ABBA-like strings that elevate Marina's persona work, while Pitchfork and Sputnikmusic note that lush, 70s-80s influenced synths and video game nostalgia sometimes overwhelm intimacy. Reviewers consistently point to themes of nostalgia, feminine archetypes and grown-up glitter, and they agree the album's best songs are those that marry decadence and wit with sharper songwriting.
Taken together, the reviews suggest Princess of Power is worth attention for fans drawn to theatrical pop, feminist empowerment and synth-pop revival, even if its electronic excess keeps parts of the record from fully landing. The collection reads as a bold aesthetic statement in Marina's catalog—packed with memorable hooks and campy lyricism—while prompting questions about whether reinvention here outpaces emotional clarity. Below, detailed reviews unpack where the record shines and where it sags.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
CUNTISSIMO
4 mentions
"one of the album’s lead singles and arguably its best song is called “C—tissimo”"— Variety
I <3 YOU
3 mentions
""I <3 YOU" is a frothy, disco-lite anthem for peacocking on the dance floor"— Paste Magazine
HELLO KITTY
3 mentions
"There’s also a lovely ballad called “Hello Kitty” whose chorus includes a hilariously stately “Mrroww, mrroww.”"— Variety
one of the album’s lead singles and arguably its best song is called “C—tissimo”
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
PRINCESS OF POWER
BUTTERFLY
CUNTISSIMO
ROLLERCOASTER
CUPID'S GIRL
METALLIC STALLION
JE NE SAIS QUOI
DIGITAL FANTASY
EVERYBODY KNOWS I’M SAD
HELLO KITTY
I <3 YOU
ADULT GIRL
FINAL BOSS
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 5 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
In this review Jaeden Pinder writes with wry distance about MARINA's Princess of Power, singling out bright moments like “I <3 You” and “Rollercoaster” while noting the album often feels stationery and overproduced. Pinder praises the disco spark of “I <3 You” and calls “Rollercoaster” a liberation anthem that stands out, but returns repeatedly to how maximalism flattens emotional peaks. The tone is sceptical yet specific - admiration for craft sits beside frustration that many tracks feel like conveyor-belt pop. The result is a measured verdict on the best songs on Princess of Power that highlights a few genuine standouts amid a generally safe record.
Key Points
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"I <3 You" is best because it is described as a clear disco sparkler updated with smart influences.
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The album's strengths are its disco-pop production and empowerment themes, though maximalism flattens emotional impact.
Themes
Critic's Take
MARINA sounds newly reborn on Princess of Power, a reinvention that places tracks like “CUNTISSIMO” and “HELLO KITTY” at the center of its provocation and charm. Jem Aswad revels in the album's pulsating electronic rhythms and risque lyrics, calling “CUNTISSIMO” arguably its best song while praising the lovely balladry of “HELLO KITTY”. The reviewer's tone is affectionate and keen-eyed, noting the album's flirtation with '80s British pop, Queen-like vocals and ABBA-esque strings as evidence of a luxuriant, campy makeover. Overall, the narrative positions these best tracks as exemplars of Marina's successful image and sound redefinition.
Key Points
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The best song, “CUNTISSIMO”, is singled out for its hilarious, risque lyrics and lead-single status.
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The album's core strengths are its pulsating electronic rhythms, '80s pop influences, and campy, reinvigorated persona.
Themes
Critic's Take
MARINA revels in grown-up glitter on Princess of Power, and the review makes clear the best songs land when she leans into adult mischief and swagger. The critic elevates “CUNTISSIMO” as the album's instant career highlight, praising its defibrillator shock of electro-pop and unapologetic confidence. Other top tracks like “BUTTERFLY” and “ADULT GIRL” show the record's split personality - sugary, nostalgic moments counterpointed by steely, pleasure-seeking anthems. Read as a whole, the best tracks on Princess of Power are those that let Diamandis be both va-va-voom and unbothered, and the reviewer keeps returning to that thrilling tension.
Key Points
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The best song is "CUNTISSIMO" because it combines electro-pop shock with unapologetic, adult confidence.
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The album's core strength is blending nostalgic, girlish whimsy with assertive, pleasure-seeking adulthood in vivid synth-pop.
Themes
Critic's Take
In a tone that is equal parts affectionate and frustrated, MARINA’s Princess of Power yields its best moments in tracks like “PRINCESS OF POWER” and “FINAL BOSS”, songs that show her playful, nostalgic instincts doing what they do best. The reviewer admires Marina’s charisma and vocal flair even when production sprawls, praising “I <3 YOU” as an unapologetic disco love letter while noting how excess synth often buries gems on songs such as “ROLLERCOASTER” and “DIGITAL FANTASY”. Overall the album is praised for moments of charm and personal clarity, but criticized for repetitive synth choices that make some choruses feel overbearing.
Key Points
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The best song, "PRINCESS OF POWER", is best because it encapsulates her independent empowerment and strong melodic identity.
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The album's core strengths are Marina's charismatic vocals and playful songwriting, tempered by nostalgic 70s and video game touches but weakened by excessive synth production.