Charlie Puth has released a new single, “Look Up” on Friday (January 16), as his second official preview of his upcoming album Whatever is smart! and lands just weeks before he steps onto one of the biggest stages in American music and sports. The track will be released ahead of Puth’s scheduled performance of the national anthem at Super Bowl Lon February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Out now via Atlantic Records, “Beat Yourself Up” follows October’s “Changes” and continues to sketch the emotional and sonic contours of Whatever is smart!, will be released on March 27. Where “Changes” leaned reflectively, the new song veers toward groove and texture, drawing from late 1980s and early 1990s pop and R&B. Built on thick bass lines, brassy flourishes and a deliberately retro bounce, the track feels deliberately out of step with current pop minimalism, and that seems to be the point.
Lyrically, Puth frames the song as a silent intervention. Originally written as a message to a friend, it develops into a broader meditation on self-criticism and the exhausting habit of inner guilt. The hook carries a lightness that balances its message, and that balance gives the song its traction. Co-produced with BLOODPOP, the song favors musicianship over spectacle, reinforcing reports that Whatever is smart! is shaping up to be one of Puth’s most technically focused projects to date.
The timing is remarkable. Charlie Puth is set to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the Super Bowl Lpregame ceremony, along with Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones, with Bad Bunny headlining the halftime show. After an online review of anthem performances in recent years, Puth signaled a carefully considered vocal arrangement, positioning the moment as more than a formality.
Beyond the Super Bowl, “Beat Yourself Up” also comes as Puth prepares to launch his biggest world tour yet this spring. Together, the single, album rollout and high-profile NFL performance mark a recalibration, less about chasing trends for Puth and more about control, craft and confidence on a grand scale.
Listen to “Beat Yourself Up” below:
What do you think of Charlie Puth’s latest release? Share your thoughts on and visit ThePlayerLounge for more music and entertainment stories.
