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The Story Behind “Cheaper By The Bottle”
Let me set the scene.
It’s a Friday night. You’re at your favorite wine bar—the one with the good cheese board and the bartender who doesn’t judge when you order a second bottle. Your best friends are around the table. Someone just said something so funny that wine almost came out of your nose. You’re ugly-laughing. Mascara is at risk.
That’s this song.
“Cheaper By The Bottle” is my love letter to female friendship—and yes, I said love letter. Because on an album about every kind of love, I wasn’t about to leave out the women who’ve held me together when I was falling apart.
The Night That Started It All
A few years ago, I was going through a particularly rough season. (The specifics don’t matter—pick your favorite flavor of Hard Life Stuff and imagine that.) I was tired. Overwhelmed. Running on fumes and dry shampoo.
My friend texted: “Wine. Tonight. No excuses. I’ll pick you up at 7.”
I tried to bail. I was too tired. I had nothing to wear. I needed to [insert excuse here]. She wasn’t having it.
“Melanie. You’ve worn yoga pants for six days straight. You’re getting out of the house. Put on mascara and get in the car.”
(She wasn’t wrong about the yoga pants.)
That night, we sat at a little wine bar with three other friends. We talked about everything and nothing. We laughed until our stomachs hurt. Somebody made a joke about how the wine was “cheaper by the bottle” and we should obviously get another one for economic reasons.
I drove home that night feeling lighter than I had in months. Not because anything in my life had changed—but because I’d been seen. Held. Reminded that I wasn’t carrying everything alone.
I started writing the song the next morning. (With a slight headache. Worth it.)
The Case for Galentine’s Day
Can we talk about how Valentine’s Day has been gatekept by romantic love for way too long?
Don’t get me wrong—I love my husband. I wrote multiple songs about him on this very album. But romantic love isn’t the only love that deserves a holiday. The friend who talks you off the ledge at 11 PM? Valentine. The group chat that hypes you up before a big meeting? Valentines. The woman who shows up with wine and refuses to let you spiral alone? Valentine.
Galentine’s Day gets treated like a consolation prize sometimes—like it’s for people who don’t have “real” valentines. Absolutely not. Galentine’s Day is for people who recognize that friendship is its own kind of romance. The slow burn. The long game. The relationship that doesn’t get a rom-com but absolutely deserves one.
This song is the soundtrack to that recognition.
The Vibe Check
Musically, I wanted this song to feel like the best parts of a girls’ night. Energetic but not exhausting. Fun but with heart underneath. The kind of song you’d belt in the car with your friends, windows down, not caring who hears you.
It’s got a party anthem energy, but it’s not shallow. The lyrics celebrate the real stuff—the friends who’ve seen you at your worst and loved you anyway. The ones who bring reinforcements when life gets hard. The ones who make you laugh so hard you forget what you were stressed about.
I also wanted it to be funny, because let’s be honest: girls’ nights are hilarious. The stories that get told. The confessions that come out after the second glass. The dramatic reenactments of workplace drama. If this song doesn’t make you smile, I haven’t done my job.
Who This Song Is For
The ride-or-dies: You know who you are. You’ve got that group chat that never sleeps. You’ve got the friend you can call at 2 AM and she’ll answer. This is your anthem.
The Galentine’s planners: If you’re hosting a Galentine’s Day party, a Friendsgiving, a bachelorette, or any excuse to gather your girls—add this to the playlist. I’m giving you official permission to blast it.
The introverts who need a push: I see you. I AM you. Sometimes we need our friends to drag us out of the house. This song is permission to say yes to the invite, even when the couch is calling.
The single ladies on Valentine’s Day: You don’t need a romantic partner to have a valentine. Grab your girls, grab a bottle, and celebrate the loves you already have. Romantic love can wait. (Or not. Either way, you’re covered.)
The friend groups everywhere: Send this song to your group chat. Right now. I’ll wait. Subject line: “This is us.”
The Perfect Pairing
Since we’re talking about wine bars, let me give you my completely non-expert wine pairing for this song:
For the first listen: A crisp rosé. Light, fun, easy to enjoy.
For the group listen: Whatever’s cheapest by the bottle. (It’s called thematic consistency, people.)
For the emotional replay: A nice red, because you’re going to get in your feelings about your friendships and you need something with depth.
(I am not a sommelier. Please do not come for me. Drink whatever you want. The song works with La Croix too.)
A Toast to the Women Who Hold Us Up
At its heart, “Cheaper By The Bottle” is a thank-you note. To every friend who’s ever shown up when it mattered. To every woman who’s ever made me laugh until I cried. To every group chat, every wine night, every “I’m on my way” text that saved me.
Female friendship doesn’t get enough love songs. Consider this my contribution.
So here’s to you—yes, you, reading this—and the women in your corner. May your glasses always be full, your laughter always be loud, and your friends always be a text away.
Cheers, babe. This one’s for us.
Melanie
The Melanie Grace
