Cheerleader (Porter Robinson song)
"Cheerleader" | |
---|---|
In a desk, a laptop shows an image of a person wearing a mask with hearts in its eyes with another person holding a bitten apple in front of the laptop. | |
Single by Porter Robinson | |
from the album Smile! :D | |
Released | March 20, 2024 (2024年03月20日) |
Genre | |
Length | 3:57 |
Label | Mom + Pop |
Songwriter(s) | Porter Robinson |
Producer(s) | Porter Robinson |
Porter Robinson singles chronology | |
"Circle Game (ANOHANA Ver.)" (2023) "Cheerleader" (2024) "Knock Yourself Out XD" (2024) |
"Cheerleader" is a song recorded by the American electronic music producer Porter Robinson for his third studio album, Smile! :D (2024). An electropop and synth-pop song, its lyrics, written by Robinson, deal with parasocial relationships. "Cheerleader" was released on March 20, 2024, through Mom + Pop, as the lead single from Smile! :D. For his first solo release in two years, Robinson wanted to create something that people would enjoy "without context".[1] It was accompanied by a music video where Robinson enters a virtual reality.
Multiple critics highlighted the contrast between the song's melody and lyrics, further noting its influence from emo. The song peaked at number 12 on Billboard 's Dance/Electronic Songs.
Background and composition
[edit ]"Cheerleader" was Porter Robinson's first solo release in two years. It was one of the first songs that Robinson wrote for his new musical era.[2] On writing the song, he said in a press release that he wanted to create something "that people could love with zero context – just instantaneous, universal, explosive connection".[1] The lyrics depict the convoluted, parasocial relationship between musicians and their fans, one example being the line "She's got hearts in her eyes / Saying, 'Boy, you better watch the time / Cause if you're not mine I'd rather see you burned alive".[3] [4] The song features Robinson's own vocals, which Robin Murray of Clash described as "scintillating".[2]
An electropop [5] and synth-pop song,[6] multiple critics noted the contrast between its melody and lyrics.[7] [8] Gillian Telling of People wrote that "Cheerleader" is "more of a pop anthem with emo undertones", contrasting with Robinson's previous works; Telling said Robinson was "reinventing his sound".[9] Similarly, Cleber Facchi of Música Instantânea felt that the song shows Robinson having a "completely distinct approach" when compared to his previous releases due to its emo sound.[10] Colin Joyce of Pitchfork said that the track resembled the emo pop of Metro Station and the post-hyperpop of Glaive and Aldn.[8] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard described it as "a synth-pop shot of adrenaline, with buzzing melodies and instrumental pile-ups that will leave you dizzy",[6] while Dan Harrison of Dork noted the song's "bouncy synths and earworm melodies".[7] Robin Murray of Clash and Liberty Dunworth of NME described it as "explosive".[2] [3] Paul Simpson of AllMusic described the verses as resembling Phoenix's indie pop and the chorus as "soaring, anthemic [and] spiked with punchy breakbeats".[11]
Release and reception
[edit ]"Cheerleader" was released on March 20, 2024, through Mom + Pop, as the lead single from Robinson's third studio album, Smile! :D .[1] [7] The song was accompanied by a music video directed by Hugh Mulhern and creative-directed by Bradley & Pablo,[9] [2] where Robinson enters a virtual reality.[3] [1] Harrison described "Cheerleader" as a highlight from the album due to its blend of depth and accessibility.[7] Lipshutz praised that Robinson had created "the complete opposite of background noise".[6] Matthew Kim of The Line of Best Fit wrote that the song "has the most euphoric hook of the year".[12] Narzra Ahmed from Clash described it as "anthemic".[13] The song peaked at number 12 on Billboard 's Dance/Electronic Songs.[14] It is also featured in the soundtrack of the video game EA Sports FC 25 (2024).[15]
Year-end lists
[edit ]Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Pitchfork | The 100 Best Songs of 2024 | 95 | [16] |
Charts
[edit ]Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard )[14] | 12 |
References
[edit ]- ^ a b c d Armstrong, Megan (March 20, 2024). "Porter Robinson can't escape a squad of obsessed dolls in his 'Cheerleader' video". Uproxx . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Murray, Robin (March 21, 2024). "Porter Robinson shares pop mission statement 'Cheerleader'". Clash . Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c Dunworth, Liberty (March 26, 2024). "Listen to Porter Robinson's explosive new single 'Cheerleader'". NME . Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ Partridge, Ken (March 21, 2024). "Porter Robinson examines the complexities of fan-artist relationships on new song 'Cheerleader'". Genius . Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ Seip, Nick (July 29, 2024). "Porter Robinson Smile! :D review: Sincere and unvarnished". Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c Lipshutz, Jason (March 25, 2024). "Florrie's resilient 'The Lost Ones' and 4 more cool new pop songs this week". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Harrison, Dan (July 26, 2024). "Porter Robinson – Smile! :D". Dork . Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Joyce, Colin (July 26, 2024). "Porter Robinson: Smile! :D album review". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Telling, Gillian (March 20, 2024). "EDM superstar Porter Robinson is going pop! Listen to his first single 'Cheerleader'". People . Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ Facchi, Cleber (March 25, 2024). "Porter Robinson abre passagem para nova fase na carreira com 'Cheerleader'" [Porter Robinson opens the way to a new phase in his career with 'Cheerleader']. Música Instantânea (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ Simpson, Paul. "Smile! :D review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ Kim, Matthew (July 26, 2024). "Smile! :D is Porter Robinson's most unflinching work yet". The Line of Best Fit . Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ "Porter Robinson – Smile! :D". Clash . July 29, 2024. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- ^ a b "Porter Robinson Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "EA Sports FC 25 – official soundtrack". Electronic Arts. September 16, 2024. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ "Pitchfork's 100 best songs of 2024". Pitchfork . December 2, 2024. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.