Cheerleader (Porter Robinson song)

Last updated

"Cheerleader"
Porter Robinson - Cheerleader.jpg
Single by Porter Robinson
from the album Smile! :D
ReleasedMarch 20, 2024 (2024-03-20)
Genre
Length3:57
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.

Contents

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

"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

"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] A Clash reviewer 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]

Charts

Chart performance for "Cheerleader"
Chart (2024)Peak
position
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs ( Billboard ) [14] 12

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 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.
  3. 1 2 3 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 1 2 3 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.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Harrison, Dan (July 26, 2024). "Porter Robinson – Smile! :D". Dork . Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Joyce, Colin (July 26, 2024). "Porter Robinson: Smile! :D album review". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  9. 1 2 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.
  10. 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.
  11. Simpson, Paul. "Smile! :D review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  12. 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.
  13. "Porter Robinson – Smile! :D". Clash . July 29, 2024. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Porter Robinson Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  15. "EA Sports FC 25 – official soundtrack". Electronic Arts. September 16, 2024. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.