Dang (song)

For the Mac Miller song, see Dang! (song).

"Dang"
Single by Caroline Polachek
from the album Desire, I Want to Turn Into You: Everasking Edition
Released	October 17, 2023 (2023-10-17)
Genre	Pop hyperpop
Length	2:44
Label	Perpetual Novice Sony Music
Songwriters	Daniel Harle Caila Thompson-Hannant Caroline Polachek
Producers	Caroline Polachek Cecile Believe Danny L Harle
Caroline Polachek singles chronology
"Blood and Butter" (2023) "Dang" (2023) "Butterfly Net" (2024)

"Dang" is a song by American songwriter and producer Caroline Polachek, released on October 17, 2023 as the lead single from Desire, I Want to Turn Into You: Everasking Edition . It was written and produced by Polachek with Danny L Harle and Cecile Believe.

Background and composition

"Dang" was written and produced by Polachek in collaboration with Danny L Harle and Cecile Believe. The single was recorded during the studio sessions for Polachek's second album under her own name, Desire, I Want to Turn Into You , released in February 2023. In spring 2023, A. G. Cook dropped it into one of his DJ sets. Polachek officially started teasing the song in September of the same year. ^[1]

The track samples audio from a viral 2020 video of Polachek screaming at geese in Hyde Park. The single cover also references the video, with Polachek's right arm painted like a mute swan. The hyperpop song features "metallic, lockstep beat that recalls early Sophie, [...] nonsensical imagery, namechecking Mary Poppins and lamenting spilt milk", cascading violins, Polachek's deadpan vocals and screams, and Danny L Harle's baby daughter Nico's giggle sampled from "Bunny Is a Rider". ^{[1] [2]}

Release

While a leaked version of "Dang" had been circulating online for months, Polachek officially debuted the track on October 17, 2023 in a live performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert . Polachek's performance of the single utilized a slide show presentation and a chalkboard-inspired backdrop. ^{[1] [3]} A limited run of T-shirts featuring slides from the performance went on sale on Polachek's website, with 100% of profits donated to UNRWA to help Palestinian refugees. ^[4]

Critical reception

Peyton Toups of Pitchfork characterized "Dang" as a "transfixing...mishmash of nonsensical imagery and surprise elements" and observed that the single marked a new stylistic direction for Polachek. ^[2] Similarly noting the "harsher hyperpop" sound of the single, Alex Hudson of Exclaim! listed "Dang" as one of the publication's staff picks. ^[3]

References

1. Rettig, James (October 18, 2023). "Caroline Polachek – "DANG"". Stereogum . Retrieved October 24, 2023.
2. Toups, Peyton. ""Dang" by Caroline Polachek". Pitchfork . Retrieved October 24, 2023.
3. Hudson, Alex. "Caroline Polachek's "Dang" Is Both a Continuation and Counterpoint". Exclaim! . Retrieved October 24, 2023.
4. Wilkes, Emma (October 21, 2023). "Caroline Polachek has released merch to raise money for Palestinian refugees". NME. Retrieved October 24, 2023.