Joanna (JoJo song)

Last updated
"Joanna"
JoJoJoannaSingle.jpg
Single by JoJo
ReleasedOctober 11, 2019 (2019-10-11)
Genre
Length2:08
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Jeff Gitelman
JoJo singles chronology
"Say So"
(2019)
"Joanna"
(2019)
"Sabotage"
(2019)
Music video
"Joanna" on YouTube

"Joanna" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter JoJo, released on October 11, 2019 by Clover Music and Warner Bros. Records. [3] The song marks her first original release since the creation of Clover Music and the singer signing to Warner Bros. Records. [1]

Contents

Background

Following the release of her third studio album Mad Love , JoJo announced the creation of her record label imprint, Clover Music, in a joint deal with Interscope. [4] It later moved to Warner Bros. Records. [5] "Joanna" is the singer's first original release under the label. [1]

On December 21, 2018 JoJo's first two studio albums were re-released with re-recorded vocals and slightly reworked production in order to coincide with the singer's 28th birthday. [6] [7] The albums were re-recorded due to Blackground Records' removing of both of the records from all music platforms following the singer's disputes with the label. [8] [9] [10] Work on the singer's fourth studio album began shortly after the re-releases. [11] "Joanna" was announced the day prior to its release. [12]

Composition

"Joanna" was written by JoJo, Natalie Dunn, Rebekah Muhammad, and Jeff Gitelman, the latter of whom produced the track. [13] Musically, "Joanna" has been described as a freestyle [1] and R&B [2] ballad with "raw" and "stripped-down" instrumentation led by a "bluesy" guitar riff. [2] [14] [3] The musical arrangement of the song was compared to the songs found on the singer's previous mixtapes. [15] The lyrical content of "Joanna" centers around the comments of haters, music critics, and fans. Singing in the third person, [1] singer mocks the opinions of others in the lyrics "Where did your acting career go? / You were supposed to be somebody / You were supposed to make more money". [14] "Joanna" has also been interpreted as a response to cancel culture. [14]

Critical reception

Madeline Roth, writing for MTV , called the single a "clever, confident response to cancel culture". [14] Allison Stubblebine of Nylon wrote the song "addresses all the negativity that has been thrown [JoJo's] way regarding her career". [1] Mike Wass, writing for Idolator referred to the song as a "hard-hitting track" and a "tantalizing first glimpse of the 'When Love Hurts' hitmaker's new era". [15] Clare Palo of Vulture referred to the lyrics as "so raw that it seemed almost necessary to start out with a brutally honest take for her never 'Too Little, Too Late' comeback". [3]

Music video

A music video was released alongside the single. [16] The video, directed by Se Oh, features hordes of fans rushing past the singer towards an unknown celebrity's car in front of a theater. The singer winks at the camera during the video's conclusion to indicate the release of new music. [16]

Personnel

Adapted from Tidal. [13]

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position
US R&B Digital Songs ( Billboard ) [17] 14

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 "JoJo Addresses Fans and Critics on New Song 'Joanna'". Rap-Up . Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Palo, Clare. "The Best New Songs of the Week: Harry Styles, FKA Twigs, and More". Vulture magazine . Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  4. Jefferson, J'na (August 18, 2017). "JoJo Announces Music Imprint 'Clover Music' With Interscope". Vibe. United States: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
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  8. Idolator.com (2016-10-06). "JoJo's Mad Return". Idolator.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
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  13. 1 2 "Joanna / JoJo – TIDAL". Tidal . Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Roth, Madeline. "JoJo's New Song Is a Clever, Confident Response To Cancel Culture". MTV . Archived from the original on October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  15. 1 2 Wass, Mike. "JoJo Gets Very Real On Hard-Hitting New Single, "Joanna"". Idolator . Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  16. 1 2 "JoJo Returns with 'Joanna' Video". Rap-Up . Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  17. "JoJo Chart History (R&B Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2019.