This Hell

Last updated

"This Hell"
This Hell Rina Sawayama.webp
Single by Rina Sawayama
from the album Hold the Girl
Released18 May 2022 (2022-05-18)
Genre
Length3:56
Label Dirty Hit
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Rina Sawayama singles chronology
"Follow Me"
(2022)		"This Hell"
(2022)		"Catch Me in the Air"
(2022)
Music video
"This Hell" on YouTube

"This Hell" is a song by Japanese-British singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama. It was released on 18 May 2022, through Dirty Hit, as the first single from her second album Hold the Girl . [3]

Contents

Background

In April 2020, Sawayama released her debut album, Sawayama . However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dynasty Tour was postponed twice. [4] Sawayama teased her second album in late 2021, saying "Next year, late summer", and played a new song called "Catch Me in the Air" while announcing she was finishing her "even more personal" second album. [5] [6] On 16 May 2022, Sawayama announced her second album, Hold the Girl. [7] On the 17th, one day after, she announced the lead single "This Hell" would release the day after. [8] "This Hell" is the first solo song by Sawayama since "Lucid" was released in 2020. [9]

Composition

"This Hell" is a "glammy, country pop inspired" song which contains references to numerous country and western motifs such as cowboys and horseriding. [3] It was produced by Paul Epworth and Clarence Clarity, and written by Sawayama alongside Vic Jamieson, Epworth, and Lauren Aquilina. [10]

Sawayama has noted Dolly Parton and Kacey Musgraves as inspirations for "This Hell", as well as Shania Twain, whom Sawayama has described as "The queen of country pop". [11]

Sawayama wrote "This Hell" while reflecting about attacks against LGBT people, which are often motivated by religious beliefs, stating: "When the world tells us we don't deserve love and protection, we have no choice but to give love and protection to each other". [12] The song contains a guitar solo which was described as "over-the-top" by NPR. [3] The singer makes references to some gay icons such as Britney Spears, Princess Diana, and Whitney Houston, [10] and references Shania Twain’s "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" with the beginning line, "Let's go, girls", as well as Paris Hilton's signature catchphrase "that's hot". [12] Sawayama stated: "I put in as many iconic pop culture moments as I can, but the song is more than that." [13] Upon the song's release, Sawayama posted to Twitter: "I wanted to write a western pop song that celebrated COMMUNITY and LOVE in a time where the world seemed hellish." [11]

Music video

A music video for "This Hell" was described as "glitzy" by NME . [14] The visual, directed by Ali Kaur, depicts the singer marrying two people in a lavish wedding, all while drinking, line-dancing, and playing air guitar. [13] Adrian Garro for Rock Cellar Magazine noted that the video was released during gay pride month. [15]

Live performances

Sawayama performed "This Hell" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . [16] [9] On October 30, 2022, Sawayama performed the song on British television dance contest Strictly Come Dancing .

Personnel

Critical response

"This Hell" received critical acclaim. Rolling Stone listed "This Hell" as one of the best songs of 2022, placing it at number 15, and wrote: "Artists from other genres dabbling in country music is nothing new, but Sawayama does it better than nearly anyone here, proving she's just trying to have a good time — while also inspiring change." [17] Billboard ranked named the 68th best song of the year. [18]

Charts

Chart performance for "This Hell"
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Japan Hot Overseas ( Billboard Japan ) [19] 8

Gyarupi remix

On April 12, 2024, a remix of "This Hell" featuring South Korean-Japanese rapper Chanmina was released exclusively on Spotify as part of their Spotify singles series. [20] [21] In regard to LGBT rights in Japan, Spotify partnered with Asahi Breweries for a campaign for awareness of same-sex marriage. [22] [23]

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References

  1. ↑ Jones, Damian (18 May 2022). "Rina Sawayama shares euphoric new single 'This Hell' and UK tour dates". NME . Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  2. ↑ Billboard Staff (7 December 2022). "The 100 Best Songs of 2022: Staff List". Billboard . Retrieved 8 January 2023. The song's stomping synth-rock groove burns a hole in the road from here to the afterlife...
  3. 1 2 3 Lorusso, Marissa (19 May 2022). "Rina Sawayama, 'This Hell'". NPR. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  4. ↑ Sun Li, Jessica (10 May 2022). "Review: Rina Sawayama's Boston performance inspires audience to dance and cry". The Dartmouth. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  5. ↑ Young, David (22 September 2021). "Rina Sawayama sets release window for her second album". NME . Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  6. ↑ Richards, Will (14 November 2021). "Watch Rina Sawayama debut soaring new song 'Catch Me In The Air' live". NME . Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  7. ↑ "Hold The Girl The new album September 2 2022". Twitter . 16 May 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "This Hell the new single out tomorrow". Twitter . 17 May 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Rina Sawayama announces new album, shares new countrified pop single "This Hell"". The A.V. Club . 18 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  10. 1 2 Garcia, Thania (18 May 2022). "Rina Sawayama Reveals Upcoming 'Hold the Girl' Album, With New Single 'This Hell'". Variety . Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Rina Sawayama shares fiery new single 'This Hell'". Rolling Stone. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Rina Sawayama, 'This Hell'". NPR . Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Watch Rina Sawayama throw a lavish wedding in music video for 'This Hell'". NME. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  14. ↑ Soo, J. X. (16 June 2022). "Watch Rina Sawayama throw a lavish wedding in music video for 'This Hell'". NME . Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  15. ↑ "Rina Sawayama Shares Video for "This Hell" -- Perfect for Pride Month". Rock Cellar Magazine. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  16. ↑ The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (19 May 2022). "Rina Sawayama: This Hell". YouTube . Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  17. ↑ "The 100 Best Songs of 2022". Rolling Stone . 5 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  18. ↑ "The 100 Best Songs of 2022: Staff List". Billboard . 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  19. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of 1 June 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 1 June 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  20. ↑ "Rina Sawayama、ちゃんみなを迎えた"This Hell"リミックスをSpotify Singlesとして発表". Spincoaster (in Japanese). 11 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  21. ↑ "ちゃんみな、リナ・サワヤマとのコラボが決定 「This Hell (feat. CHANMINA - Gyarupi Remix - Spotify Singles)」をリリース【コメントあり】". Spice (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "リナ・サワヤマ「より良い世界を目指し、一緒に闘って」ちゃんみな迎えた「This Hell」配信リリース（コメントあり / 動画あり）". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  23. ↑ "リナ・サワヤマ、ちゃんみなを迎えた「This Hell (Gyarupi Remix)」を配信". Billboard Japan . 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
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