| "This Hell" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Rina Sawayama | ||||
| from the album Hold the Girl | ||||
| Released | 18 May 2022 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:56 | |||
| Label | Dirty Hit | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Rina Sawayama singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "This Hell" on YouTube | ||||
"This Hell" is a song by Japanese singer Rina Sawayama from her second studio album, Hold the Girl (2022). It was released through Dirty Hit on 18 May 2022 as the lead single from the album. [3]
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]
"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]
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]
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 .
"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]
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan Hot Overseas ( Billboard Japan ) [19] | 8 |
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]
Sawayama is the debut studio album by Japanese-British singer Rina Sawayama. It was released on 17 April 2020 by Dirty Hit. The follow-up to her self-released debut EP Rina (2017), it received widespread acclaim from music critics, specifically towards the wide variety of music genres used, as well as its Y2K nostalgia and "intelligent" nature. Described by Sawayama herself as being "about family and identity", she lyrically explores personal experiences from both her childhood and adulthood.
Rina Sawayama is a Japanese singer, actress and model based in the United Kingdom. Born in Niigata, Japan, she immigrated to London with her parents at the age of five. In 2017, she self-released her debut extended play, Rina. After signing to Dirty Hit in 2020, she released her debut studio album, Sawayama, to critical acclaim. Her second studio album, Hold the Girl, was released on 16 September 2022. Known for her musical versatility, Sawayama has also modelled for fashion campaigns, and made her film acting debut in the action film John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).
Rina is the debut extended play by Japanese singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama. Also described as a mini album, Rina was independently released on 27 October 2017. Sawayama funded the album herself, working for "2-3 jobs at a time for years" to save enough to release the EP. Sawayama promoted the album through the Ordinary Superstar Tour in 2018.
Chai was a Japanese pop band from Nagoya. The group consisted of four members: Mana, Kana, Yuuki and Yuna. Formed in 2012, the band released their debut studio album, Pink, in 2017. They announced their breakup in 2024.
Japanese singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama has released two studio albums, one live album, one extended play, one remix EP and 26 singles.
"XS" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama, released on 2 March 2020, as the third single from her debut studio album, Sawayama, via the label Dirty Hit. The song criticises capitalism in the face of climate change over a pop, R&B, avant-pop and electropop backing. It received critical acclaim and was named among the best songs of 2020 by several critics. A remix featuring English singer Bree Runway, was released on 10 July 2020.
"STFU!" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama. It was released as the lead single from her debut studio album, Sawayama on 22 November 2019 for digital download and streaming. It is a nu metal, heavy metal, hard rock, pop and avant-pop track which criticizes microaggressions against Asian people. It received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its aggressive tone and the shift in genre and direction. Rolling Stone listed "STFU!" as the 20th best song of 2020.
Ichigo Rinahamu (苺りなはむ), also known as Rina Yokoyama or simply Rinahamu (りなはむ), is a Japanese vocalist and idol. She is a former member of CY8ER, Bis, Akishibu Project and Strawberry Syndrome.
Mina Otomonai, known professionally as Chanmina (ちゃんみな), is a South Korean-Japanese rapper and pop musician. She debuted in 2016 independently, before releasing her major label debut album Miseinen in 2017.
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"Bad Friend" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama, released on 15 April 2020 as the fifth single from her debut studio album Sawayama, just two days before the album's release. A remix by End of the World was released on 20 November 2020. Sawayama has called the track her favourite from the album and stated that it was written after she found out through social media that her formerly close friend had just had a baby.
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"Beg for You" is a song by English singer Charli XCX featuring Japanese singer Rina Sawayama. It was released on 27 January 2022 as the third single from XCX's fifth studio album, Crash (2022). The song interpolates Swedish singer September's 2006 single "Cry for You". The song received widepsread acclaim from music critics. It peaked at number 3 in Malta and number 24 in the UK.
Hold the Girl is the second studio album by Japanese-British singer Rina Sawayama. It was released on 16 September 2022 by Dirty Hit. The album was preceded by five singles: "This Hell", "Catch Me in the Air", "Hold the Girl", "Phantom", and "Hurricanes". "Frankenstein" and "Imagining" were released as singles following its release. The album, recorded between 2020 and 2021, features production from collaborators including Paul Epworth, Clarence Clarity, Stuart Price, and Marcus Andersson. Clarity also produced much of Sawayama's debut album Sawayama (2020).
"Hold the Girl" is a song by Japanese singer Rina Sawayama from her second studio album of the same name (2022). It was released through Dirty Hit on 27 July 2022 as the third single from the album.
"Catch Me in the Air" is a song by Japanese singer Rina Sawayama from her second studio album, Hold the Girl (2022). It was released through Dirty Hit on 27 June 2022 as the second single from the album.
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The song's stomping synth-rock groove burns a hole in the road from here to the afterlife...