"Venus Fly Trap" is a song written and recorded by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina for her fifth studio album, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land (2021). It was released as the project's fourth single on 9 June 2021, through Atlantic Records, and was produced by Marina and James Flannigan. A Kito remix featuring Tove Lo was released on 16 July.
"Venus Fly Trap" was released for digital download and streaming on 9 June 2021, as the parent album's fourth single.[1] It was the final song to premiere ahead of the album's release, and was originally teased one month prior with previous single "Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land".[2][3] Marina is the sole songwriter of "Venus Fly Trap", and produced it with James Flannigan.[4] The music video for "Venus Fly Trap" debuted alongside the single, and was directed by Weird Life Films.[5]
On 16 July 2021, a remix by Australian producer and DJ Kito featuring Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo was released. Additional writing was handled by Lo.[6]
Composition and lyrics
"Venus Fly Trap" is a funk-influenced pop song.[5][7] The chorus consists of Marina asking: "Why be a wallflower when you can be a Venus fly trap?"[8] Other lyrics in the song are "unexpectedly" personal, particularly "I know that money ain't important, and it don't mean you're the best / But I earned it all myself, and I'm a millionairess", according to NME's Nick Levine.[5] He also summarized the message as a "tongue-in-cheek self empowerment banger" that makes reference to her second studio album, Electra Heart (2012).[9]Clash's Jessica Fynn shared a similar view, opining that Marina "lyrically revive[d]" herself from the era.[10] Feeling it was reminiscent of "Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land", Red Dziri from The Line of Best Fit said "Venus Fly Trap" shared the same energy, but that it was "more hectic" and sassy.[11]
Reception
According to the Official Charts Company, "Venus Fly Trap" peaked at number 31 on the Singles Sales chart, which ranks the best-selling songs of the week.[12] It also reached number 3 on the Physical Singles chart, and was the highest-performing Vinyl Singles entry for the week of 20 May 2022, becoming her second number one on the chart following "Purge the Poison".[13][14] In the US, the song entered two Billboard radio charts. It debuted on the Rock Airplay chart at number 38 on the publication dated 10 July 2021.[15] On the BillboardAlternative Airplay chart, a component chart of Rock Airplay, the song reached a slightly higher peak at number 34.[16]
Live performances
MARINA first performed the "Venus Fly Trap" as part of the setlist of Ancient Dreams: Live from the Desert, a virtual concert broadcast a day after the album's release.[17] She also performed the song on Late Night with Seth Meyers on 14 June 2021.[18]
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