"Sick Boy"
Single by The Chainsmokers
from the album Sick Boy
ReleasedJanuary 17, 2018 (2018-01-17)
GenrePop
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Chainsmokers singles chronology
"Honest"
(2017)		 "Sick Boy"
(2018)		 "You Owe Me"
(2018)
Music video
"Sick Boy" on YouTube

"Sick Boy" is a song by American electronic music duo the Chainsmokers. It was written by the Chainsmokers, Tony Ann and Emily Warren, with production handled by the Chainsmokers and Shaun Frank. The song was released by Disruptor Records and Columbia Records on January 17, 2018, as the lead single from the duo's second studio album of the same name.

Release

On the first day of 2018, the Chainsmokers teased new material by revealing their new logo on social media. They captioned the post: "How many likes is my life worth?"[1] On January 16, 2018, the song was promoted on a Spotify-branded billboard in Times Square, which reads: "How many likes is my life worth?"[2] "Sick Boy" was described as "a song about self-identity in today's world and standing tall in the face of what you can and can't control" in press materials.[3]

Music video

The accompanying music video, directed by Brewer, features both members of the Chainsmokers and Matt McGuire performing the song on an empty soundstage. Throughout the video, their internals are exposed by stage lights.[4]

Critical reception

"Sick Boy" received mixed reviews from critics.[5] Kat Bein of Billboard opined that the song "sounds like a big departure from the New York City duo's usual romantic pop flair".[2] Dave Holmes of Esquire called it the duo's version of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" with a twist. He continued: "It is the sound of two men coming to terms with having worked at a Hollister for a summer in college. It is the worst of EDM, with all of the fun surgically removed. It is, for me, a baw-eest."[4] Mike Watkins of The Michigan Daily praised the song, calling it "another diatribe against society" with "scathingly sarcastic criticism" expressed throughout the song. He wrote that "the song's chorus is big and somewhat catchy" and expect it to be a radio hit.[6] Matthew Schnipper of Pitchfork described the song as "a turn toward the meaningful" for the duo. "In practice, though, the song comes off more like a parody than a parable," he wrote.[7]

Madeline Roth of MTV News regarded the song as "a catchy but gloomy slice of pure pop that sounds more like Twenty One Pilots than anything on their 2017 debut album, Memories...Do Not Open". She felt the duo has "abandoned the romantic, wistful flair" of previous songs and instead took "a decidedly darker" approach, writing that the song is "basically the opposite of '#Selfie'".[8] Hugh McIntyre of Fuse noted that the song is "pure pop", unlike songs from their beginnings which made them popular. He furthered: "The Chainsmokers are now unabashedly trafficking in the laptop-made pop that most stars churn out, which they've been heading towards for some time." Comparing to party tracks like "Don't Let Me Down", he noticed the song of being "darker in tone", describing it as "downright gloomy", which strays away from their "wistful and melancholy" style.[9] Similarly, Tom Skinner of NME found the song unexpectedly dark.[1] Derrick Rossignol of Uproxx wrote: "Musically, it strays further away from their EDM roots and more towards the successful pop sound they've developed for themselves, albeit with a more aggressive edge this time around."[3]

Track listing

Digital download[10]
No.TitleLength
1."Sick Boy"3:14
Digital download – remixes EP[11]
No.TitleLength
1."Sick Boy" (Zaxx remix)3:39
2."Sick Boy" (Prismo remix)3:44
3."Sick Boy" (Owen Norton remix)3:14
4."Sick Boy" (Kuur remix)3:27
5."Sick Boy" (Trobi remix)2:49
6."Sick Boy" (neutral. remix)2:55

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[12]

  • Andrew Taggart - production, record engineering, composition, voice.
  • Alex Pall – production, record engineering, composition.
  • Tony Ann – piano, composition.
  • Shaun Frank – production, mix engineering, programming
  • Chris Gehringer – master engineering

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[52] Platinum 70,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[53] Gold 15,000‡
Belgium (BEA)[54] Gold 10,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[55] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[56] Platinum 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[57] Platinum 90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[58] Platinum 400,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[59] Gold 25,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[60] Gold 30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[61] Platinum 20,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[62] Gold 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[64] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various January 17, 2018 Digital download Original [10]
Italy January 18, 2018 Contemporary hit radio Sony [65]
United States January 23, 2018 Columbia [66]
February 9, 2018 Digital download Remixes
  • Disruptor
  • Columbia
 [11]

References

  1. 1 2 Skinner, Tom (January 17, 2018). "Listen to The Chainsmokers' new single 'Sick Boy'". NME. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Bein, Kat (January 17, 2018). "The Chainsmokers Drop New Brooding Hymn 'Sick Boy': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Rossignol, Derrick (January 17, 2018). "The Chainsmokers' New Single 'Sick Boy' Confronts The 'Narcissism' Of America". Uproxx. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Holmes, Dave (January 18, 2018). "The Chainsmokers Bravely Ask You Not to Hate Them in Their Very Serious New Song". Esquire. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  5. ↑ Nied, Mike (February 15, 2018). "The Chainsmokers Share A Snippet Of New Single "You Owe Me"". Idolator. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  6. ↑ Watkins, Mike (January 17, 2018). "Single Review: Ugh. Another Single From The Chainsmokers". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  7. ↑ Schnipper, Matthew (January 17, 2018). ""Sick Boy" by The Chainsmokers Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ Roth, Madeline (January 17, 2018). "The Chainsmokers Are Darker Than Ever On Their First New Song Of 2018". MTV News. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  9. ↑ McIntyre, Hugh (January 17, 2018). "The Chainsmokers Embrace True Pop with Dark New Single 'Sick Boy': Listen". Fuse. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Sick Boy - Single by The Chainsmokers on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Sick Boy (Remixes) - EP by The Chainsmokers on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Sick Boy...Everybody Hates Me / The Chainsmokers TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  13. ↑ "The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  14. ↑ "ARIA Dance Singles Chart – Week Commencing 19 February 2018" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  15. ↑ "The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  16. ↑ "The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  17. ↑ "The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  18. ↑ "The Chainsmokers Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  19. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201813 into search. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  20. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201807 into search. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Track Top-40 Uge 8, 2018". Hitlisten. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  22. ↑ "The Chainsmokers: Sick Boy" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Top Singles (téléchargement + streaming) – Semaine du 26 Janvier" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  24. ↑ "The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  27. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  28. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 4" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  30. ↑ "The Official Lebanese Top 20". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  31. ↑ "RIM CHARTS Top 20 (International & Domestic) Week #8" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Mexico Airplay: Feb 24, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 10, 2018" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  34. ↑ "The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  35. ↑ "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  36. ↑ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 6, 2018". VG-lista. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  37. ↑ "The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  39. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201819 into search. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  40. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201808 into search. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Top 100 Canciones – Semana 4: del 19.1.2018 al 25.1.2018" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  43. ↑ "The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  45. ↑ "The Chainsmokers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  46. ↑ "Top 100 Venezuela" (in Spanish). National-Report. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Ö3 Austria Top 40 Jahrescharts 2018: Singles". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Track Top-100 2018" (in Danish). Hitlisten. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  49. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  50. ↑ "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 200 Singles 2018" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  51. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2018" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  52. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  53. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  54. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2018". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  55. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  56. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy". Music Canada. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  57. ↑ "Danish single certifications – The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  58. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The Chainsmokers; 'Sick Boy')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  59. ↑ "Italian single certifications – The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  60. ↑ "Certificados Musicales Amprofon (in Spanish)". Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  61. ↑ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2019 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  62. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Sick Boy')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  63. ↑ "British single certifications – The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  64. ↑ "American single certifications – The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  65. ↑ "THE CHAINSMOKERS "Sick Boy" | (Radio Date: 18/01/2018)". Radio Airplay S.R.L. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  66. ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
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