"This Hell"
Single by Rina Sawayama
from the album Hold the Girl
Released18 May 2022 (2022-05-18)
Genre
Length3:56
LabelDirty 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]

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

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. 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.
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