Misery (Gwen Stefani song)
"Misery" | ||||
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Single by Gwen Stefani | ||||
from the album This Is What the Truth Feels Like | ||||
Released | May 23, 2016 | |||
Recorded |
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Genre | Electropop | |||
Length | 3:26 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Mattman & Robin | |||
Gwen Stefani singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Misery" on YouTube |
"Misery" is a song recorded by American singer
"Misery" received a mixed response from contemporary music critics. Generally, some reviewers found the track to be a standout track among those on This Is What the Truth Feels Like for sounding "effortless", while others claimed that it was not on a par with Stefani's previously released material. In the United States, it missed entering the Billboard Hot 100, and instead debuted and peaked at number eleven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 extension chart. Elsewhere, it peaked in the lower regions of charts in Australia, France, Scotland, and the United Kingdom. A remix EP featuring three different remixes of the song was made available as a digital download on June 24, 2016.
Two accompanying music videos were created for "Misery": The former featured hand drawn illustrations and was directed by Zack Sekuler, while the latter live-action version was directed by the singer's long-time collaborator Sophie Muller. It was filmed at the vacated Sears, Roebuck & Company Mail Order Building in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, and features Stefani performing the song while she wears various outfits in the abandoned premises. The video was well-received, especially for Stefani's multiple costume changes. Makeup artist Gregory Arlt and hairstylist Danilo won the Best Hair & Make Up award at the 2016 Ibiza Music Video Awards for their contributions to the video. The singer performed "Misery" live on various occasions, including on television and during her This Is What the Truth Feels Like Tour in 2016.
Concept and release
Immediately following the completion of "Make Me Like You", Stefani wrote "Misery" with Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, Mattias Larsson, and Robin Frediksson; however, unlike the recording sessions for her previous albums, the songwriting process was significantly shorter, which she opined was because everything should be simple.[1] "Misery" was recorded by Mattias Larsson and Robin Frediksson of Mattman & Robin at Wolf Cousins Studios and Maratone Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, and at Interscope Studios in Santa Monica, California. Additional recording was handled by Juan Carlos Torrado and Noah Passovoy, while Serban Ghenea mixed the audio at Mixstar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia.[2]
In November 2015, Stefani reported "Misery" was the second single from her third studio album
Composition and lyrics
"Misery" is an
Lyrically, "Misery" details the feelings one receives following a new relationship.[17] Stefani sings: "Hurry up, come see me / Put me out of my misery", which shows the singer debating whether she wants to relive the pain or experience the pleasure.[18] Elsewhere, she compares her boyfriend to medications: "You're like drugs to me / You're like drugs to me",[18] and warns him that their newfound relationship is becoming a bit much: "You're in so much trouble / Yeah, you're in so much trouble".[19] Additionally, she requests that the lover should come visit her: "You're at the door / I'm thinking things I never thought before / Like what your love would taste like / Give me more".[20] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine noted that Stefani's ex-husband Gavin Rossdale was not the track's subject, despite the misleading use of the word "Misery".[19]
Critical reception
Upon its release, "Misery" received a mixed to positive response from
Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Leah Greenblatt dubbed the single as a "come-on disguised as [a] caution". She also appreciated that it was ready to be played in clubs.
Chart performance
Issued as a promotional single seven days before the release of This Is What the Truth Feels Like, "Misery" entered the
When announced as the album's third official single in April 2016, "Misery" was shopped to hot adult contemporary radio, starting on May 23 of the same year.[8] The track debuted at number 38 on the Adult Top 40 for the week ending July 2, 2016, becoming her tenth entry as a solo artist on the chart.[39] On July 30, the single reached a new peak at number 34, her second lowest entry on the chart, behind 2005's "Luxurious" with American rapper Slim Thug.[40] It received 404 radio plays that week, reaching an audience of approximately 1.040 million in the United States.[41] The following week of August 6, "Misery" lost 16 points total for overall radio adds, but increased its audience to 1.104 million; it lasted six weeks on the chart, departing in its final position at number 38.[42]
Music video
Background and development
Alongside the release of "Misery" as a promotional single, a
With Misery we had the luxury of doing a two-day shoot, which is totally luxurious these days. And we got to do what we love the most, which is just fashion and making beautiful images, and not having any rules. It was very much on the fly. We went downtown to the abandoned Sears building; it’s all destroyed and creepy in there. We were there for two days and it was like an art project.[45]
It was directed by Sophie Muller, who had previously directed various videos for Stefani, including those for "Don't Speak" (1996), "Cool" (2005), and "Spark the Fire" (2014),[47][48] while the video's production was handled by Grant Jue of Wondros.[49]
Synopsis
The video opens with Stefani standing behind a counter in an abandoned and faintly-lit warehouse.
The second verse shows her in the garden dress, as she continually rides an elevator through the warehouse; in a separate scene, the background dancers also ride the elevator. In front of a flower wallpaper, Stefani wears a fluffy, pink dress as she gracefully falls to floor. The next chorus shows Stefani in a black bob wig, "walk[ing] effortlessly down some stairs in patent leather, thigh-high stilettos."[53] The song's bridge shows Stefani wearing a black and white leotard with thigh-high silver boots, sitting on a stool.[50] A black horse appears alongside Stefani who is in a black and white-striped dress, before she slowly runs away from it. The song's final chorus has Stefani riding a bicycle through a brightly-lit parking garage,[54] before she returns to the smoke machine and, once again, falls to the ground. As the song concludes, the screen fades to black.[50]
Reception
The video for "Misery" premiered on Stefani's
Madison Vain of Entertainment Weekly applauded the visual, calling it "gorgeous" and a "high-fashion affair",[51][61] while Nate Scott from the USA Today praised the video and exclaimed: "Good lord, this video. Who is the art director? Come take my life over and make everything this beautiful."[62] Entertainment Tonight's Antoinette Bueno praised Stefani for pulling off her fashion, despite the outfits being difficult to achieve successfully.[63] The editors of Vogue, and columnist Patricia Garcia, were also appreciative of them. In her review, she called the outfits "eye-catching" and "quirky", in addition to the video as a whole which she felt was "stunning".[64] Grant, writing for Rolling Stone, compared Stefani's portrayal in the video to that of Miss Havisham in Great Expectations, and commented positively that it fits Stefani's catalog well.[11] At the 2016 Ibiza Music Video Festival held in the city of the same name, makeup artist Gregory Arlt and hairstylist Danilo won the award for Best Hair & Make Up.[65]
Live performances
Stefani performed the track live during various public appearances. She performed it during her headlining tours, including the MasterCard Priceless Surprises Presents Tour (2015–16) and This Is What the Truth Feels Like Tour (2016). During the former promotional tour, "Misery" was only performed at the final show in Tokyo, Japan, before performances of "Cool" and "Make Me Like You". The choreography and costumes continued into these succeeding performances.[66] During the rendition, Stefani wore "red track pants" and a "red sequined cage top" that revealed a black bra underneath.[67] The promotional lyric video for "Misery" appeared as part of a backdrop for the performance, while an accompanying band provided live instrumentation. For the version on her This Is What the Truth Feels Like Tour, she wore a red corset designed by The Blonds, Mariel Haenn, and Rob Zangardi. The performance included the same visuals from her show in Tokyo, and contained similar choreography.[68]
Outside her promotional concert tours, Stefani sang "Misery" on numerous television programs. Its first televised performance occurred on
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Misery" | 3:26 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Misery (Lincoln Jesser Remix)" | 3:50 |
2. | "Misery (Division 4 & Matt Consola Extended Remix)" | 6:24 |
3. | "Misery (Steven Redant Club Mix)" | 4:23 |
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of This Is What the Truth Feels Like, Interscope Records.[2]
- Recording
- Recorded at Wolf Cousins Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; Maratone Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; and Interscope Studios, Santa Monica, California
- Personnel
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Charts
Chart (2016) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[33] | 74 |
Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[36] | 42 |
France ( SNEP)[37]
|
127 |
Scotland (OCC)[38] | 72 |
171 | |
US | 11 |
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[40] | 34 |
US | 45 |
Release history
Country | Date | Format | Label | Notes |
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Worldwide | March 11, 2016[74] | Digital download | Interscope | Promotional single |
United States | May 23, 2016[8] | Hot adult contemporary
|
Official single | |
Worldwide | June 24, 2016[9] | Digital download | Misery (Remixed) |
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