Swine (Lady Gaga song)
"Swine" | |
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Song by Lady Gaga | |
from the album Artpop | |
Released | November 6, 2013 |
Studio | Record Plant (Hollywood) |
Genre | |
Length | 4:28 |
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Audio video | |
"Swine" on YouTube |
"Swine" is a song by American singer
"Swine" was critically appreciated for its harsh composition and craziness. It debuted at number 94 on the
Background and writing
Development of Gaga's third studio album, Artpop, began shortly after the 2011 release of her second record, Born This Way. By the following year, the album's concepts were "beginning to flourish" as Gaga collaborated with producers Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow.[2][3][4] One of the songs on Artpop was "Swine", which the singer explained was personal, and dealt with challenging and troubling sexual experiences she had encountered in her life.[5]
In December 2014, Gaga revealed on The Howard Stern Show that she was raped at age 19 by a producer twenty years older than her.[6] During her conversation with Stern, the singer recalled, "I went through some horrific things. I'm able to laugh now because I've gone through a lot of mental, physical and emotional therapy [...] I wasn't even willing to admit that anything had even happened [...] I saw him one time in a store, and I was paralyzed by fear." She confirmed that the incident further inspired "Swine", saying, "I wrote a song called 'Swine'; the song is about rape. The song is about demoralization. The song is about rage and fury and passion, and I had a lot of pain that I wanted to release."[7]
Recording and composition
Musically, "Swine" is a
Gil Kaufman of
Lyrically, the recording denounces a suitor by comparing them to a pig.[16] Gaga wanted to lessen the harshness of the lyrics developed for the track by making it sound more lighthearted. However, she ended up "screaming and squealing throughout the track." The dance nature of the song vanishes when the chorus is reached, with Gaga belting the lyrics backed by the "chaotic" synths shouting, "You're just a pig inside a human body / Squealer, squealer, squealer, you're so disgusting / You're just a pig inside", finally uttering the word "Swine" continuously as the groove "thrashed".[5]
Critical reception
After the song was made available online,
Bradley Stern of MuuMuse called "Swine" the album's most "unhinged moment" where the singer "let her freak flag fly higher." He also theorized that "Swine" would do well in a live concert.
Live performances
In August 2013, Gaga released a one-minute teaser of the song, which showed her rehearsing for the iTunes Festival, along with an image of her performance.[22][23] Gaga named her gig "SwineFest" after the track, which was a central piece of the show.[24] During the show, she removed her previously worn blonde wig to reveal her natural hair, just before performing the song.[25] She started playing "Swine" on the piano, initially wearing a glittery pig mask, before transitioning into the electronic version of the song.[26] For the second part of the performance, Gaga sat behind a drum kit.[27] During the performance, Gaga's dancers wore pig-like gasmasks and "white boiler suits", and sprayed paint into the crowd from bungee harnesses.[28][29] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy rated her performance 3.5 on a scale of 5 and said that she "reached the peak of bonkersness".[30]
In March 2014, Gaga introduced "Swine" at the
Andrew Hampp felt that "for an album [and concert] inspired by performance art, it was the one moment where music and shock value merged indelibly and credibly."
"Swine" was later added to the setlist for the whole duration of Gaga's tour, ArtRave: The Artpop Ball, where it was performed as the last song before the encore ("Gypsy"). For the performance, Gaga was dressed as a rave-girl, which was called "a spin on the anime schoolgirl trope".[39] She was wearing multicoloured dreadlocks and fluorescent furry boots.[39] On some occasions, Gaga invited audience members on stage to "rave alongside her".[40] James Duffield from MTV called the performance "a sensory overload – the confetti cannons are back, strobe lights and dancers with pig masks start spewing fake blood from their mouths".[41]
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Artpop.[42]
Management
- Recorded at Record Plant Studios, Hollywood, California
- Mastered at Oasis Mastering Studios, Burbank, California
- Mixed at Mirrorball Studios, North Hollywood, California
- Stefani Germanotta P/K/A Lady Gaga (BMI) Sony ATV Songs LLC/House of Gaga Publishing, LLC/GloJoe Music Inc. (BMI), Maxwell and Carter Publishing, LLC (ASCAP).
Personnel
- lead vocals, producer, vocal arrangement
- DJ White Shadow – songwriter, producer
- Dino "Speedlove" Zisis – songwriter, producer
- Nick Monson – songwriter, producer, mixing
- Dave Russell – recording
- Daniel Zaidenstadt – additional recording
- Benjamin Rice – recording assistant
- Tony Masterati – mixing
- Jon Castelli – mixing engineering
- Justin Hergett – mixing assistant
- Rick Pearl – additional programming
- Nicole Ganther – background vocals
- Natalie Ganther – background vocals
- Lyon Gray – background vocals
- Ivy Skoff – union contract administrator
- Gene Grimaldi – mastering
Charts
Chart (2013) | Peak position |
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South Korea International ( Gaon)[43]
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94 |
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[44] | 23 |
References
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- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (November 28, 2011). "Lady Gaga 'Doing Prep' for Tour, Next Album". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (December 6, 2011). "Lady Gaga Says Next Album Is 'Beginning to Flourish'". MTV News. Archived from the original on May 7, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
- ^ a b Shorey, Eric (December 12, 2013). "Lady Gaga Explains 'Artpop' Track-by-Track: LISTEN". Logo TV. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- New York Daily News. Archivedfrom the original on October 14, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ Payne, Chris (December 2, 2014). "Lady Gaga Discusses Rape During Howard Stern Interview". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
- ^ Idolator. Archivedfrom the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Tucker, Rebecca (November 13, 2013). "With Artpop, Lady Gaga has done the unthinkable: She's gotten a bit boring". National Post. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (November 13, 2013). "Lady Gaga, 'Artpop': Track-by-Track Review". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Catucci, Nick (August 30, 2013). "Mix Lady Gaga makes the right moves with 'Manicure,' 'Swine' — hear her new music now". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Geslani, Michelle (August 29, 2013). "Watch Lady Gaga perform new Artpop song "Swine"". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (August 29, 2013). "Lady Gaga Teases Rock-Heavy 'Swine' in Artpop Rehearsal Video". MTV News. Archived from the original on May 11, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ a b Stern, Bradley (November 23, 2016). "Lady Gaga 'Artpop' (Album Review)". MuuMuse. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "Lady Gaga 'Swine' Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. June 16, 2014. Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ Martin, Samantha (September 5, 2013). "Lady Gaga "Swine" Lyrics Analysis: Pigs, Drugs, and General Confusion". Popdust. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ James, Nicole (August 29, 2013). "Lady Gaga Teases Intense New 'Artpop' Track in Rehearsal Video". Fuse. Archived from the original on March 21, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ Empire, Kitty (November 9, 2013). "Lady Gaga: Artpop – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 26, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ Driver, Mike (November 23, 2016). "Lady Gaga 'Artpop'". Clash. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ Johnston, Maura (November 23, 2016). "Lady Gaga's Half-Cocked, Half-Great 'Artpop' Is Never Less Than Lovable". Spin. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- Consequence of Sound. Archivedfrom the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "Lady Gaga sneak peek: Who's new track 'Swine' about?". The Week. August 29, 2013. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Chan, Stephanie (August 30, 2013). "Lady Gaga Teases New Song 'Swine': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (September 2, 2013). "Lady Gaga – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
- ^ Copsey, Robert (September 1, 2013). "Lady Gaga makes live return at iTunes Festival - pictures". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
- ^ Paine, Andre (September 2, 2013). "Lady Gaga, iTunes festival, Roundhouse - music review". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
- ^ Anderson, Kyle (September 3, 2013). "Lady Gaga unveils more new 'ARTPOP' songs at iTunes Festival". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
- ^ Empire, Kitty (September 7, 2013). "iTunes festival: Lady Gaga; Rizzle Kicks – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
- ^ Keens, Oliver (September 2, 2013). "Lady Gaga debuts 'Art Pop' at iTunes Festival". TimeOut. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
- ^ Copsey, Robter (September 2, 2013). "Lady Gaga at iTunes Festival: Track-by-track review". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c Edwards, Gavin (March 14, 2014). "Lady Gaga Stages Dramatic Performance-Art Spectacle at SXSW". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Lady Gaga spitroasted and vomited on at SXSW event". NME. March 14, 2014. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- ^ a b c DeVille, Chris (March 14, 2014). "Watch Lady Gaga Get Doused in Neon Vomit While Riding a Mechanical S&M Pig at SXSW, Brought to You by Doritos". Stereogum. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c Anderson, Kyle (March 14, 2014). "Lady Gaga dedicates encore to SXSW accident victims, gets puked on". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Hampp, Andrew (March 13, 2014). "SXSW: Lady Gaga Plays Offbeat Set, Tells Fans 'You Don't Need A F--king Record Label'". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
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- ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (March 18, 2014). "Lady Gaga's Vomit Artist Responds To Demi Lovato's SXSW Slam". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ^ Lipshutz, Jason (March 21, 2014). "Lady Gaga Previews 'G.U.Y.' Video, Explains SXSW Performance on 'Today' Show". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
- ^ a b Carlson, Adam (May 7, 2014). "Lady Gaga's artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball Shape-Shifts Through Atlanta". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
- The Huffington Post. Archivedfrom the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
- ^ Duffield, James (September 1, 2014). "Review: lady gaga artrave: the artpop ball!". MTV News. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
- ^ Gaga, Lady (2013). "'Swine' Digital booklet". Artpop (Liner notes). Lady Gaga. Santa Monica, California: Interscope Records. p. 5. 687955814.
- Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the originalon December 14, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
- ^ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
External links
- "Swine". SongFacts.