This Hell

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"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[edit]

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[edit]

"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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Critical response[edit]

"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[edit]

Chart performance for "This Hell"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[19] 8

Gyarupi remix[edit]

On April 12, 2024, a remix of "This Hell" featuring South Korean-Japanese rapper Chanmina was released exclusively on Spotify as part of their Spotify singles series.[20][21] In regard to LGBT rights in Japan, Spotify partnered with Asahi Breweries for a campaign for awareness of same-sex marriage.[22][23]

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "Rina Sawayama announces new album, shares new countrified pop single "This Hell"". The A.V. Club. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  10. ^ a b Garcia, Thania (18 May 2022). "Rina Sawayama Reveals Upcoming 'Hold the Girl' Album, With New Single 'This Hell'". Variety. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Rina Sawayama shares fiery new single 'This Hell'". Rolling Stone. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Rina Sawayama, 'This Hell'". NPR. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  13. ^ a b "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. 15 June 2022. 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.
  20. ^ "Rina Sawayama、ちゃんみなを迎えた"This Hell"リミックスをSpotify Singlesとして発表". Spincoaster (in Japanese). 11 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  21. ^ "ちゃんみな、リナ・サワヤマとのコラボが決定 「This Hell (feat. CHANMINA - Gyarupi Remix - Spotify Singles)」をリリース【コメントあり】". Spice (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  22. ^ "リナ・サワヤマ「より良い世界を目指し、一緒に闘って」ちゃんみな迎えた「This Hell」配信リリース（コメントあり / 動画あり）". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  23. ^ "リナ・サワヤマ、ちゃんみなを迎えた「This Hell (Gyarupi Remix)」を配信". Billboard Japan. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
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